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Variable Versus Fixed Rate Credit Cards
One of the first things you should always look out for in a credit card is the low APR and the low annual fees. Now, it is evident that you cant have the best of both worlds thus youll just have to do with a balance between the two. You can either pay high annual fees year in and year out but save up on interest rates, or you can save on the fees but risk being charged a higher interest. Apparently, the best way out of this is just to clear your outstanding balances each month. However, many of us are not masters of our finances. Lucky for us though, there exists another way to get around the system and that is to obtain cards with variable rates.
Unlike fixed rate credit cards, variable rate credit cards impose APR that fluctuate according to indices such as the Prime rate. The prime rate is dependent on the amount of money that can be borrowed by banks in the United States from the Federal Reserve. Cuts made to these reserves will bring down the rate and thereby affecting the interest rate they charge upon your card. However, great care is taken against the rates falling too low and making the company suffer major losses. Thus, there is usually a floor-rate implemented on these cards. Unfortunately, when prime rates escalate, there are no ceiling-rates to protect card users. Customers have to literally go with the flow if they decide on variable rate credit cards.
On the other hand, it should not be assumed that a fixed rate card will impose APRs that will never change. The term fixed rate here would be better explained as a rate that is stable for a longer period of time as compared to variable rate cards. Companies can merely issue you a 30-day notice in writing and your APR can suddenly jump a percentage or two, with or without your consent. One such example is the introductory low APR promotions that companies use to enlist new credit card users. After 6 to 12 months of 0% APR, card companies can immediately change your fixed rate credit card APR to a figure that is higher than most cards without the introductory 0% APR.
Instant Approval Credit Cards – Instantly Gratifying?
Nowadays, instant gratification seems to be everyone’s mantra. People see something that they want and they do not think twice about buying it. “Buy now and pay later” has become a routine practice followed by many people. Today, it seems that all you need is an income to get access to a credit card.
With the advent of electronic communication and the Internet, instant approval has become a prominent feature with credit card applications these days. Simply put, certain card offers maintain an instant approval feature whereby cardholders applying for a credit card get to know immediately whether he/she is eligible for the credit card or not. Many consumers find this method to be convenient as it requires much less, and in some cases, no paper work at all, eliminating the need to physically mail the card application by regular mail, which traditionally takes a much longer time.
Credit Card Instant Approval Facts
In order to prevent confusion when discussing the prospect of a credit card instant approval, one should know the following facts. First of all, the instant approval and the credit card application are two different processes. Getting instant approval is the screening process that the respective banks and credit card companies use to filter out unqualified prospects. If you do qualify, the instant approval merely means that the card company has identified that you are suitable for the card offer, but that does not guarantee that you will be approved for the card itself.
The primary data points or pieces of information that banks or credit card companies will need to process your instant approval request are your name, address, and social security number. Some card issuers will require additional information but those 3 pieces of information will be required by all banks and credit card companies to do the initial screening for instant approval credit cards.
The credit card providers usually target people who have a good credit history. But because of the competitive nature of the credit card business, banks and card issuers today are more likely to extend credit to a wider range of potential consumers with varying degrees of credit history.
Many consumers are very concerned about the safety of providing information online. Credit card issuers that provide application forms online provide highly secure, encrypted environments to safeguard customer information and ensure that cardholders vital information will remain safe throughout the application process.
Primary Advantage of Instant Approval Credit Cards
The primary advantage of instant approval credit cards online is simply a much quicker turnaround on qualification for the actual card offer. While this process is undoubtedly much more convenient than the traditional card application process, many times, however, the bank will need to further investigate the credit worthiness of the applicant and will require additional information before approving the application. So even when applying for instant approval credit cards online, consumers should be patient and realize that although qualifying for an instant approval credit card might be instant, getting approved and gaining access to the credit line most certainly will not be instantly gratifying.
So the bottom line is that while instant approval does hold some significant advantages, an instant approval does not mean instant credit or instant access to money, which is a common misconception of potential cardholders.