An Assessment of the Benefits of Rewards Credit Cards

Many people have enjoyed the benefits of having a rewards credit card. They get excited about new privileges and rewards programs that allow them to earn more points for every time they make a credit card purchase.  The different benefits attract more people to apply for a rewards credit card.

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Attractive Rewards

A rewards credit card has become one of the top things that people want to have these days.  Despite the costs of using such a credit card, many people are still interested to have one in their wallet.  Aside from being a convenient tool to use when making purchases, rewards credit cards enable cardholders to maximize the use of a credit card by letting them earn points in exchange for something of value.  Credit card providers use rewards credit cards as a loyalty program to increase and retain their customer base.

Rewards can be in the form of a cashback bonus, frequent flyer miles, special store discounts and merchandise.  These rewards are indeed attractive to anyone.  However, you must remember that these are not given for free.  Credit card companies want you to spend first before giving you something exchange.  If you don’t have a problem controlling yourself when you do use your credit card, choosing a rewards credit card will be of use to you.  Do not be carried away with charging everything on your credit card just to earn the rewards you want.  You are only putting yourself in more debt when you get into this kind of habit.

Matching Rewards with Needs

Before getting a rewards credit card, you need to ask yourself if having such a card will be beneficial in your life.  If the rewards credit card will let you earn frequent flyer miles, you can surely benefit from this reward if you are a frequent traveler.  Cashbacks are also offered as rewards by some credit card companies.   A cashback bonus is like a rebate based on a percentage amount of your purchases.  Cashbacks are usually credited to your balance either every month or every year.  Cashbacks are particularly useful when you plan to carry a balance on your rewards credit card.  Cashbacks that are credited monthly can help you repay some of the interest charged on your balance. 

Another form of rewards program is the store discount.  Some credit card companies may offer special discounts for a minimum spend using your rewards credit card.  The discount is considered a privilege since only cardholders can avail of it.  Be sure that when you avail this type of rewards program, you can make the most of the discounts provided.  Otherwise, you need to find another rewards program that best fits your preferences and spending habits.         

Since there are many different types of rewards out there, you need to find a rewards credit card that lets you enjoy all or at least most of the rewards.  A rewards credit card is useless if you don’t use it as often earn points.  Comparing rewards credit cards and their benefits can help you with your goal of maximizing the potential of rewards programs.   

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Are you in search of a reliable solution to your credit or personal finance concern? Then look no further - we have exactly the answer. Credit Card Comparison helps you make not jut the right choice but also the perfect pick for a credit card provider. We offer reviews and comparisons of the best credit cards, plus tips, guides and other helpful information on balance transfer credit cards, low interest credit cards, fees, and rewards. We have everything you need to know about credit cards.

Choosing the Best Airline Credit Card

An airline credit card is best for people who travel frequently in one month.  Credit card providers usually offer rewards programs for airline credit cardholders.  Points for frequent flyer miles can be earned for every dollar spent on purchases.  Some airline credit cards have other existing promotional offers with certain merchants as an added bonus.  Whatever the airline credit card, it is important that you know which one matches your travel needs. 

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Making the right decision in choosing an airline credit card can prove to be difficult if you don’t have all the details.  Knowing what credit card features you want will make it easier for you to choose.  Aside from the features of airline credit cards, you need to know the interest charges.  Beware of high interest rates since this might prove to be a liability in the future.  You don’t want to sink in too much credit card debt by paying off high interest rates. 

American Express Platinum Card

The American Express Platinum Card is an airline credit that offers users with domestic and international travel insurance.  This feature will make you feel safe and secure every time you use your credit card for travelling.  If you want this type of feature, check with other issuers for credit card comparison before making your final decision. 

Citibank Gold Card

This credit card offers cardholders complementary rewards programs and access to Citibank World privileges.  Citibank credit cards have certain perks reserved only for their users.  Just like the American Express Platinum credit card, Citibank Gold also offers cardholders with international travel insurance. 

Virgin Flyer Credit Card

The Virgin Flyer credit card earns frequent flyer miles that can be availed through Virgin Airlines.  When you choose this airline credit card, you can avail of the cheap annual fee of just $99.  You also get to enjoy promotional offers like a free second seat when you buy one seat on Virgin Blue. 

Take advantage of credit cards that offer low interest rates during the first year.  Chances are, low interest rates will also be applied during the next year.  Ask first before filling out a credit card application form.  Some credit card issuers will not let you pay an annual fee during the first year.  This is a marketing move to target first-time credit cardholders.  Waived annual fees will save you more money.    

Don’t be fooled by credit cards that offer lots of promos right away.  Some offers might be misleading since they are only available for a limited amount of time.  You may have filled out an application because you like to avail of a certain special promo.  But once, you get the chance to make a purchase, the promo is no longer available.  Avoid this kind of disappointment by choosing only a credit card that lets you enjoy long-term benefits such as frequent flyer miles.  You can earn as much points as you want as a reward for using your airline credit card. 

Do you have a favorite airline for traveling?  Ensure that the credit card you choose lets you earn frequent flyer miles for your preferred airline.  This will keep you from the inconvenience of unfamiliarity and discomfort of traveling with an airline you dislike.  This can also be a problem for people who are loyal to a certain airline.  If you fly from one international destination to another as part of work or business, an airline credit card is the right one for you.  Just think of the flyer miles you will earn every time you use your credit card.  You might get to enjoy a free round-trip international flight with the right credit card.    

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Are you in search of a reliable solution to your credit or personal finance concern? Then look no further - we have exactly the answer. Credit Card Comparison helps you make not jut the right choice but also the perfect pick for a credit card provider. We offer reviews and comparisons of the best credit cards, plus tips, guides and other helpful information on balance transfer credit cards, interest rates, fees, and rewards. We have everything you need to know about credit cards.

    

Common Credit Card Mistake: Failing to Check the Credit Card Statement

Credit card mistakes can be very costly. The cost does not necessarily mean monetary. Often, those mistakes also affect the borrower’s credibility which is often reflected in his credit record. A negative credit record affects the borrower’s chance of getting in the future a mortgage or a loan for something big, like a car. Hence it is best to avoid mistakes whenever possible.

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There are credit card mistakes that are difficult to deal with. Some will take so much time and effort to resolve. There are also mistakes that are easy to deal with, even avoidable. One of these is the mistake of failing to review the statement regularly.

What happens when you, the borrower, fails to check your statement regularly? It will cause you a lot of problem, and when left unattended, those problems carry with them serious and expensive consequences, such as fees and charges that may end up too heavy for you to settle.

Here are tips, suggestions and recommendations for you so you can be sure that your statements are reasonable and accurate:

Check for Unusual Activity.

When you check your credit card statements, observe and take note of any unusual activity. Check each item meticulously, never mind if it is time consuming.

Items to watch out for: Unauthorized charges.

If there are items that you know are unauthorized charges, is it possible that your credit card information was stolen? It is possible that you are a victim of identity theft. If you are really sure, get in touch with your credit card company immediately.

Generally, if it can be proven that it’s an unauthorized charge, the credit card company can issue a charge back. If your identity was indeed stolen, normally credit card companies freezes the card so it becomes unusable to the thief.

Honest Billing Mistakes

   

This is understandable, and forgivable. There will always be times when occasional honest billing errors are made. Mistakes are common specially when making purchases online; for example double clicking on the pay button more than once.

This is primarily the reason why it is very important to pay close attention to your credit card balance and charges because when you do, it’s not difficult to spot these irregularities.

Delaying actions can be very costly. If you wait too long before you settle anything irregular, there is a chance you might exceed a company’s return period. If it was their error, definitely they will attend to the problem right away. But if it was your error and it was technically a justifiable charge, you might find yourself carrying the burden of loss if you procrastinate.

Fees and Charges You Know Nothing About

If you are familiar with your transactions, and you regularly check your credit card statements, there’s no need to worry about fees and account changes you’re not aware of.

Most common situations include a payment that was not processed correctly. When this happens, you will be charged a late fee. If you do your part and counter check everything, this will not be hard to see. You can immediately call the credit card company and have it corrected.

Another situation might be that you availed of a temporary introductory offer on balance transfers. Your billing statement will show you when that offer expires. This will then tell you to settle your account to avoid the interest charges.

So, it is always best to check and review your monthly credit card billing statement immediately the moment you receive it. Verify charges against your own records, like purchase receipts. 

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Are you in search of a reliable solution to your credit or personal finance concern? Then look no further - we have exactly the answer. Credit Card Comparison helps you make not jut the right choice but also the perfect pick for a credit card provider. We offer reviews and comparisons of the best credit cards, plus tips, guides and other helpful information on balance transfer credit cards, interest rates, fees, and rewards. We have everything you need to know about credit cards.

Best Credit Card Features

Like any other decision in life, comparing credit cards will only be easy if you know the advantages and disadvantages of each option.  Credit cards have many features to choose from. You can use credit card features as your point of reference when choosing the best credit card.  Start by conducting a research on the best known features of credit cards. 

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Low Interest

Credit cards have interest charges when credit cardholders fail to pay off their outstanding balances on the due date.  One of the worst things you can experience when having a credit card is paying high interest rates.  This can increase your credit card debt if you don’t know how to manage your finances well.  Some banks and other credit card issuers can charge a very high interest rate.  You will be surprised to know that once you take a look at your credit card statement.  One sure way of avoiding this precarious situation is choosing a credit card with low interest rates. 

Getting a low interest credit card is a wise idea for first time credit card users.  Starting out with this type of credit card can save you a lot of money over time when you pay for your purchases.  Low interest credit cards are generally known as the best credit cards due to the low interest fees on all credit card purchases. 

When a credit card provider, offers you a low interest credit card, there are a few important things that you should know before filling out an application form.  Most banks offer an introductory interest rate for a certain period. This is an introductory offer enjoyed by credit cardholders with some banks offering 0% Annual Percentage Rate or super low interest rates than other credit cards.  After the introductory period expires, the credit card provider will revert to the prevailing interest rate which is usually higher than the initial rate.  In order to verify this limitation, you must read the terms and conditions of the policy thoroughly before making your decision.  Find out how long you can enjoy the low interest rate and how high it will be after the stated period. 

Rewards Program

Some may even call this type of credit card feature a loyalty program.  The idea here is that frequent usage of your credit card lets you enjoy perks or rewards as an incentive for your loyalty.  This feature is often used by credit card issuers to attract more customers.  This has been a common practice since banks are always in competition with one another.  Choosing a credit card with this feature entitles you to potentially great deals depending on how a certain rewards program works. 

Some rewards credit cards offer cash back incentives for using your credit card for each month.  Cash backs are calculated on a percentage basis.  For example, you can get a 5% cash back bonus depending on the amount you spent using your credit card. Other rewards also offered are lifetime low interest rates.  These types of rewards cards are essentially desirable because you can save money for every usage.  Other attractive rewards include frequent flyer miles, special store promos and merchandise as incentives for the credit cardholder.  Before you select the best credit card, you must understand how these credit card features work for you.  Assess each credit card feature according to its level of importance to help you choose your credit card wisely. 
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Are you in search of a reliable solution to your credit or personal finance concern? Then look no further - we have exactly the answer. Credit Card Comparison helps you make not jut the right choice but also the perfect pick for a credit card provider. We offer reviews and comparisons of the best credit cards, plus tips, guides and other helpful information on balance transfer credit cards, interest rates, fees, and rewards. We have everything you need to know about credit cards.  

Learning Necessary Things To Know About Credit Cards

Almost everybody lives a fast paced life nowadays, which makes the demands for the use of credit cards extremely high. Most people are aware that credit cards provide exceptional benefits and services to their consumers, and many are just desperate to apply for one. There are lots to choose from, and first time applicants need to sort out all the options available.

Significant Things To Know About Credit Cards

It is important for someone who is planning to have a credit card to learn everything there is to know about credit cards, not only limiting their knowledge to its benefits, but including its terms and conditions as well.

For starters, the first thing that you should ask when still deciding which credit card to go for is what your needs and goals are. These things are supposed to influence your decision in choosing a credit card in order to land with the best one available.

The Benefits

The second thing that you need understand is that there are many credit card categories out there. The credit card industry is highly competitive that each company comes up with a different strategy in order to win over a huge percentage of the credit card market. They try to outdo each other by attracting consumers with flashy new features, incentives, and rewards. Some may include travel perks, special discounts, cash return, freebies, and other benefits. These offers are surely enticing enough to make you want to get up on your feet and immediately head to the nearest bank to file an application.

The Catch

However, there is mostly a catch to these features. Alongside with these credit card rewards are interest rates and annual fees. For someone who is still searching for his or her first ever credit card, it may be relevant to look into a credit card’s interest rates, annual fees,  possible penalties, and other charges, prior to making a final decision.

Applying For A Credit Card

These details may not be initially disclosed by the credit card issuer, but they can all be found in the credit card agreement form. That is why reading through the fine print is also crucial. It serves as a legal contract between you and the creditor, and there are things about it that you need to comply with. There, you will also find out that activating a credit card will automatically bind you with the agreement, whether you have understood the stipulations or not.

So once again, read through the agreement form before signing into the contract and make sure that you pick a card that has the most suitable benefits, low interest rate, reasonable fees and charges.

Learning all these factors is the best way to determine which among the available credit cards out there is the most suitable to your needs. Once you finally go through these things successfully, you will be able to enjoy the true benefits of credit cards and maximize their potentials to your own advantage.

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To make the most of your credit card experience, you should find one that's right for you. And for you to get the best deal around, compare credit cards and pick out the one which offers the lowest interest rates, an excellent rewards program and the best protection against fraud. At Credit Card Finder, having the best credit card has never been this easy. 

Understanding Introductory Rate Credit Cards

An introductory rate is an interest rate that is usually below-market and is offered for the initial billing cycle(s) of the credit card. Introductory rates are also called teaser rates and honeymoon rates.

What is a Credit Card Honeymoon Period?

A credit card honeymoon period gives you a reduced interest rate for the select “honeymoon” or introductory period. During this period, which is normally between six (6) months to a year, annual and regular account keeping fees may also be suspended.

What Are Introductory Rate Credit Cards or Honeymoon Credit Cards?

Introductory Rate Credit Cards or Honeymoon Credit Cards are actually marketing strategies adopted by lenders to attract customers. After this period expires, the rate reverts to a higher interest rate. The revert rate is usually the credit card’s purchase rate, although some lenders will default to the cash advance rate after an introductory low rate, which is usually higher than the purchase rate.

How does a low introductory rate help?

If you have a large credit card debt, a honeymoon period can alleviate the burden and help you pay everything off during the honeymoon period.

For example, if at present you are paying huge amount of money because of the high rates on your outstanding balance, what you can actually do is to transfer the balance to a lender offering a low introductory rate. Doing so would dramatically reduce the amount of interest you are paying on your debt. Moreover, if you are wise enough to put your interest savings towards your balance each month, then before the low rate expires, you have reduced significantly your debt.

The introductory rate can be speedily expired if you're more than 60 days late on your credit card payment. When this happens, your credit card interest rate may increase to the default rate, which is the highest interest rate charged on the credit card. This will not do you any good.

To enjoy the benefits of credit cards, always ensure to pay it off in full every month so that you avoid interest charges. If, however, you have not done this in the past, and now you’re finding yourself overburdened with interest charges and ballooning credit, a honeymoon period might help you get back on track.

Other Things to Consider

Introductory Rate Credit Cards or Honeymoon Period Credit Cards are very attractive, but remember that, like normal honeymoons after the marriage ceremony, it ends, or the good times end.

Prepare for the honeymoon period to end. But don’t forget to take advantage of all the nice things about the honeymoon period: the low interest rates plus the suspended annual and regular account keeping fees.

Here are things worth looking into prior to committing yourself to this type of credit card. Again, be aware of the traps placed to ensnare naïve borrowers who never look into the details. Find out as much as you can about the following:

o        What will be the interest rate after the honeymoon period ends?

o        What does the reduced rate apply to? Some providers only apply the reduced rate to the balance you are transferring over. For every cent you spend over the original balance amount, a higher interest rate may apply;

o        Are there penalties for late payment? If you are late in paying a repayment amount, even by a day, some providers will revert your account to their standard interest rate and will disallow you from reverting back once you’ve paid.

So, before you decide to take advantage of a honeymoon period, be sure to read the fine print. Ask for clarifications if there are things you don’t really understand. Find someone you trust and seek advice. Think hard and think well before making any decision. Make an informed decision.

Balance Transfer Credit Cards with Zero Percent Interest Rates

The rapid increase of interest rates in Australia just made it more painstaking to look for a reasonable balance transfer from a credit card. More credit card providers are on the rise. Hence, offers become more competitive each time. Having said this, the process of selecting the right card remains highly important.

The Advantages of Having Your Own Balance Transfer Credit Card

There are banks that offer interest rates that can be as low as zero percent. You should consider taking a look at these offers and see if they are the solutions that you have been searching for. Many people can benefit from a balance transfer card because not only does it allow you to pay incurred debts with lower interest rates. You are also able to pay outstanding balances much faster and more easily than usual.

Interest rates are surprisingly high, most of the time. Just take a look at your current credit card statement and notice how much interests are charged onto your monthly balance. If you find these charges unreasonable or quite heavy for your pocket to handle, you always have the option to avail the benefits of a balance transfer credit card.

Zero Percent Interest Rate

The beauty of having a zero percent balance transfer card is you do not have to worry about paying for interests that add onto your debt per month, because there will be none.

Whenever you have high interest rates, you can always transfer the balances to from your current credit card to a new card with lesser charges. Thus, there will be no need to pay rates that are as high as it should be.

However, keep in mind that zero percent balance transfers are usually valid for a certain period only. As an introductory offer, most banks make this offer valid for six months. That same card will then charge you with a higher interest rate after the offer has expired.

It is just a matter of handling your funds responsibly. If you shop wisely and do not make purchases upon impulse prior to having a zero percent card, then you are likely to find a card that can still provide reasonable interest rates even after the introductory period comes to an end.

Allot some time to check if you are charged with a balance transfer fee. See to it that the amount being charged to you is correct. It is a percentage of your money transfers from the old card to the new card that can be added onto your current debt.

Another important factor to look at when searching for a good balance transfer credit card is the annual fee. There are banks that offer zero percent interest rates. However, there are also some that may impose high fees per annum as a strategy to gain more revenue for their companies.

With all these in mind, always check your options when it comes to choosing a zero percent balance transfer card. Understanding what you are applying for can help you save a lot of money, and pay for debts much faster than usual.