Credit card applications getting accepted

Although they can be painful at times, life today without the ease of a credit card is no longer a reality. So, if you think you want a credit card, here are some essential factors you’ll need to consider when applying for a credit card: Your Credit History One of the most essential elements to applying for a credit card is what you current credit history is. * If you have a bad credit history, then it is going to be much harder applying for a credit card. * If you have a good credit history, then it is going to be much easier applying for a credit card. * If you have no credit history, then you may well need to create a credit history, by having a loan or hire-purchase agreement, before you can apply for a credit card. If you’re in any doubt what your credit history may be, then you should apply for a copy of your credit history. You can do this by applying for a copy of your credit history from a credit reference agency – who may charge you a small sum for providing this to you. Credit Card Limit Having discovered that you have a good enough credit history to apply for a credit card, the next thing you need to do is to decide on how much of a credit line you want to apply for. Normally, what your income is will decided this – but sometime your savings can also be important. Depending on what your income and savings are, you can then apply for a regular credit card, gold credit card, or platinum credit card. Submitting Your Credit Card Application Form You now need to go through the process of choosing which credit provider meets your needs. Once you have done this, you can then submit an application to that credit card company. Once the credit card company you have applied to has reviewed your application form, they’ll either approve your application or ask you to comply with certain conditions. The type of conditions they may ask you to comply with include asking you to have some money on a deposit account with them. Credit Card Application Is Refused If your application for a credit card is refused, you must ask why. If you don’t, you’ll never know whether the application has been refused because you failed the credit rating test or because you completed the application form wrong! If you failed the credit rating test, then you know you need to apply for a credit card with another credit card provider. However, if it is because you filled in the form wrong, you can still reapplying using a correctly completed application form. So don’t be shy to ask “why?” if the credit card provider tells you that you failed in your credit card application!

Determine your credit card style

Life styles are what make people unique. The way we wear our hair, the type of clothing and fashion we prefer, and the selection of decorations within our homes all makes up an individual’s style. The type of credit card we choose, and how we use it is also part of our individual "financial style". As people grow from children to adults, they often are seen imitating what they see their parents and close circle of friends doing. Just walk through the halls of any middle school, and listen to how certain groups talk and look - it’s almost as if they have their own mini-cultures! Children often learn how to handle (or not) their finances by watching their parents or caretakers’ deal with finances. If the parents spend money like water, the children will probably grow to do the same. On the other hand, if the parents were careful with their finances, paid every bill on time, discussed money matters with the children, then chances are - the children will become adults who have very few credit cards and do not carry a revolving balance from one month to the next. Regardless of your personal credit card style and habits, it never hurts to be reminded of the most affordable way to use your credit cards. It is most financially efficient to pay your credit card accounts in full at the end of each month, and there should be little to no balance carried from one month to the next. Of course, most people don’t have that sort of credit card style - as evident by the number of people who have several thousand dollars racked up on a few different cards! One of the best things you can do with your credit cards if you have cards with balances on them, is to find the 0% transfer balance deals and move your debt from the cards that you are paying interest on to the new card that allows you to make payments without paying interest. This is a "financial style" everyone can appreciate! Most deals give you a specific amount of time to pay on the transferred balances, and as long as you make the monthly payments on time, you will not be charged interest on the balance you transfer. This is a great way to pay down the old debt and not be charged additional money in the process. Just take care to cancel and close out the original credit card(s) that the debt comes from, otherwise you are likely to keep spending on those cards while you are working to pay off the debt you just transferred off of there! This is a recipe for financial disaster! Another popular credit card style is to cash in on the cash back credit card options, and rewards programs that actually give you something back for using their card. There are many of this style of credit card available, but you need to really understand the credit card terms because sometimes rewards cards have higher interest rates, or annual fees that cost more than what you earn back when using the card. Typically, cash back and rewards credit cards are best for individuals who do their daily spending on a credit card, and pay off the balance at the end of each month. That way, you aren’t carrying a balance and aren’t being charged interest, and you are earning the maximum rewards or cash back by using the card often. If your credit card style is to have a card in your wallet for emergencies only, then chances are you are not going to benefit from a cash back or rewards card. Taking time to understand your personal credit card style can help you find the best deals when it’s time to get a credit card, or move your debt from one card to another. If you are a frequent flyer, it would be worth the time and effort to compare different credit cards that feature rewards in the way of miles that can be redeemed towards your air travel. If you like to save on gasoline or at a particular store, you can find a card for that as well! A little research goes a long way in finding a credit card that would work the best for you financially, one that your name would be in "style" on.

Cash back vs. rewards credit cards

: Ah, the sweet rewards of using credit! Not only do you get immediate gratification with the buy now-pay later plastic, but now, many credit cards offer rewards and incentives for using their card to make purchases. You can get cash back, or gift cards, or ‘reward points’ that you can spend on merchandise or services from various merchants. There are also cards that allow you to designate your 'cash back' points to a charity – sometimes called affinity cards – and those that put your cash back into a special savings account for college.Great deal, right? You spend your money and get something in return. The catch is, of course, that you’re paying interest and card fees to get your cash back rewards. But if you’re going to be using the credit card anyway, you might as well get something back out of it, right?Most cash-back cards give you 1-2% cash back on most of your purchases. You’ll get a check at specified periods for the amount of your ‘rewards cash’. You can cash the check and spend the money on anything you want.Reward cards give you 1-5 reward points for every dollar that you spend at different merchants and types of merchants. Most pay you 5 reward points for purchases made at their ‘Merchant Thank You’ network, and for purchases made at gas stations, drug stores and supermarkets. You’ll get 1 reward point for every dollar that you spend at other merchants. You can then redeem your reward points for particular items from the merchants that belong to the credit card’s merchant network.Which is the better choice?Each kind of credit card reward has its own pros and cons, and the better choice depends on what’s most important to you. Cash-back Rewards – ProsCash can be used anywhere, for any kind of purchase. Gives 1% - 2% cash back on all purchases.Cash-back Rewards – ConsRewards points cards may give rewards of higher value, particularly for purchases at merchant networks stores, gas stations and supermarkets. Cash-back can only be used when a check is issued.Rewards Points – ProsRewards points are often higher value than cash-back. If you use the credit card for purchases made within the merchant member network, you can get as much as 5% value back when you spend your reward points.Reward points are available to use on a rolling basis. Some card companies may require you to accumulate a certain number of rewards points before redeeming them, but reward point rewards are often more easily available than cash-back rewards. Reward points can be used for cash rewards in some circumstances.Reward Points – ConsReward points can only be redeemed from particular merchants and/or on particular merchandise.Whichever your choice, it makes good sense to get something back when you choose to use credit. If you’re a frequent credit card user, the rewards can certainly add up. Among the merchants that belong to various Merchant Member networks are such well-known companies as airlines, Saks Fifth Avenue, Evelyn & Crabtree and Smarter Edge.

Credit card rebates how to get yours

Getting those bills in the mail is not much fun - especially the credit card bills. But what if, every time you got a bill, you also were informed about how much money your purchases had earned - wouldn't that make it more interesting? That is exactly what credit card rebates does for you. Many credit card companies are now offering rebate credit cards, giving you a percentage back. We have offered a description of what to look for in your new rebate credit card and how to get yours, quickly and easily. Compare The Interest Getting credit card rebates sounds like a really good idea - and it is. A few years ago - about 15, or so, there was a standard fee that everyone had to pay if they owned a credit card. Only more recently did the credit card companies begin to vary from this pattern of standardization - apparently the competition demanded new ideas. Now just about all of them have some kind of unique way to get people to sign onto their card. A rebate credit card is really only better for you if you are in the habit of paying it off each month, when your bill comes in. This kind of card is normally a little higher in interest than a regular credit card would be. This is their way of offsetting the expense. As long as you pay the bill each month you will not have a problem. If, however, you allow your bill to be carried over into the next billing period -- well, the truth is that your card really won't do you much good. You could do better with a regular credit card. Look For Annual Finance Fee Rebate credit cards will often charge an annual finance fee. Some cards will waive it for the first year, but then you will be charged in successive years. The fee can also vary quite a bit, too, going from as low as $15 to as much as $135 per year. Notice The Caps Quite a number of these cards carry caps on just how much of a monthly (or yearly) rebate you can receive. It may differ, too, in the different kinds of purchases you make. They often will give you one rate for groceries, medicines, and gas, and another rate for purchases you make at certain stores, and then another rate for your general purchases. Watch Your Statements The actual amounts that you receive from your rebate credit card will often depend on which of the above categories the purchase is placed into - this is often their prerogative - but still, gas is gas. In order to ensure proper crediting, you will need to verify your purchases, each month, the rebates that are given to you. Note The Time Frame A rebate credit card often uses the rebates part of it as an attraction for you to get the card -- and it is a good one, too. Keep in mind, however, that the rebates may not keep coming -- but usually are good only for the first year of the card. Other cards may only give the initial offer for three months, and then drop down to a lower credit card rebates level after that. By shopping around, you will quickly find that there are many different conditions for similar cards. You also will want to read the fine print about possible late payments -- just in case. A late payment may be all that is necessary to put you in a category of paying the highest possible interest. So, be informed, and enjoy as many possible benefits as you can, too. Getting your own credit card rebates is a great way to go - but there is one that is even better. When you shop around, before you sign up, try to get a rebate credit card with 0% APR, and low interest. This way, as long as you make the monthly payment in full, you will be saving on interest, and get those wonderful rebates, too.

College students need a break

There are a lot of things to juggle when you are at college. Daily class schedules, when assignments are due, the next intramural game that you promised to play in, and, always, managing your money so that it lasts until the end of the semester. Whether you have a part-time job or you are waiting on the next check from your mom, life could be easier to manage with a Chase Student Flexible Rewards Card. In this way, you won’t have any problem if it is Thursday night and everybody wants a mini-road trip at midnight, and your paycheck isn’t going to be deposited to your account until Friday. Just use your Chase Student Flexible Rewards Card to get gas, goodies, and go! One of the main advantages of the Chase Student Flexible Rewards Card is the flexibility it gives you in how you manage your money as it comes and goes. However, a big advantage of the Chase Student Flexible Rewards Card is that there is no interest for the first six months! So if you want to buy that music system that is on sale now, but you won’t have enough cash for it for another two months, just use your Chase Student Flexible Rewards Card. You can charge it now and pay it off, as you won’t be incurring any interest for the first six months. This offer of 0% interest for six months is also available for balance transfers. So, if you have another credit card that you will not pay off for several months, you can transfer it to your Chase Student Flexible Rewards Card, and not pay interest on that amount for six months. Another advantage of the Chase Student Flexible Rewards Card is that every time you use it there are rewards points added to the card. When you shop at any store, whether it is the local coffee shop or your local college bookstore, you will earn rewards points. Every $1 that you spend using your Chase Student Flexible Rewards Card will get 1 reward point. So, not only can you get coffee or your new stereo system, you can also get gift certificates at different merchants, once you have accumulated enough points. There are also other ways to use your reward points, such as using them for free merchandise. Information about this can be found on the website.