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Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Everything About 0% Intro Rate Credit Cards

By: Michael Colucci
Tired of reading review after review about 0% APR intro rate credit cards? Having no luck when it comes to finding an all-in-one-review about 0% APR intro rate credit cards? Confused with what you've read so far about 0% APR intro rate credit cards because everything seems to be contradictory? Well, look no more because this article is indeed what you're looking for.

In here, you'll learn everything you want to know about 0% APR intro rate credit cards. In this article, you may also discover more than you bargained about 0% APR intro rate credit cards - in a good way, of course. Ready for Lesson Number One about 0% APR intro rate credit cards? Well, here goes.

It's True - Yes, 0% APR intro rate credit cards do exist and if we have our way about it, you'll be one of the lucky people to qualify for a 0% APR intro rate credit cards.

The Application Process - Applying for any credit card, whether it's for 0% APR intro rate credit cards or for credit cards offering reward points is always a tad difficult so don't expect overnight success, especially since you're angling for 0% APR intro rates.

The application process for a 0% APR intro rate credit card starts with submitting the necessary documents - this is SOP for all credit card applications - that would substantiate your contact details and give them an overview about your present financial status. Upon submission of the usual documents, depending on your income level and credit reputation, you may be contacted by the credit company and asked to submit additional documents.

The Qualifications for 0% APR intro rate credit cards - Basically, if you want to have 0% APR intro rate, you must have a squeaky clean credit reputation. That means having a reputation of paying debts promptly, not owing too much from the bank, not having high balances on your other credit cards, not having too much mortgages under your name and not having so many people requiring a credit check on you.

If you're not sure whether you qualify for a 0% APR intro rate credit card, simply approach the nearest credit bureau and request for a copy of your credit report. The details in your credit report can easily tell you if you've a good shot of owning a 0% APR intro rate credit card or not. People with FICO scores equal to 650 or more are more or less guaranteed of having their application approved.
 
Author Bio
Michael Colucci is a technical writer for Low Interest Credit Cards - A site that offers credit cards with an intro rate of 0% for 12-15 months.

Friday, February 3, 2012

Costly Credit Card Mistakes to Avoid

by: Debbie Dragon

For many people, using credit cards is a way of life. Most people today instead of carrying around cash carry around plastic. It certainly is easier and more convenient. While many people use their credit cards wisely, others are not so careful. If you do not pay close attention you could find yourself buried in unwanted credit card debt and unwanted credit fees. This can cause unwanted stress. Here are some tips to help you avoid credit card pitfalls.

First, make sure you know your due date. With the new credit card regulations this will be easy as your credit card bill must now be due the same day each month. Most credit card companies offer an email reminder that is sent to you just a few days before your due date. If you are known for missing payments this is a good thing to sign up for. Writing the due date on your calendar is another helpful way to remind yourself not to miss your payment.

Another option with many credit card companies offer is to set up automatic payments from your checking account each month. As a word of caution, if you choose this option make sure that you have the money in your account the day it will be taken out. Repercussions of missing your due date are severe. You will rack up late payment fees and interest charges. This in turn can affect your credit report and score. If you always pay your bill on time and miss once, call your card holder immediately. Sometimes they will reverse the fee and interest charges one time for you.

The second credit card mistake to avoid is not paying your balance in full each and every month. This seems to be the biggest pitfall that credit card holder make each month. When you don’t pay you bill in full each month you get charged interest finance charges. You then have to start digging yourself out of the black hole of what is known as credit card debt.

Simple common sense can help you avoid this costly credit card mistake. Don’t charge more than what you can truly pay off each month. While it is so easy to say I will pay for it later, you must avoid this at all costs if you want to use your credit card wisely. Only charge what you need and what you have budgeted for. Setting up a simple monthly expense budget can be very helpful in avoiding this credit card mistake.

A third credit card mistake to avoid is ignoring your credit card debt. So many people each month pull out their plastic without a thought in the world and spend uncontrollably. Before they know it they have thousands of dollars in credit card debt and instead of taking control they spend more and avoid the problem.

If you have racked up credit card debt, the sooner you take control the sooner you can wipe it out and live a less stressful life. Following the above tips will get you a start on not racking up more debt. Coupled with that you will need to develop a plan to start paying off what you have charged. A monthly budget is a great first step. Giving up luxuries for awhile and instead paying down your debt each month is a great way to start.

Many find that in order to get control that they need to give up using their plastic all together, at least until they have paid off what they owe. Still others are so buried, they find it easiest to seek professional help. If you are in credit card debt, no matter what method you choose to get out, it will be worth it.