Credit Card Dilemma

I have read many articles and books about how much credit cards are to blame for people being in debt over their heads. The question is who is actually to blame: The Banks or The Consumer. If you asked 100 people the answer would be split right down the middle give or take a percent or two either way.

Some will say banks are to blame since they send out hundreds of applications to people all the time. They constantly receive offers in the mail or on TV or the internet. I know personally I receive about 2 or 3 offers a week. Not as many as in years past, but still quite a few. I cannot disagree with those who blame banks since they are the ones' who approve the loans. Other will say it is the consumer who is to blame since no one is forcing them to have a credit card or make purchases. Nowadays people spend all they earn and then some more on top of that with credit cards. I once again cannot disagree since it is the consumer who is applying for new credit and then making purchases.

As you can see credit debt is a dilemma. You have to have some type of credit card if you want to travel since most airlines, hotels and car rentals require a Visa or MasterCard to secure reservation or purchase. Today with banks offer Visa and MasterCard accounts tied to your bank account so you don't really have to have an actual credit card to make a reservation. However, a lot of people do not like to give out credit card number tied to bank account (I am One) due to identity theft. The Credit Card Dilemma comes down to personal choice. You can have a lot of credit card debt or none. Either choice is not good or bad, but a personal choice.

In the end both parties will discover that both share the blame and need to hold themselves accountable for their part. It is always easier to blame someone or something else than ourselves. As the saying goes, "if you look in the mirror you will see part of the problem." Knowledge will increase your Debt Strength.

About Teddy Danfield. I have worked in the finance field for over 15 years. I want to help people get out of debt or at least pay less in interest charges. Visit my site http://debtstrength.com. My new book "How to Beat Banks and Credit Cards At the Money Game" can help you keep more money in your pocket. Stop paying interest to banks and start earning interest.

By Teddy Danfield

Dealing With Creditors

Debt can be exhausting and stressful, but there are many ways to deal with it, and often times programs that can help you if you are overwhelmed with debt and simply cannot make the payments and help you deal with your creditors.Most collection agencies do pay attention to the laws, but unfortunately there are many out there who don't, make unnessary threats, and will take advantage of unsuspecting consumers. Here are some tips on dealing with creditors:
- Most collection agencies do pay attention to the laws, but unfortunately there are many out there who don't, make unnessary threats, and will take advantage of unsuspecting consumers. Here are some tips on dealing with creditors.
- Make a budget. Debt will have to be dealt with or repaid eventually. Its important to pay off debt, or at least make an effort. Stick to a monthly budget so you know where you stand financially, and know what you can afford and cannot afford.
- Know your rights. Believe it or not, even though you are unable to pay your bills at the moment you stil have rights when dealing with creditors. Most consumers do not know their rights and collection agencies know this. So its important to read the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Its readily available on the web.
- Stay in touch. Igorning the situation will not make anything go away. Let them know you are having trouble making payments and have recieved their letters or phone calls. Even paying a little each month will show that you are trying and not ignorning the situation.
- Ask for a written statement. Anyone can say anything over the phone. It's important to get a paper trail. When a creditor calls you, ask for a written statement in the mail describing the debt you owe and with whom. Also to get an address and a phone number of the debt collection agency so you know who you're dealing with. Creditors legally have to send you this information within 30 days of the call.

Credit Score Basics

- Keep your debt to income ratio low. You ideally want to have a lot more income than you do debt. Most banks and financial institutions looks for a debt to income ratio that is less than 36% of what your gross income is. For example, if you make $10,000, your debt payments should not be more than $3,600.

- Resist the urge to charge unnecessary items on a charge card. If you have trouble resisting the urge to buy, try not to carry your credit card with you.

- Resist the urge to charge unnecessary items on a charge card. If you have trouble resisting the urge to buy, try not to carry your credit card with you.

- Pull your credit report every single year and review it carefully for mistakes. Be aware that there are three credit reporting agencies: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. All three collect your credit information on a monthly basis and they use the information they have to give you a credit score. They collect their data from public records, your credit card information and lender inquires.

- Make all payments on time and when possible, pay more than the minimum on credit cards. Late payments will hurt your credit score. However, if you can pay more than the minimum payment due each month, that will help your credit score.

- Keep your information private as much as possible. In this day and age, everyone wants to collect your information and put it in a data base. That has made it fairly easy to have your identity stolen. Determine what information you want out there and try to limit where it goes.

Improve Credit Score

There are several complexities involved in maintaining and improving a credit score.the first step is obvious. You will need to start by paying off some of the old accumulated debts you find on your free annual credit report. Depending on how much you owe, the amount may not be much or it could be outrageous.You should begin with the oldest debts and work from there towards the newest.Weekly payments are a good way to go, since this makes it easier to budget.Your payments should also be sizeable enough that you'll be able to repay your outstanding debts relatively quickly to improve your credit report.Being able to exercise self control is the key here.
Once you know how to improve credit score problems, you'll no longer have to avoid your phone for fear of debt collectors constantly calling.Once you tell them that you're already making payments on your debt, they'll probably stop calling.If you're able to check your credit report carefully on a regular basis and pay off any outstanding debts, you can get back in control of your finances and restore your credit rating. It'll be easier to obtain financing and even employment.
With unprecedented challenges in the credit markets its more important than ever to have excellent credit.

Tips on How to Compare Credit Cards

Factors to consider when comparing credit cards:

- Interest free credit on purchases: The longer a card gives you for interest free on purchases, the more time you have to pay it off and potentially save on fees.
- Approval Time: Some cards offer instant approval when applying online. This can be very handy if you're about to go on holidays and unexpected costs come up that you haven't factored into the equation.
- Credit Card Limit: This should perhaps have been the first item on the list, as it will generally be the first consideration you'll want to look at.It's always a good idea to start off with a lower limit if possible, particularly if you only want the card for a few purchases. Once the temptation is there to spend, it's often hard to resist and a maxed out credit card bill from a card with a high limit is never fun.
- Frequent Flyers: Frequent Flyer points are particularly important today,The most important thing here is to make sure the card you select will give you points towards your preferred flyer.
- Low Annual Fees: This is also an important consideration, as you don't want to get stung by a large fee at the beginning of each year.
- Benefits and Rewards: The more platinum the credit cards you're comparing, the more benefits and rewards you'll generally get. Again make sure these benefits and rewards are right for you now, and in the future.

Some Facts About Credit Report

This refers to the file containing information such as, your name, place of work, your bills, reports on bankruptcy and whether you have been sued or arrested. This information is kept and sold by the Report Agencies and the Credit bureau. Every consumer has the right to know his/her report. If requested, the Agency must give you all the information in your credit report including all the names of the people who have requested your report.

This file is required by different people for various reasons. For instance, a lender will need your credit rating to determine the amount of money he/she will led you. Lenders will charge high interest rate to people with bad credit report to avoid putting their money at risk. Renters will use the file to know whether you are one of those people who refuse to pay rent. Other people who may need this information are your employers, Life Insurance Companies and the Auto Insurance Companies.

Sometimes there may be errors in your report. Its your responsibility to ensure corrections are made to maintain right information. You need to check your file at least once per year to detect and stop any fraud. Its also important to check the file before you apply for any credit card.

Fair Credit Report Act is a federal law that regulates credit reporting companies. In the federal law, consumers have the right to know the information given in their credit report, right to report any mistake found in the information and have it removed. Good credit history is an advantage since it enables you to get credit card fast and with good negotiable interest rate.

Mary Mukami Gachonde Researches and Reports on Finance. For More Information On How To Get Out Of Debt, Visit Her Site At GETTING OUT OF DEBT You Can Also Post Your Views About How To Get Out Of Debt Here SOME FACTS ABOUT CREDIT REPORT

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mary_Mukami_Gachonde

Credit Score Lesson

There are many things in our world that you can be deprived of if you don't have a good credit score, and a lot of money can be saved by having a good one. Your credit score is a number that based on statistical analysis of your credit files determines your creditworthiness or really your likelihood of paying the bills. The three major credit bureaus are Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax. Experian uses PLUS score, TransUnion is simply TransUnion's credit score, and Equifax is ScorePower. You are entitled to one free report from each of these credit bureaus once every year; however, not the actual individual score is free.
So how do you improve your credit score? Well, after you've check the reports for mistakes and discrepancies, here are the biggest things that positively affect your score:
1. Paying your bills on time and in full.
2. Using 25% or less of your available credit.
3. Steady employment. May not be completely in your control, but employed people are viewed as being better able to pay their bills on time, which does make sense.
4. Length of time you have been building credit; the longer it has been, the higher the score.

How is your credit score negatively impacted? Here are the biggest factors:
1. Late or missed payments.
2. Using more than 80% of your total amount of available credit.
3. Bankruptcy.
4. Liens or foreclosures.
5. Periods of unemployment.
6. Too many requests for new lines of credit.
7. Too many inquiries into your credit report.

The Benefit of Credit Cards

If you use credit cards correctly they can be very beneficial for many reasons. Many people have them for the added protection that comes with purchases over £100 and under £30,000. If you purchase something within this bracket then should the company go bust then the credit card company will pay out the money to cover the purchase, they are as equally liable as the company. This legislation is the law so every card company must obey which can found under section 75 of the consumer credit act.

With many companies sadly going out of business there is a higher risk than ever so you should always use a credit card for transactions over £100 to avoid being caught out.

Different types will suit different types of people depending on their circumstances. If you pay it off each and every month then you would be best to look for a credit card which offers additional benefits like cash back or discounts when buying certain products. Not only do you have the protection but you're able to save some money too.

If you owe money then you should shop around for a credit card that is offering the best terms. The credit card market is very competitive so to entice you card companies offer some great incentives such as zero per cent interest on purchases or for transferring the balance from another card or both. It is one of the most expensive ways to borrow so you should certainly look to apply for cards which offer these zero interest deals. At the time of writing there are several cards that will shift the balance (for a fee) and not charge interest on the balance for over 12 months. There is potential here to save considerably and make a sizable dent in the balance on the card.

Whatever your circumstances it is always good to have one even if you only have small purchases, should you lose your debit card then you have a back up you can use. If you are smart with your finances then credit card is a useful item to have.

Kim has 5 years experience in the travel industry. She enjoys writing articles on different holiday locations and travel tips.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kim_Chambers

JPMorgan Chase credit card losses down in July

JPMorgan Chase & Co. said Monday that the rate of losses on its credit card loans eased up in July.

Shares of the New York-based bank fell $1.20, or 2.8 percent, to $41.25 in afternoon trading amid sweeping declines in the broader market.

According to filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the rate of chargeoffs on Chase credit card loans improved to 7.92 percent in July from 8.04 percent in June. It was the second month in a row that defaults declined.

Credit card loans are charged off after consumers are delinquent on numerous payments and the company determines those loans won't be repaid.

The percentage of loans at least 30 days delinquent to total loans stood at 4.16 percent in July, down from 4.46 percent in June.

Other lenders, including American Express Co. and Discover Financial Services, also said Monday that losses in their credit card portfolios slowed last month, a sign that defaults may be stabilizing after months of increases as consumer struggled to pay off their debts amid the recession.

Rising credit card minimums

For the second time this year the bank has changed up the rules for how it calculates the minimum payment due for certain customers, increasing the rate from 2% of the outstanding balance to 5%. If you’re carrying a $5,000 balance that means your required minimum payment went from $100 in July to $250 this month.Over at about.com the call to action is to file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission over this “unfair practic.
There is no question that tightening the payment screws at a time when unemployment is at a 25-year high and furloughs are the hot new employment trend isn’t exactly consumer-friendly. Yet there is indeed a residual benefit for cardholders. Increasing the minimum payment rate by 150% means Chase customers will pay off their debt a whole lot faster. That’s a boon for their personal balance sheet as well as saving a bundle in interest costs. While I don’t believe for one second that Chase’s motivation is to help its customers — this is all about Chase reducing its risk — I think Curtis Arnold over at CardRatings.com got it right by tagging the change a case of “tough love.” What’s your take? The poll is open.

An Insight to Chase Credit Cards

Chase Manhattan Bank offers Chase credit cards playing a major role in the arena of credit cards.Credit cards are offered in a wide range by Chase, based on the consumers needs.There is no exaggeration to say that Chase's offer of 250 credit cards is nothing less than phenomenal.Huge availability of cards, tailor-made, with lot of potential to meet the fiscal needs is an indication of demand for Chase cards.Consumer Cards attracts lower credit limits compared to Chase business credit cards, with flexible options for adjustable ceiling in spending limits. The built-in accounting benefits the card holder by alerting and monitoring the spending activity or erroneous judgement or any fault on the part of the card holder.
Card holders of Chase are recognized widely and they are offered incentives like travel points and cash discounts. With steep rise in gasoline prices of late, the importance of gasoline cards gained significance and the businessmen as well as individuals could be benefited from them. Last but surely not the least, be sure to read the terms and conditions carefully before applying for any of the above-mentioned cards.

Get a Chase Credit Card

The following article will outline how to get some of the best credit card deals by getting a Chase credit card:
* Go to Chase.com. They have all their programs here on the site. If you are not comfortable with the information on the web, you can take to a real Chase credit card representative by calling 1-800-432-3117 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

* Choose a type of account. They offer cards with zero interest on new cards for a period of time as well as cards without any annual fees. Most of their programs offer zero liability on unauthorized purchases. The best credit card deals they have offer cash back on purchases as well as airline miles or other rewards type programs. Be sure to look at their business credit cards as well as their personal cards.

* You can do this by phone or log in on the website to apply over their secure server. They will require all of your personal information including your social security number in order to complete the application process. Once they have run your credit and done income verification they can tell you if you have chosen the best credit card deals or not.

* Once you complete a credit card application and approval process for the best credit card deals, you need to know how to use it to maximize your benefit. Read all of your materials so that you can make use of any affiliate deals you can get on travel or restaurant discounts, etc. Also, if you have a points system for rewards, make as many purchases as possible on the card, but pay it off every month. This will make sure that you do not rack up debt, but at the same time you help out your credit rating and you accrue points much faster which can turn back into fabulous cash and prizes.

New Program for Chase Credit Cards

J.P. Morgan Chase & Co.,is launching a new card-rewards program.
For Chase -- which is expected to announce the program on Thursday -- the move is an attempt to create a flagship rewards program, similar to American Express Co.'s Membership Rewards loyalty program or Citigroup Inc.'s ThankYou Network program.
Points-based program Ultimate Rewards,customers will earn points for every dollar spent on certain Chase credit cards, with no earnings caps or expiration dates. Points can be redeemed for travel, cash, statement credits or gift cards,Users can also redeem points for merchandise, although the redemption rate is slightly less than one percent.Consumers can earn points through the program on only two Chase cards:
* The Chase Freedom card and a new "Sapphire" credit card aimed at affluent customers
*Although the company plans to link other Chase cards to the program.

For Chase, the move is also a way to replace older versions of its Freedom card, some of which had offered richer cash-back rewards and bonus opportunities. Throughout the year, all Chase Freedom cardholders will be moved to the rewards program, where they will earn 1% cash back (or one point) for every dollar spent and 3% cash back (or three points) for every dollar spent in categories that change each quarter. Chase had already moved to those terms for new customers last November.
Chase's rewards program,customers earn bonus points if they book travel using the program's online booking tool or if they shop through the program's merchant partners. The standard Freedom and Sapphire cards -- where users earn one point for every dollar spent -- don't have annual fees.Chase Freedom cardholders who want to earn a fixed 3% bonus for spending in grocery, gas and fast-food categories, will soon pay a $30 annual fee. Chase's Sapphire Preferred card -- where users can transfer points to other travel reward programs -- has a $95 annual fee.

About the Chase Credit Card

Chase is one of the world's top ranked financial service providers that have entered into partnership with JP Morgan partners.Chase is providing its incomparable services to the personal and institutional customers in the corporate sector.Chase provides a huge range of services such as personal lending,business services and personal services,investing insurance services, the chase credit cards are one of the most popular ones.The profitability of the company's financial record sheet currently exceeds the $1.2 trillion mark.
Chase is actively providing services at the moment.Some of these facilities include the service of innovative credit including non-profit,entertainment,student,college, retail,gas or auto,general purpose and chase rewards credit cards.the retail banking, investment, business and personal service including business loans, auto loans, mortgages, savings, home equity lines, CDs,and lot more are also provided by the company.Chase provides the wealth management as well as knowledgebase too. There are different facilities and offers that are provided by the company with its Chase Platinum Credit Card and Chase FreedomSM Credit Card. The facility of no annual fee and 0% intro APR are provided to the Chase FreedomSM customers. One percent of cash back offer is also provided by the company.The earning or spending not applicable throughout the transaction.After first purchase, 50 percent of money is given as cash back to the customer.
Apart from the facilities provided in the Chase Platinum Credit Card, you also get 24 hours online account access.It also provides rental car insurance and world travel accident insurance. However, no annual fee is applicable in this process.