Kellys Credit Information

How To Choose A Credit Card


Your credit score may just be a little number, but it packs a big punch. A poor credit score can keep you from getting a mortgage or a car loan. In addition, your credit score may haunt you for a long time if it suddenly drops. Of course, if you have a good credit score it opens a lot of doors for you. This is just one reason why it is important to think about which credit card you apply for before you do.

Every time you apply for a credit card, the company has to check your credit score. This is a bad thing. Numerous inquiries from credit card companies look bad on your credit report because it looks as though you are scrambling to open lines of credit, which can be a sign that you are struggling financially. Of course, this may not be the case. However, credit scoring companies all look at it the same way.

You can avoid scarring your credit score with credit card applications by choosing your card wisely. Choose a card that matches your lifestyle and works for you instead of against you. If you plan to pay off your balance each month, you might want a charge card instead of a credit card. American Express offers a number of charge cards with flexible spending programs that are perfect for people who plan to pay off their balance each month. They also offer some flexibility so that if you have an emergency you can use the card and pay off large charges over time. In addition most of their cards offer you reward points for using the card. On the downside, American Express charges an annual membership fee for having the card.

If you do not plan to use the card often, but plan to make large purchases on the card, which you will pay off over time you should get a revolving credit card, which allows you to carry a large balance over time. Of course there cards require you to pay interest on everything you buy. Interest expenses can get very high.

Other kinds of cards include:

1) A check guarantee card, issued by your bank, that you can use to ensure that your cheque will be honoured up to a certain limit.

2) A debit card, issued by your bank, where whatever you spend is immediately deducted from your bank account

Do you need a credit card?

a) A credit card means you don't need to carry huge amounts of cash around and risk losing it.

b) A credit card means you can buy items over the internet.

c) A credit card means you can make purchases abroad without having to worry about local currency.

d) A credit card gives the opportunity to spread the cost of a large payment over several months.

e) A credit card is useful in an emergency. For example, an unexpected repair to your house or car.

What You Need To Consider:

1) APR (Annual Percentage Rate)
This is the rate of interest that you will pay on any outstanding balance.

2) Special Introductory Rates
You may be offered a low or 0% rate of interest for a limited time (Up to 6 months) when you sign up for a new card. A higher rate of interest may be charged for cash withdrawals.

3) Balance Transfer Rate
Card issuers may offer you a lower rate of interest if your swap your balance from another credit card to theirs.

4) Interest Free period
Remember to check when interest payments will begin. Will you pay interest from the day of the purchase? Or will you have a number of days interest free before you begin to pay? There is usually no interest free period for cash withdrawals.

5) Cashback and Rewards
Some cards over points or rewards for every pound spent on the credit card. Make sure that these are appropriate for you. For example, there&'s no use collecting airmiles if you never fly.

6) Minimum Repayment
Remember to check what the minimum monthly repayment will be. If you borrow £1000 on your credit card the monthly minimum repayment will probably be in the region of £25. But if you only pay this amount each month it will take a long time to pay off the balance and cost a lot in total when you include the interest payments.

7) Annual Fees
This is the fee that the issuer will charge you every year for using their credit card. Not all credit cards have an annual fee, so remember to consider this when you are choosing which one is right for you.

8) Late Payments
There will be an extra charge, as well as the interest owed, if your payment is late. This charge may even be more than the amount you owe so be very careful to check what the charge is, and to ensure that all your payments are made on time. A good way of doing this is to set up a direct debit from your current account.

9) Exceeding Your Limit
You may also be charged a fee if you exceed your credit limit.

Choosing the right credit card is a complex decision, but it can be made easier by using the free online credit card finders at http://www.creditcardbuzz.com.

Stephen Kelly is a financial advisor and the founder of Credit Card Buzz (http://www.creditcardbuzz.com). A free site with credit card reviews, ratings, analysis and online applications.


MORE RESOURCES:

Town Hall

CREDIT MARKETS: Few Issues Cap Busy Week For Corporate Bonds
Wall Street Journal
In high-yield, Ford Motor Credit Corp.'s 7-year notes sold on Wednesday were similarly oversubscribed. Even secondary trading volumes have picked up since ...
CREDIT MARKETS: Tepid Auction, Refi Fears Dominate TradingWall Street Journal
Analysis: Equity 'volatility' vs credit market, what to believe?Reuters UK

all 355 news articles »


This is Money

The New Credit-Card Tricks
Wall Street Journal
The Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009, known as the Card Act, was intended to reshape the contours of consumer finance. ...
What is a merchant supposed to do when a credit card is left at his or her ...Seattle Post Intelligencer (blog)
5 Ways to Quickly Boost Your Credit ScoreU.S. News & World Report (blog)
Do prepaid debit and credit cards affect your credit score?Helium
e-wisdom.com (blog) -Which? -CardRatings.com (blog)
all 16 news articles »


Christian Science Monitor

Use Balance Transfers to Reduce Credit Card Debt, Says SmartBalanceTransfers.com
MarketWatch (press release)
NORWALK, CT, Jul 27, 2010 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) -- SmartBalanceTransfers.com, a website that allows visitors to find the best credit card balance transfer ...
Who Pays For Credit Card Rewards?NPR (blog)
4 Common Fees and How to Avoid ThemU.S. News & World Report (blog)
Interchange Fees a Scam?The Atlantic (blog)
The Economist (blog) -Forbes (blog) -JoongAng Daily
all 101 news articles »


MDC Holdings 2Q Loss Narrows, Helped By Tax Credit; Orders Up
Wall Street Journal
Outside of orders, home builders have seen better results in recent quarters, helped by the federal government's tax credit given to first-time home buyers. ...
M.D.C. Holdings Announces Second Quarter 2010 ResultsMarketWatch (press release)
Homebuilder MDC Holdings narrows loss in Q2 as closings soar 71%Denver Business Journal

all 22 news articles »


US CREDIT-Lincoln National bonds attractive after earnings
Reuters
N) bonds may be a safe bet as the insurer enhances its liquidity, sees positive credit ratings actions and pays off its obligations to the US government. ...
Lincoln Beats, Growth Across BoardZacks.com

all 4 news articles »


FreightCar America gets $30M credit facility
The Associated Press
CHICAGO — Railcar manufacturer FreightCar America Inc. said Friday that it has entered into a senior secured revolving credit facility for $30 million. ...

and more »


News Fire

Credit card debt reduction companies: The Real Deal
NewsChannel 9 WSYR
Syracuse (WSYR-TV) - Everyone has heard the ads for companies that promise to reduce credit card debt. For years, they've been charging big bucks upfront to ...
Credit Score Drops Tremendously in the USTimes News World (blog)
Giving credit where it is dueMail & Guardian Online
Why you need to go with a Credit Card debt consolidation company to get the ...TMCnet
OfficialWire (press release) -WDBJ7.com -CardRatings.com
all 62 news articles »


Give Mike Brown credit ... this signing was brilliant
Boston Herald
Brown didn't get much credit for that title, so it's only fair to give him credit for this: The signing of Terrell Owens was a masterstroke and should be ...

and more »


Weyerhaeuser Says Pace of US Housing Recovery Uncertain After Tax Credit
Bloomberg
“This has been especially evident in the market retreat following the expiration of the federal homebuyer tax credit at the end of April. ...

and more »


TheStreet.com

AT&T Bonds Fall After Unusually Timed Credit-Rating News
Wall Street Journal
The credit ratings agency also said it has concerns about AT&T's pension and post-retirement obligations. Gatlin, the AT&T spokesman, defended the company's ...
S&P upgrades Invesco credit ratingsBusinessWeek
S&P says may cut AT&T's credit rating by one notchReuters
AT&T's corporate credit rating faltersSan Antonio Express
TheStreet.com -Barron's (blog) -Dallas Business Journal
all 52 news articles »

Google News

home | site map
© 2006