credit cards
Knowing Where You Stand With Chase Credit Card Offers
Online credit card applications seem to be the in thing and Chase too offers online credit card application facility. Here, ëChase.com credit cardsí refers to the chase credit cards that can be applied for online. Just for those who donít know, ëChaseí is a brand that is owned by JPMorgan Chase & Co. (a leading global financial services firm).
By ëChase.com credit card offersí, I mean the credit card offers that are available at chase.com. Obviously, ëChase.com credit cardsí would be regulated by chase. Again, as with any other credit card supplier, ëChase.com credit cardsí on offer would be changing too.
Anyways; one night, before going to bed, I thought of just checking the chase.com credit cards section. Here is what I found:
There is a separate Chase.com credit cards section. As I browsed through the Chase.com credit cards section (the online application ones), the first one I encountered was called ëChase Cash Plusí or the ëChase Cash Plus Rewardsí. These promise faster rewards and offer 5% earnings on gas and on purchases made at grocery-stores/drug-stores. For other shopping venues, it offers 1% earnings. These earnings can be in the form of gift certificates or cash.
The next on the Chase.com credit cards section was the ëFlexible rewards Visa signature cardí. Here you earn a point for every purchase of $1. You can keep collecting these points and then finally redeem them for your choice of things (like cash, travel, gift certificates or some kind of merchandise). The redemption can start at 2500 points (and you get a bonus of 1000 points once you make the first purchase). Moreover, this one doesnít have any annual fee either. So that was the second one in the Chase.com credit cards section.
Moving on in the Chase.com credit cards section, I found ëFree Cash Rewards Platinum Visa cardí. This one, as the name goes, offers cash rewards. You can get a $25 check or a gift certificate on redemption of 2500 points. Since there is one point earned for every $1 spend, this mean that you effectively get 1% cash back on these cards.
I had started loving browsing through the Chase.com credit cards section. So I moved on to the next one in the Chase.com credit cards section. The next one on the Chase.com credit cards section was ëChase Perfect Platinum MasterCardí which doesnít limit you to getting rebates only on a particular brand of gasoline; instead, you get rebates everywhere. ë
Chase Platinum MasterCardí was the next one in the Chase.com credit cards section. This one offers online account management i.e. monthly statements, bill payments etc can all be done online (also you donít have any annual fee on this one).
There were few more cards on Chase.com credit cards section and one especially caught my attention. This one was at the bottom of Chase.com credit cards section and was called ëCheck Gallery Platinum Visa Cardí. Here you could choose the design of your card from those available e.g. cowboys, smileys etc.
By now, I was so sleepy that I really had to shut down my computer and go off to sleep.
Getting Into Trouble With Your Credit Card
Those little pieces of plastic can sometimes get you into trouble. Sometimes nothing is easier than to take out your credit card and pay for that sweater or piece of furniture you have been eyeing for months. And who hasnít been asked by the check-out person to sign up for a credit card in order to save 15 percent on their purchase. Credit card offers are everywhere; they come in the mail on almost a weekly basis.
Many Americans have gotten themselves in credit trouble by the easy access to credit cards. But bad credit is not something to take lightly. Bad credit can make it hard to get a loan for a car or a house. When you find yourself in credit trouble one of the first things to do is to eliminate as many credit cards as you can. Get rid of them, they are just too tempting. With a deliberate plan and some time you can restore your good credit. Just take one step at a time. If you just canít seem to pay the bills try contacting your creditors and see if they will work out an agreement with you on your payments. Tell them you are having trouble and want to make a good faith effort in paying them. Do not let them have the chance to turn it over to a debt collector.
Contact a local credit counseling office. Many of them are non-profit and have the professional experience of helping people with their finances. See if consolidating your debt at a lower interest rate may help you. It might be a good idea to take out a second mortgage on your home or a home equity line of credit. But before you work with any group that says it can help you be sure and research them. The last thing you need is to get involved with an organization that is going to take advantage of your situation.
One thing that will help you feel better about yourself is try to pay the smaller debts off first. That way you know you are making some head way in your road back to good credit.
Try to find a new mind set about credit cards. Think of them as cash; ask yourself if you will be able to pay off your purchase in several months. Think for a moment; is this something I really need now or just something I want.
The most important thing to remember is not to give up. Do not feel bad about yourself, there is a way to get back on track and get your credit in good standing again.
You Can Still Get A Credit Card When You Have Bad Credit
Letís face it: in order to buy or sell so many things in todayís society you simply must have a credit card available in order to complete many transactions. Sure, you could pay cash for many things, but how convenient [or safe] is it to carry around a wad of bills? If you lose the money, it is gone forever. Not so with a credit card as that little plastic device can be easily replaced. What do you do if you have bad credit? Are you locked out from getting a credit card? Happily, the answer is a resounding no. You have some options that can help put a new credit card in your wallet, bad credit or not.
Bad Credit: What It Is
Before we take a look at applying for a bad credit credit card, letís examine some things that could cause you to have a bad credit rating:
– Late payments on car loans, rent, mortgage, bills, etc.
– Medical bills you cannot afford to pay.
– Legal judgment against you including: child support, lawsuit, etc.
– Loss of job, big reduction of income.
Any one of these things can harm your credit rating, making it more difficult, but not impossible, for you to get a credit card.
Bad Credit Credit Cards: What The Offers Are
If you apply for a bad credit credit card, please know that the consumer requirements are different than for those cards for people with good credit. Still, a bad credit credit card can be a good idea to help you build your credit rating back up; it wonít improve overnight, but it can improve with your disciplined repayment plan. Here are some things you must know about a bad credit credit card:
Your APR will be higher. Some offer low APRs for the introductory rate, while other cards will offer a variable rate. Overall, the APR will be higher.
Default rate. If you are late with payments, you may find yourself paying a much higher default rate.
Annual fee. Expect to pay an annual fee as high as $100 per card, less if it is for a secured card.
Other fees. Depending on the card you select, you can be charged an account set up fee, program fee, annual fee, and a participation fee.
When shopping for a bad credit credit card, only commit to getting one that fits your budget. Between the fees and the higher APR, you could find yourself with a card that doesnít work with you. Still, by using a bad credit credit card, you can reestablish your credit if you use the card and pay it down quickly and on time.
Watch Out! Credit Card Debt Can Come Up and Bite You
Credit card debt is a major cause of over one million bankruptcies each year. The reason is that many people get a credit card without researching and reading the fine print. By the time annual fees are added on, along with spending indiscriminately, payments are missed, which causes their balance to skyrocket.
Although we all like to place the blame on the credit cards and the credit card companies, you need to keep in mind that the real cause of your financial mess is you.
One shopping spree does not usually cause high debt. It is usually a pattern that consists of gradually increasing purchases that add up to a large debt. The great thing is that it can be very easy to get out of debt. The key is to start spending less than you make. This is a long-term solution that can help you to whittle your debt down.
Although it may sound simple, it can be very difficult if you have a problem with willpower. It is important to stick with spending less than you make or you will find yourself in exactly the same place as you were before. Overcoming your debt will take willpower and a great deal of time.
It may be difficult to stick with your debt repayment program, but keep yourself strong and you will find yourself out of debt before you know it.
It is important to learn how to get out of debt and then stay out of debt. If you can summon enough willpower and strength towards your finances and spending, then you will find yourself the winner in the game of debt. It may be easy to get into debt, but getting out of debt is much more difficult, but worth it.
One simple phrase can sum up the solution to your financial problems. If you donít have the money to spend, then donít spend it!