Credit Cards 101: An Introductory Guide to Credit Cards

Credit Cards 101 – What are Credit Cards? -- A credit card is a great financial tool. It can be more convenient to use and carry than cash and it offers you valuable consumer protections under federal law. However, credit cards are a big responsibility.... (more)

Types of Credit Cards -- Looking to get a credit card? Before you fill out a credit card application, you need to decide what type of credit card will work best for your specific situation. The following is.... (more)

How to Compare Credit Cards -- Not all credit cards are equal so when you compare credit card offers it can be challenging. Additionally, what is best for one person may not be best for another. When considering which.... (more)

What is a Credit Report? -- You’ve heard other people talk about it, and you know it is important. But, what is a credit report? Put simply, your credit report is what lenders look at when deciding whether or not to approve you for a.... (more)

What is a credit score and how does it affect me? -- You’ve heard of a credit report, but you don’t understand what a credit score is. Furthermore, you’re unsure as to how this affects you when applying for a new credit card. A credit score is.... (more)

Staying Out Of Trouble With Credit Cards -- Isn’t it great having a credit card? It gives you so many advantages. You can purchase items online, make hotel and car reservations, and so many other convenient things. Despite these advantages, credit cards can create a lot of problems for.... (more)

What You Need to Know About Credit Cards

0% Credit Card Offers – Here to Stay or a Fad? -- Low interest and 0% introductory rates for credit cards have been around for quite a while but not so long ago (a mere fifteen years or so) you had to take a one size fits all rate determined by the bank – typically 18% and.... (more)

After the Intro – Variable vs. Fixed Rate Credit Cards -- Credit card offers typically highlight their low or 0% APR introductory rates and other enticing features but rarely talk much about what happens when those credit card intro rates go.... (more)

How to use low APR credit cards to become debt free -- Are you in credit card debt and perpetually stuck in a cycle struggling to make minimum payments on your outstanding credit card balance? You can take.... (more)

Eliminate Credit Card Debt -- Credit card and other personal debt is an unfortunate fact of American life. Our consumer society bombards us with buy-it-now messages through every conceivable advertising medium. The average American household carries over $9,000 in revolving debt.... (more)

Comparing 0% Balance Transfer Offers -- There are many 0% balance transfer credit cards available, but before you jump make sure the cards are stacked in your favor. If possible, be sure to get a credit card that offers a.... (more)

Credit card debt consolidation -- Credit Card Debt Consolidation is big business as evidenced by the amount of advertising that is on the airwaves and online. And it’s no wonder with the average American household being in credit card debt to the tune of.... (more)

You Have Been Approved for An Instant Approval Credit Card! Now What Happens? -- It’s a great feeling when you receive approval for anything you do but it’s especially gratifying when it comes to an instant approval credit card. There is something intensely personal about one’s finances and creditworthiness that.... (more)

FAQ’s About Credit Cards with Instant Approval -- Q: What do instant approval credit cards mean for applicants? A: Instant approval refers to the process by which credit card companies take your application information and instantly make a credit decision using your.... (more)

How To Determine Which Reward Credit Card Is For You -- The concept of paying customers rewards for using a credit card was initially launched by the AT&T Universal Card, which offered no annual fee (novel for the time) and cash back on all purchases which could.... (more)

How to Super-size Your Credit Card Reward Program -- With all the options available for credit card rewards programs offered by Visa, MasterCard, Discover Card and American Express, consumers today can earn significant rewards for.... (more)

Leverage Your Household Spending to Maximize Your Reward Card Program -- Rewards credit card programs are a great deal for most consumers, particularly those who pay off their credit card balance every month. Many find that earning rewards can help.... (more)

How Cash Back Credit Cards Work -- Cash back credit card programs have been around for about 15 years and are as popular as ever. While three out of four credit card users are more interested in low or 0% APR, cash back reward programs offer.... (more)

How To Compare Cash Back Credit Card Offers -- Today, everyone has a credit card. From teenagers to corporate professionals to retirees, everyone is enjoying the ease and benefit of carrying credit cards. However, before applying.... (more)

Cash Back vs. Reward Credit Cards -- Cash Back Credit Card offers can all appear the same sometimes. The general perception is that they are like Henry Ford’s Model T – you can have any color you want as long as.... (more)

Strategies For Earning A Free Airline Ticket Sooner -- The best strategies for getting that next free airline ticket with the help of your airline rewards or frequent flyer credit card boil down to seeking out all the incentives that have been created for specific airlines and.... (more)

Your Mileage May Vary – A Survey of Airline Rewards Programs -- Not so long ago there were only a few options for getting an airline reward credit card. The Citi AAdvantage MasterCard was the first kid on the block and still remains a favorite of frequent flyers looking to earn extra rewards with.... (more)

FAQ’s About Airline Frequent Flyer Credit Cards -- Q: Is there an annual fee for all airline frequent flyer credit cards and, if so, why? A: Typically there is an annual fee charged for airline frequent flyer credit cards, especially if it is issued in partnership with one of the major airlines. While most.... (more)

Reasons For A Small Business Credit Card -- Small businesses in the U.S. are growing faster than ever and continue to be the backbone of the American economy. To grow and operate efficiently small businesses need access to all types of capital, and.... (more)

Using a Business Credit Card to Manage Expenses -- Most people think of Business credit cards for their Rewards Programs, Cash Back Incentives or Frequent Flyer Airline Miles, but a Corporate or Small Business Credit Card is an excellent vehicle for managing.... (more)

Reward Options for Business Credit Cards -- Cash Back Credit Card offers can all appear the same sometimes. The general perception is that they are like Henry Ford’s Model T – you can have any color you want as long as.... (more)

Student Credit 101 -- Going away to college is a monumental event on the road to adulthood. For many, this presents the first opportunity for living independently, away from parents and being able to.... (more)

Comparing Student Credit Cards vs. Debit Cards -- Credit card options for college students and even high school students have exploded in recent years as credit card companies try to find new markets for their products while trying to balance the.... (more)

How to Establish Credit with a Student Credit Card -- When you are a student a credit score is a fairly abstract concept. All you want is access to funds to pay for the things you want and need like clothes, food, rent, books and tuition. Student credit cards can be.... (more)

What Are The Pro’s and Con’s of Prepaid Debit Cards -- Prepaid debit cards began to take off in the 1990’s as credit card company’s realized that a significant portion of the U.S. population was not able to qualify for many of their credit cards. Even among those who did qualify.... (more)

New Technology Features Offered for Prepaid Debit Cards -- Prepaid debit cards offer many interesting features not available to normal credit card holders when using credit cards for purchase transactions. These new features apply to debit cards due to their unique.... (more)

How Do Prepaid Debit Cards Differ from Bank Debit and ATM Cards? -- When banks first began issuing ATM cards in the 1970’s debit cards had very limited utility – unlike their counterparts, credit cards, which could be used almost anywhere. Consumers could only withdraw cash from.... (more)

How To Compare Credit Card Options For Those With Bad Credit -- Comparing credit card options may seem like a difficult exercise for those with bad or less than perfect credit. It seems like all the major Visa and MasterCard issuers along with Discover Card and American Express prefer.... (more)

Choosing the Right Credit Card for You -- Today, everyone has a credit card. From teenagers to corporate professionals to retirees, everyone is enjoying the ease and benefit of carrying credit cards. However, before applying.... (more)

Protecting Your Credit Card -- When most people think of protecting their credit cards, they are thinking about protecting their credit or credit ranking, not the actual card. As a responsible credit card user, you want to.... (more)

Do’s and Don'ts of Closing Accounts -- It is always important to not have more credit card accounts than you can handle. When you do open a new account because of a better interest rate, a promotional offer or for whatever reason, you should always.... (more)

Limiting Your Financial Loss -- When a credit card goes missing, the first thing you think of is: How can I limit my financial losses? Luckily, there are several ways you can protect yourself, your financial history and your credit from damage and protection under the law to.... (more)

Credit & Consumer Rights -- A good credit rating is very important. Businesses inspect your credit history when they evaluate your applications for credit, insurance, employment, and even leases. Based on your credit payment history, businesses can choose to grant or deny you credit provided you.... (more)

What To Do When Credit Cards Are Lost or Stolen -- It is not uncommon for a person to experience some financial difficulty during their life. Whether this is due to personal or family illness, the loss of a job, or simple overspending, it can seem overwhelming, but often can be conquered. Your financial situation can be.... (more)

Tips for Credit Cards -- There are many advantages to having a credit card such as being able to purchase items online and make hotel and car reservations. The way you handle your purchases should be taken seriously. Following are a few tips.... (more)

Deciding which Credit Card is right for you -- Not all credit cards are created equally. And so it makes it that much harder to decide which credit card. There are many factors you should take into consideration when deciding which credit card you want to get.... (more)

Privacy Options – How to Opt Out -- We get a lot of junk in the mail. Most of it probably ends up in the garbage. One thing you may be getting that you think is junk mail from your credit card company can actually be a privacy notice. And this is NOT junk mail.... (more)

Credit Card Type Topics

Cash Back or Airline Reward Credit Cards -- Generally, the idea behind these two types of reward credit cards is that for every dollar you spend on the card, you’ll earn either a percentage of money cash back or a certain number of airline frequent flier miles. The cash back reward credit cards usually.... (more)

Credit Cards for Small Business -- You’ve finally followed your dreams of opening your own business. You know you have the skills, desire, and ambition to make your small business work, but what you don’t have is.... (more)

The Eufora Card is Worth a Look -- For many people with no credit history, or for those with damaged credit, getting loans, renting apartments, or even shopping online might prove impossible. Fortunately, the Eufora Prepaid MasterCard Credit Builder program allows people to.... (more)

Have Bad Credit and Need a Credit Card? There is a credit card for you -- Think that a bad credit rating on a credit report will prevent you from obtaining a credit card? Think again. There are a number of companies that will issue you a credit card even with a poor credit rating. A credit report reflects your.... (more)

How 0% APR credit cards can save you money -- Many times, credit card companies offer a low "introductory" rate that will give you a low interest rate on a credit card for only a short period of time, usually 6 months. After that time the low introductory rate goes up to a higher fixed interest rate. The low introductory interest rates sometimes.... (more)

Saving on Interest Expenses with low interest and 0% APR Credit Cards -- What is the best way to save money with credit cards? The easy answer is to pay off the balance every month and only spend what you can afford to spend. Paying off the balance on your credit cards every month lets you avoid interest expense and.... (more)
Simplify Your Bookkeeping with a Corporate or Small Business Credit Card -- What do you think of when you think of American Express? Do you think of a card only for the wealthy? Or maybe a credit card out of reach for the common person? Actually, American Express offers credit cards for.... (more)

Creating and Managing Credit

How to Dispute Credit Report Errors -- Your credit report contains information about where you work, live and how you pay your bills. It also shows if you've been sued, arrested, or have filed for bankruptcy. Companies called consumer reporting agencies (CRAs) or credit bureaus compile and sell your credit report to.... (more)

Good vs. Bad Credit: Why Is This Important? -- There are a lot of misconceptions, even outright lies, regarding credit, especially in terms of what determines good and bad credit. Currently, television is full of commercials for debt consolidation companies and credit counselors. Daytime talk shows abound.... (more)

Reviewing Your Credit Report Yearly -- It is critical that you periodically review your credit report for inaccuracies or omissions, especially if you're considering making a major purchase, such as buying a home. Checking in advance on the accuracy of information in your credit file could.... (more)

Credit Reporting Q&A -- If you've ever applied for a credit card, charge account, a personal loan, insurance, or a job, there's a file about you. What’s in this file? This file is called a credit report, and it has information about where you work and live, how you pay your bills, and whether.... (more)

Debt Repair and Improving Credit

Cleaning Up and Repairing Your Credit Rating -- It can happen anyone. You get a credit card and start spending beyond your reach, or someone gets a hold of your social security card or an old credit card and opens up new cards in your name. The question is not how this happened, but what you can do now to clean up and start repairing your credit rating.... (more)

Repairing Credit Card Debt -- Having trouble paying your bills? Getting notices from creditors? Are your accounts being turned over to debt collectors? Are you worried about losing your home or your car?.... (more)

Credit Card Debt Consolidation -- If you have significant credit card debt, then you might want to consider credit card debt consolidation. A credit card debt consolidation loan can help you consolidate the outstanding balances on your credit cards into one loan or.... (more)

Credit Card Debt -- Debt can sometime have a way of getting out of control and quickly piling up. The worst thing you can do is bury your head in the sand and hope your debt goes away. It won’t and, in fact, it will get worse if you ignore it. When you have debt that is piling up or.... (more)

Transferring your way out of Credit Card Debt -- Once you get credit card debt, it is hard to get rid of it. That’s just a fact. As much as credit cards provide convenience, they can lead to disastrous financial results. But it doesn’t have to lead into bankruptcy. There are ways that you can reduce debt from your credit cards.... (more)

Credit Card Consolidation -- There are a lot of people out there with significant credit card debt. With bills piling up and interest and finance charges more than your minimum payment every month, it can look like you will never get out of it. But there are answers.... (more)

Credit Repair: How to get back your credit -- Is your credit in disarray? Are you constantly looking at those ads on TV that promise to help you get back your credit? If so, there are there are a lot of companies that can.... (more)

Credit and Financial Resources

Glossary of Credit Card Terms -- There are quite a few terms you may not be familiar with when it comes to credit cards and credit card applications. We have put together a glossary to help you better understand commonly used words, phrases, and acronyms in the credit card industry..... (more)

FAQ's about Credit Cards -- Here you will find answers to some of the most frequently asked questions regarding Credit Cards & Credit Card Applications. Take the extra step and be sure you understand everything you need to know before applying for a credit card..... (more)