Short Term Loans are Way Better Than Most Credit Cards

This article is going to be a little “up close and personal” because, quite frankly, the topic has me a little frusterated. I think there’s a lot of miscommunication out there when it comes to short term payday loans, and I think we need to settle the topic once and for all.

When I talk about short-term loans, I’m talking about the cash advances that you see advertised on billboards and TV. The loans where you get an advance on your next payday. That’s what I mean when I say “short term loan.”

Of course, these are the loans that the media and pop culture love to make fun of and take on and attack. I think they’re wrong, even though it’s politically incorrect for me to say so. I think it’s wrong to attack these loans mostly because they’re often perfect for some people in some situations.

Conspiracy Theory

Before I go onto the arguments specifically, I think we need to figure out who might be behind all of the bad arguments against short-term loans. Short term loan lenders are usually by small financial companies — mom and pop lenders, basically. What’s the opposite of a “mom and pop” financial company? Big finance. Just keep in mind that big finance might be behind the bad arguments.

Short-Term Loans Vs. Credit Cards

Credit cards are one of the biggest financial dangers facing anyone. It’s easy to hate short term loans because of the cheesy commercials, but credit cards are even worse. They can be used anytime — which makes them easier to slip into debt with. Credit companies hate short term loan companies for obvious competition reasons.

Don’t Lose Your Lights

If a lady is pregant during the summer, it is a good idea that she get a short-term loan to make sure the air conditioning doesn’t go off. Of course it’s more expensive — that doesn’t mean it’s not worth it.

Short-Term Loans are Like Hotels

A ton of people make the argument that payday loans costs thousands of percentage points per year. This is simlpy absurd. That’s like saying that hotels cost almost “$40,000″ per year. They do — but that’s not the point. They’re for short-term use, just like payday loans.

Final Points and Concluding Thoughts

I like short term loans and payday loans because they’re better than losing the power and electricity or even the AC. Getting one depends on your situation, regardless of what the big corporations might say.

Short term loans may or might not be justified — it depends on where you’re at and where you want to go. Just think it over for yourself.

Are You Having a Dispute with the Credit Bureaus? Know What Your Rights Are before You Fight Back — but Do Fight Back

On April 25, 1971, the Fair Credit Reporting Act was established by the federal government so that consumers would be protected against the reporting of obsolete, misleading, or inaccurate information. Lawmakers’ intent in designing the law was to help make sure that consumer reporting agencies operated responsibly and fairly.

The FCRA provides a list of rights and procedures that will assist you in clearing away negative remarks and reestablishing your creditworthiness – regardless of your previous credit history. By understanding your rights and using the law to your advantage, it’s possible to remove bankruptcy, judgments, late payments, collection accounts, charge-offs, and other negative information from your files permanently.

What’s first with this process? Draw copies of your credit reports from each of the three major credit bureaus. You can find addresses for each of these bureaus in the Yellow Pages under “Credit Reporting Agencies,” either on the Internet or in the phone book. If you’ve been denied credit within the past 60 days, you can get a free copy of your credit report by sending a copy (not original) of the letter stating that you’ve been denied, and include your request for a credit report. Other information needed will be your full name, date of birth, Social Security number, and all addresses you’ve lived at within the last five years. If you haven’t been denied credit within the last 60 days, you’ll have to buy the report, but you can do so from each credit bureau for a relatively small fee. In California, the fee is eight dollars to get a copy from each of the three major bureaus, and it may cost you a different amount in another state, depending on where you live.

In addition, you can also visit credit bureaus in person and ask to review your file. Call the bureau in question and ask to make an appointment. Then, present the proper identification and pay the fee necessary. You can also be accompanied by one of the person you choose if you wish to do so. The law gives you this right.

You can also request a credit report by mail, and if you do, you should receive a copy within three weeks. Along with it, you should also receive an explanation of the various abbreviations encodes the report contains. According to the Fair Credit Reporting Act, you have the right to challenge any remark on your report that you think is incomplete or inaccurate. Those items must be investigated by the credit bureau within a reasonable period of time, usually about 30 days. If it’s found that this information is somehow inaccurate, incorrect, out of date, or can’t be verified in longer, it has to correct or take the information off your file.

In addition, if the bureau does not respond to your initial dispute challenge within a reasonable time, you can follow up with another letter. This time, demand (don’t request) that the bureau should respond to your dispute investigation request immediately, or you will be forced to take legal action. Wait about two weeks in order to give them time to comply, and make sure you keep copies of all correspondence you undertake.

If the bureau persists in violating your rights by refusing to reinvestigate your legitimate dispute, send them a final letter demanding action. This time, send copies of your letter, along with the original request, to the Federal Trade Commission and your local office of the attorney general.

Four Common Myths Regarding Credit

Having worked in banking and finance for over 15 years, I am always surprised to realize how confused most people are regarding how the credit system works. Here the top for misconceptions I hear most often.

Myth One: There is nothing I can do about what is in my credit file.

Truth: Anything that you disputed with the credit bureaus must be verified as being accurate in order to remain in your credit file. According to the Fair Credit Reporting Act, if the lender cant verify that a disputed trade line is correct, the credit bureaus must remove the item from your file.

Myth Two Past due collections should be paid immediately to raise my credit score.

Truth: When you pay off an account, it is true that the lender will report that it is paid. Unfortunately, the late payment will still show up. If the account is very old and has not had activity for quite some time, paying it off may actually hurt your credit score.

An item that is five or six years old doesn’t have as much impact on your score as something that happened last month. By paying off an account, you will renew the date of last activity. A paid collection with a recent date of last activity can be more damaging to your credit score than an unpaid collection that is very old. Additionally, because items stay in your file for seven years from the date of last activity, paying this account off will restart the clock.

This doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t pay off your collections. What you will want to do is negotiate with the creditor as to how it will be reported to the bureau BEFORE you pay the account. Be careful here: make sure you get everything in writing!

Myth Three: Bankruptcy is the best solution for starting over.

Truth: There are times that bankruptcy is the only option, but it is a decision that should be weighted heavily. Though new laws now prevent many people from filing, even those that still can should consider the decision very carefully.

A bankruptcy stays on your credit report for ten years. This means that you will pay a higher interest rate for everything ” homes, cars and credit cards. You will also have to wait between two and three years after filing before you can qualify for a mortgage.

If you are considering a bankruptcy, one of the first steps would be to speak with your creditors. In today’s environment they are much more likely to be willing to negotiate with you. If you can avoid filing bankruptcy, in most cases this is the best course of action.

Myth Four: Something accurate can never be removed from my credit file.

Truth: When you dispute an item, the credit bureau is required to verify that they are reporting accurately. Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the lender has only 30 days to verify the account before the credit bureau must remove it from your file.

This means that if the creditor misses the cut-off date, the disputed item must be removed, even if it is accurate! The easiest items to take advantage of this are items that are older and things that were once past due but are now completely paid off. The reason for this is that your information can be difficult for the lender to find and they are much less motivated to take the time to verify than they would be if the item was currently in collection or past due.

Knowing what to do is half the battle in achieving your ideal credit score.

Discovering The Virgin Money Credit Card

Australia has seen a lot of change especially in the credit card industry in the past few years. Long before the overseas companies began investing in this young industry, the major banks of Australia had the monopoly in credit card issuance. They charged high annual fees and interest rates such that owning a credit card was more of a luxury than a necessity.

When the big players finally came and raised the competition, these banks had to lower rates and there was a huge race to find out who would take the market by storm. These overseas companies like AMEX came with the policies of competitive rates I the US and UK thus sparking a revolution of sorts as more credit card issuers came up.

One such emergent credit card is the Virgin Money credit card that was launched by Sir Richard Branson, who owns the Virgin Group, in several countries. The card is no longer being issued due to the merger with Westpac, though the card holders will not be affected by the change. The card offers a 0% per annum interest rate for the first six months from account opening on all balance transfers to a new virgin card. This is one of the cards wonderful offers. However, the most outstanding part is that Virgin Money Credit Card holders do not get to pay any annual fee whatsoever. The cards interest rate is a fair ongoing rate of just 14.24% per annum on all purchases.

Another interesting offer is that the credit card holder is entitled to 55 interest free days on all purchases as long as he or she pays off the card in full every month and on time. This is also inclusive of balance transfers. The card holders also get to enjoy 24 hours access to the credit card issuer in case of any queries or arising problems. The card also runs a rewards program called Mates Rates instant awards where there are no fees or any periods of waiting and all the card holder does is to make deals with card issuer on things hey want in exchange for points redemption.

The Low Interest Virgin card can be used in 32 million locations worldwide and 430,000 others in Australia alone. To make payment with the card, you can transfer funds from your account directly to the credit card regardless of the bank. This is definitely an interesting card.

Credit Card Bureau Model Tested In Current Downturn

Discover Financial Services, facing the need for additional funding while revenues are declining and credit card charge offs are growing, received only a lukewarm response from the equity market as a public offering last week of its common shares had to be priced at a 12 percent discount to the market.

Right now there is a outstanding mass of risk aversion when it comes to credit cards, said Dan North, chief economist at Euler Hermes ACI, a trade credit insurance firm.

The credit scare started last fall. As a result, people have commenced utilizing their credit cards less, meaning less interchange profit from transactions. The credit card firms have also become protective, chiseling credit lines, increasing fees and modifying interest rates from fixed to fluctuating, both in response to the need for more revenue now and to prepare for the restrictions from the Credit Cardholders Bill of Rights, which goes into effect next year.

According to North, Discover cardholders have frail credit ratings, on a whole, than holders of MasterCards, Visas and American Express cards, though those companies are fighting the same financial challenges.

All of those components have also made it effortful for a new competitor in the market, Revolution Money, a payment platform complete with credit card and money transfer service outlined to compete with major card companies Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express. Revolution LLC, headed by AOL founder Steve Case, had dreamed to compete mainly by offering better security through a chip-based card and lower interchange fees.

A group of niche players that are getting more traction now, according to a Scripps Howard News Service report, is peer-to-peer lending (P2P), which entirely goes around traditional financial institutions. P2P lending services bundle pledges from individual investors and offer small loans to other individuals at attractive rates, a model that could evolve into direct competition for credit cards.

Students, Prevent Credit Card Debt

Credit card companies have learned that most students earn very little income and thus market lots of credit cards specifically to them, trying to get them to rack up credit card debt. Students should do all they can to avoid getting into credit card debt.

Credit Card Debt: Alternatives for Students

Despite the ploys that the credit card companies use in an attempt to snag students, there are ways for students to effectively prevent themselves from getting into credit card debt while still being able to care for all their necessary expenses related to their college education.

Some students have parents or other family members who have disposable income they can lend to the student. Be honest when you communicate with your family about your expenses and your wish to avoid student credit card debt. Your parents may be able to help you rework your budget and find ways to save money. If they know you are about to incur credit card debt, which you will have to repay after graduation, they are likely to want to help you avoid the burden of student credit card debt by lending you money at a favorable rate of return.

Students can also use student loans to pay for expenses if their family is not able to support them financially. University financial aid offices are sure to provide you with some potential alternatives to racking up credit card debt.

You may find that you can borrow funds in addition to your expenses for tuition, fees, and books on your student loans. Student loans are generally financed at a lower interest rate than credit card debt, and some tax deductions may be available when you repay your student loans. Consult a licensed tax preparer to answer any questions you have about reducing student credit card debt by borrowing more money on your student loans.

You can get a part-time job if you need to boost you income in order to stay out of debt associated with student credit cards. Colleges often offer part-time jobs that you may be able to get that will not conflict with your class schedule. A part-time job might even lead to a full-time job after you have graduated.

It would be wise on your part to consider all possible alternatives before taking on student credit card debt.

6 Tips To End Credit Card Debt!!

In order to get out of credit card debt it takes action on your part. So whether or not you are being swallowed by the sink hole of credit card debt or you are just starting out to dig yourself into credit card debt – you have to take action before it’s too late in order to be come debt free.

The six tips listed below will help you get out of credit card debt…if you use them.

1. Stop using your cards – By using your credit cards you are paying additional interest on the credit card balance you owe on which you’ve already been charged interest. Unless you pay the new charges when you are billed you are accumulating additional interest on both present and past charges. (Don’t you love credit companies…and yes this is legal for them to do.)

2. Figure out how much credit card debt is costing you. You can find out how much credit card debt is costing you by seeing how much interest rate you have to pay. This is done by reading the fine print on your latest credit card statement. If you do not understand then you call your credit card company and have them explain it to you. (By law they have to explain it to you.)

3. Lower your interest rate you are currently paying on your credit cards. Lowering your interest rate is the most effective and easiest way to get your credit card debt problem under control. You can lower the interest rate you are paying by transferring high interest rate amount balances to lower or no interest credit cards. Once you’ve stopped using your credit card you’ve stopped your situation from getting worst, it’s now time for you to improve it.

4. Call your credit card companies and tell them to lower your interest rates. Since you already know the interest rates it is time for you to ask your banks and credit card companies to lower the interest rates. You should call them and ask to speak with a supervisor. The supervisor has the authority to give you a lower interest rate. (Don’t take no for an answer)

This is what you tell them: The rates are too high and you want it lowered. And also let them know that if they are not willing to lower your interest rate you are considering to close your account and transfer all your credit card balances to the company that is willing to give you the lowest interest rate.

5. Consolidate your credit card debts – transferring all credit card balances to one credit card – is an effective way of getting out of credit card debts. So when negotiating to get a lower interest rate you should let it be known that your ultimate goal is to get out of credit card debt at the lowest possible cost and not credit card shuffling.

6. Cut your savings in half. It would be foolish to be paying high interest rates while continuing to save the usual amount, if you are indeed saving. If you are already so deep in debt that no one company is willing to loan you the money to consolidate your credit card debts then you would have to resort to this tactics.

It works like this. Get all your credit card balances. Divide each balance by the minimum amount you are required to pay each month. This tells you how long it would take to pay off each balance. Start by paying off the one that takes the least amount of time (half your savings + minimum payment). Continue making minimum payments on the rest. When that least payment is finished you would pay the next least payment and so on. You would continue using this tactics until you are no longer in debt.

If you follow the above tips and tactics you should be on your way to getting out credit card debts in very short order.

What Is The Difference Between Obtaining A Credit Card In The UK Versus Ireland?

When you apply for a credit card, there are certain procedures that every lender will follow, regardless of which country you are in.

Usually, once you have submitted a credit card application, the credit card company will assess your monthly cash flow situation, carry out a credit search, and make an informed decision as to whether or not you qualify as a ‘good’ or ‘bad’ credit risk.

The process of applying for a credit card in the UK and Ireland is essentially the same. You are required to provide information such as your income and expenses, employment history and details of your living situation, so they can assess your level of responsibility and your ability to repay the credit card debt.

However, in Ireland, there is one additional factor you need to take into consideration. In Ireland, an annual government stamp duty applies on all credit cards accounts, which is currently set at 30 per year. This stamp duty does not apply when you obtain a credit card in England, Wales or in fact, any other country in the world.

The fee is only payable once per year, per account, regardless of how many cards are attached to the account.

If you transfer your credit card account to a new bank, you won’t be required to pay the stamp duty again – but in order to avoid paying stamp duty again you must close the old credit card account.

Your original credit card deal will provide you with a letter of closure, stating that you have paid your stamp duty for the year, which you are required to pass on to your new card issuer. Stamp duty is payable on April 1 each year, for the preceding year.

Low Interest Rate Credit Cards

If you’re going to get a Visa card, then there are a few issues especially that you’re going to be forced to think about and truly take properly into account before you’re going to be able to make any valid calls.

As an example, there’s the problem of what interest you’re going to be paying on your visa cards, high or low. Manifestly low interest rate visa cards are the way to go, however depending on the expenditure limit that you have an interest in having, as well as your own private credit history, factors like this are likely to impact on what sort of rate of interest you’re able to get.

If you want to get low interest rate credit cards, then you basically have to have almost perfect credit history, because this is the only way that credit card companies are going to be able to know for sure that you are trustable and thus that you will be able to pay off your low interest rate credit cards.

To get low IR visa cards, you’re going to make an application for them, and if you haven’t asked for visa cards before in your life, then you’re going to need to make certain that you go in to your bank and talk to a finance counsellor first.

The reason is because you are actually going to need to get some recommendation from somebody who is informed in this field and who therefore knows what they are talking about, so they will help you to get off on the right foot, and so you will have the best chances of essentially getting low interest master cards for yourself.

If you are not able to get low interest credit cards, then you should not worry, just make sure that if you do have to get high interest rate credit cards that you pay off your bills each month on time, so that you will have to pay as least interest as possible.

Also remember that the more you build up your credit, the better your credit will be overall, and thus the more likely credit card companies are going to offer you the option of having low interest credit cards, and so this is obviously a very positive thing to look forward to.

0 Percent Credit Cards-Are 0 Percent Credit Cards Really Any Good?

When exploring credit card programs, there’s a lot more to consider than low or 0 percent credit cards. In actuality, you might find it better to select from the large number of rewards credit cards, airline credit cards, cash back credit cards, platinum cards and no annual fee credit cards. Knowing all of your options is important when making any decision. 0 percent credit cards have their uses, but are they always the best choice?

Are Your Needs Met?

How you intend to use your credit card will determine what card you actually choose. Given the tough economic times, 0 percent credit cards are very appealing to consumers right now. Rather than fully paying off their bill each month, more and more consumers may find themselves struggling with credit card debt. A low or 0 percent credit card can help minimize finance charges.

If you plan to pay your credit card balance in full each month, 0 percent credit cards may not be as appealing. You may be more attracted to a rewards or cash back credit card with no annual fee and a longer grace period. It’s important to find the benefits that best fit your needs.

What To Consider When Shopping For A Credit Card

Will you transfer a balance?

Most 0 percent offers are only for an introductory term of 6 to 18 months; some offer a higher rate for a longer period of time. When you are transferring a large balance, you may find that a longer introductory period is the best option for you.

Where do you spend the most?

A good number of rewards cards offer extra points for spending in certain categories. Get a rewards card that gives you cash back, bonus points or travel miles at the locations where you spend the most. For the majority of consumers cash back credit cards are going to be the best option to go with.

How’s the customer support?

Well trained customer service representatives can tell you how much you’ll save with a particular balance transfer offer, notify you of potential unauthorized charges or help with a dispute. Good customer support paired with online resources save you both money and time. Making a same-day payment without additional charges, changing a due date so that it better fits with your schedule or being notified of special promotions and reward offers all add up and give worth to your credit card.

The Details

Also, don’t forget other valuable perks such as automatic travel insurance, travel assistance and car rental insurance. No matter what type of credit card you’re attracted to, check out the small print to see the exact terms of low or 0 percent credit cards. The credit card agreement will tell you the grace period (how long you have to pay off your balance before you pay a finance charge), and what rates, fees and restrictions are involved. When it comes to 0 percent credit cards or any credit card offer, the more you know the more value you’ll get.

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