To protect your account numbers, be cautious about sharing them, whether purposely or inadvertently. Know where your cards are at all times, and be suspicious of anyone who requests your number over the phone.
Sign the back of a new credit card immediately upon receiving it.
Do not give your account number over the phone unless you initiated the call.
Memorize your personal identification number (PIN) if possible. If you have to write it down, don't write it on the card itself or leave it in your purse or wallet.
Never leave your cards unattended. Be especially careful at gyms, at work and while shopping. Also, don't put your credit cards in your car's glove compartment. An alarmingly high proportion of all credit-card thefts are from car glove compartments.
Use your card only for yourself. Do not lend the card to relatives or friends.
Always check your card when you get it back in a store or restaurant. It's easy for you to forget your card when you're in a hurry, and it's easy for waiters or salespeople to give you the wrong card when they're in a hurry.
Make a comprehensive list of all your cards and their numbers. Include the expiration dates and the phone numbers to call if there is a problem. Keep the list in a safe place (not your wallet or purse).
Always take your charge slips and destroy any carbons.
Check your monthly statement and match all charges to your receipts. If there are any discrepancies, call the credit card company immediately.
Before you throw away any mail or other papers that contain personal information and/or account numbers, shred or tear them up.
Thursday, 18 December 2008
How to Get a Prepaid Credit Card With Your Own Photo
The advent of digital photography has opened up all sorts of new possibilities, from unbelievable Photoshop works of art to sending pictures directly to grandma's digital photo frame. One fun way to take advantage of the "digital revolution" is to put your own photo on a prepaid credit card. These personalized prepaid credit cards, or debit cards, make perfect gifts, showing that you put extra time and thought into the gift. They're also great if you just want to show off your family, have a regular reminder of your favorite vacation, or smile at a funny picture of your little one every time you use your prepaid card. It's easy to get a prepaid card with your own photo on it.
Find a service that offers personalized prepaid credit or debit cards. There are a number of companies that offer prepaid cards with photos. Simply conduct an online search using terms like "personalized prepaid credit card" or "photo prepaid card." A few popular services that off prepaid credit cards with your picture are Visa Buxx, First National Bank of Omaha and Capital One.
Choose your image. You are working with a relatively small area, so choose a photo that will work well on a small canvas. For example, if you want to see a person's face clearly in the photo on the credit card, make sure it is a close-up and not a picture of someone from far away. If you choose scenery, make sure the details you want to see won't disappear when the size is reduced.
Find the photo requirements for the service you want to use. Each company will have its own photo requirements. Most will show you the exact requirements as you go through the application process, but if not check the FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) or email a customer service representative for the requirements.
Edit your photo to meet the requirements.Once you've found the company's photo requirements for personalized prepaid credit cards, resize or crop your photo to meet those requirements. For example, if the requirements say that the photo must be less than 2MB, then you will want to reduce the size or resolution of your photo to less than 2MB. Your photo editing software should have instructions on how to reduce the size and/or resolution of your photo. Save the photo and note where you saved it.
Upload your photo.Most prepaid credit card sites will walk you through this step. Usually, you simply click the "upload" button then navigate to the folder where you saved your photo and choose the picture you edited in Step 4. Wait for the picture to upload and complete the application process.
Find a service that offers personalized prepaid credit or debit cards. There are a number of companies that offer prepaid cards with photos. Simply conduct an online search using terms like "personalized prepaid credit card" or "photo prepaid card." A few popular services that off prepaid credit cards with your picture are Visa Buxx, First National Bank of Omaha and Capital One.
Choose your image. You are working with a relatively small area, so choose a photo that will work well on a small canvas. For example, if you want to see a person's face clearly in the photo on the credit card, make sure it is a close-up and not a picture of someone from far away. If you choose scenery, make sure the details you want to see won't disappear when the size is reduced.
Find the photo requirements for the service you want to use. Each company will have its own photo requirements. Most will show you the exact requirements as you go through the application process, but if not check the FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) or email a customer service representative for the requirements.
Edit your photo to meet the requirements.Once you've found the company's photo requirements for personalized prepaid credit cards, resize or crop your photo to meet those requirements. For example, if the requirements say that the photo must be less than 2MB, then you will want to reduce the size or resolution of your photo to less than 2MB. Your photo editing software should have instructions on how to reduce the size and/or resolution of your photo. Save the photo and note where you saved it.
Upload your photo.Most prepaid credit card sites will walk you through this step. Usually, you simply click the "upload" button then navigate to the folder where you saved your photo and choose the picture you edited in Step 4. Wait for the picture to upload and complete the application process.
Monday, 15 December 2008
How to Get a Small Business Credit Card
A business credit card is different from a consumer credit card because you use it to purchase needed equipment, materials and supplies. Often, a business credit card will also provide incentives for purchasing business-related materials.
Establish credit with a local lending agency. Many business credit cards are issued through local banks and savings and loan organizations. Even if you don’t have widespread business credit, a local lender will look at your history with his financial institution and may support your cause.
Show the bank that your business idea is a profitable one and they will be more likely to offer you a business credit card. Banks are in business to make money and if your business idea looks good, they will be happy to help you out.
Stay in contact with your banker. This is one step that most small business owners ignore but stopping by to say “hi” on your way to lunch or “shooting the bull” at the gym will make it harder for your banker to turn you down for a small business credit card. Make yourself available and be personable.
Pay your loans on time and keep cash in your accounts. Banks keep records of your payments and they know if your account bounces or dips into a Ready Reserve account. Showing the bank that you are op top of your finances helps you develop good business credit.
Establish credit with a local lending agency. Many business credit cards are issued through local banks and savings and loan organizations. Even if you don’t have widespread business credit, a local lender will look at your history with his financial institution and may support your cause.
Show the bank that your business idea is a profitable one and they will be more likely to offer you a business credit card. Banks are in business to make money and if your business idea looks good, they will be happy to help you out.
Stay in contact with your banker. This is one step that most small business owners ignore but stopping by to say “hi” on your way to lunch or “shooting the bull” at the gym will make it harder for your banker to turn you down for a small business credit card. Make yourself available and be personable.
Pay your loans on time and keep cash in your accounts. Banks keep records of your payments and they know if your account bounces or dips into a Ready Reserve account. Showing the bank that you are op top of your finances helps you develop good business credit.
How to Dispute a Credit Card Charge
An unrecognized or incorrect charge on your credit card statement can be alarming, but it's often easy to put out the flames.
Identify incorrect charges.
Contact the merchant directly if the charge amount is incorrect. Explain the situation and ask the merchant to correct it.
Contact your credit card company if the merchant is unable or unwilling to assist you. Tell the credit card company you would like to dispute a charge on your account.
Give your information to the credit card company over the phone. Some companies will send you a form to complete, sign and return. These forms often require an explanation of the situation, as well as copies of any receipts.
Wait to hear the resolution. Your credit card company is obligated to respond to you within 30 days of receiving your completed form.
Identify incorrect charges.
Contact the merchant directly if the charge amount is incorrect. Explain the situation and ask the merchant to correct it.
Contact your credit card company if the merchant is unable or unwilling to assist you. Tell the credit card company you would like to dispute a charge on your account.
Give your information to the credit card company over the phone. Some companies will send you a form to complete, sign and return. These forms often require an explanation of the situation, as well as copies of any receipts.
Wait to hear the resolution. Your credit card company is obligated to respond to you within 30 days of receiving your completed form.
How to get rid of your credit card debt
If you have a lot of credit card debt and it seem that always spend over the limit of your credit card and just pay minimum amount every month and you would like to pay it off as soon as possible this tips below will show you what to do
SPEND LESS Try to just spend on things that you really need, avoid over shopping. Just buy items that you think you will be able to pay it off by the end of the month/ credit card cycle.
PAY MORE THAN MINIMUM The other important things to pay off your credit card fast is to pay more than your minimum payment every month otherwise most of your payment will go toward interest.
NEGOTIATE INTEREST RATE High interest rate really eat off your payment every month, if you always pay on time and already do 2 step above: spend less and pay more than minimum for few months than you should be able to negotiate your interest rate with your bank. Tell them that there is another credit card company that offer you lower interest or you considering to transfer balance to the other credit card company.
PAY MORE TOWARD HIGHEST INTEREST CREDIT CARD If you can't transfer balance of this high interest credit card to the lower interest credit card then when you have extra money you should consider to try to pay off this highest interest credit card first. Get rid of the highest interest debt/loan first.
CONSOLIDATE YOUR DEBT INTO ONE LOW PAYMENT If you able to get home equity loan or any other lower interest loan than your credit card debt consider to get new loan with much lower interest and pay off all of your credit card debt.
REMEMBER STEP 1 and 2 Once you consolidate your credit card debt into one lower monthly payment with much lower interest rate, remember not to over spend and pay more than minimum to pay off you loan much faster.
SPEND LESS Try to just spend on things that you really need, avoid over shopping. Just buy items that you think you will be able to pay it off by the end of the month/ credit card cycle.
PAY MORE THAN MINIMUM The other important things to pay off your credit card fast is to pay more than your minimum payment every month otherwise most of your payment will go toward interest.
NEGOTIATE INTEREST RATE High interest rate really eat off your payment every month, if you always pay on time and already do 2 step above: spend less and pay more than minimum for few months than you should be able to negotiate your interest rate with your bank. Tell them that there is another credit card company that offer you lower interest or you considering to transfer balance to the other credit card company.
PAY MORE TOWARD HIGHEST INTEREST CREDIT CARD If you can't transfer balance of this high interest credit card to the lower interest credit card then when you have extra money you should consider to try to pay off this highest interest credit card first. Get rid of the highest interest debt/loan first.
CONSOLIDATE YOUR DEBT INTO ONE LOW PAYMENT If you able to get home equity loan or any other lower interest loan than your credit card debt consider to get new loan with much lower interest and pay off all of your credit card debt.
REMEMBER STEP 1 and 2 Once you consolidate your credit card debt into one lower monthly payment with much lower interest rate, remember not to over spend and pay more than minimum to pay off you loan much faster.
How to Apply for a Joint Credit Card
Once you move in with a significant other or get married, you may find it necessary to apply for a joint credit card. Doing so allows both individuals to use the same card, limiting the accounts you have and making bills easier to manage. Having a joint credit card can also be a way to boost credit if the primary card holder has a strong credit score.
Decide on a primary and secondary card holder. The primary name on the account is the person whose name will appear on the monthly bill. To ensure that you are approved for the joint credit card and that you receive the highest limit possible, the person with the strongest credit should be the primary card holder.
Find a standard credit card application. Chances are you probably receive a couple of these in the mail each week. You can also locate an application by logging onto the official website of any major credit card company.
Fill out the first part of the credit card application as you would if you were applying for your own card. Whether you are filling out the application on paper or via the Internet, you need the same information. Credit card applications ask for your first and last name, full home address, birth date, social security number, household income and your job.
Locate the "Additional Card" portion of the credit card application. There is where you will enter the information for the secondary card holder. This will either be on the back of the paper application or on a second page. When filling out an application via the Internet, look for the "Additional Cards" link that will probably be found directly beneath the application.
Fill in the required information for the secondary card holder. On most applications, you will only need to fill in first name, last name, birth date and social security number for the secondary card holder.
Decide on a primary and secondary card holder. The primary name on the account is the person whose name will appear on the monthly bill. To ensure that you are approved for the joint credit card and that you receive the highest limit possible, the person with the strongest credit should be the primary card holder.
Find a standard credit card application. Chances are you probably receive a couple of these in the mail each week. You can also locate an application by logging onto the official website of any major credit card company.
Fill out the first part of the credit card application as you would if you were applying for your own card. Whether you are filling out the application on paper or via the Internet, you need the same information. Credit card applications ask for your first and last name, full home address, birth date, social security number, household income and your job.
Locate the "Additional Card" portion of the credit card application. There is where you will enter the information for the secondary card holder. This will either be on the back of the paper application or on a second page. When filling out an application via the Internet, look for the "Additional Cards" link that will probably be found directly beneath the application.
Fill in the required information for the secondary card holder. On most applications, you will only need to fill in first name, last name, birth date and social security number for the secondary card holder.
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