Credit Cards Blog

You may love your credit card, but once you're hit with a rising interest rate, you'll find out it may not love you back.

If you think about it, you've got a close, intimate relationship with your credit card. The both of you have been inseparable through each daily transaction. You treat it right by paying off your monthly balance on time. You know all your card's important details, such as its credit limit and interest rate, right down to memorizing every reward and benefit.
You might even know your card number by heart. Unfortunately, there's some bad news that could be financially heartbreaking:

Your credit card company may be holding out on you.

The fact is, you've been kept in the dark about several secrets because your financial benefit comes at your card issuer's financial loss. Read on to find out some of the things your carrier doesn't want you to know.

1. Fixed rates aren't really fixed.
Issuers can raise your APR whenever they choose. This information isn't necessarily a blatant secret, but it'll be hidden so deeply in the fine print of your cardholder's agreement that card companies are hoping you miss it. Commonly, we're enticed to sign on with a fixed introductory interest rate that may change at the company's will. You have the right to be notified 15 days before a potential rate increase, but to stay on top of them, check your mail; you'll receive notifications in a thin, discreet white envelope.

2. One late payment ... two penalties.
In a perfect world, one late payment equals one penalty fee; on-time payments equal zero fees. In this imperfect world, you can be penalized with two surcharges on one delinquency, and you won't know about them until you've been charged. These can come in the form of a late fee (up to $35), and a penalty rate -- a permanent interest increase that can jack up your APR to as high as 29.99 percent! The 2009 CARD Act sought to place limits on these increases, though the details aren't widely known by the average cardholder.

3. Twice the interest in one month.
Another one-two financial punch comes in the form of a legal maneuver which allows your card company to impose two months' interest for just one month of late balance payments. For example: You're charged twice the interest for a partial balance payment in October even though you paid on time in September. Called double-cycle billing, the card issuer looks at your average daily balance over two consecutive months and charges you higher interest based on the month you carried a higher balance. It's not even the interest that makes this a problem, but the principle of being punished for good financial behavior.


4. Disgraceful grace periods.
How many of us who've made big-ticket purchases have been thankful for the grace period? Say you charge $1,000 to your card and pay $250 by the due date to hold over your creditors. Most cards carry grace periods up to about 25 days, allowing you to pay off the remainder, interest-free. But in the spirit of profiteering, many providers are reducing the grace period to just 20 days, while some are doing away with them altogether. That means you'll get charged interest on every purchases, even with timely repayments. Avoid this fall from credit grace, and check how many grace period days your card company offers.

5. No card limits - just with limits.
Many consumers in possession of a no-limit charge card discover they have a revolving spending cap -- let's use $5,000 -- but only learn of it after racking up $7,000 in purchases, leaving them stuck with a remaining $2,000, plus interest, to pay off. Why is this so? Your card company advertised your plastic as no limits, but it's really set at a no preset limit, based on your own month-to-month spending behavior and habits. Before snatching up a no-limit card, ask your provider if the limit is predetermined, and be careful not to spend beyond that amount.

6. Minimum payments to the maximum.
It's the nature of the credit beast: The longer you stay in debt, the more interest credit card companies can charge, and the more money they make. In the past, card holders had a 5 percent minimum monthly payment. This became problematic for creditors because people were motivated to pay off their balances more quickly. So they lowered the monthly minimum to 2 percent. But now, with smaller repayment requirements, we're prone to spend more and accrue more debt each month. Experts maintain that this move by card companies adds thousands of dollars in interest, creating a repayment schedule that could last years, if not decades.

7. Late payments to any creditor can raise your APR.
We hope that our creditors aren't wishing us to slip up on our repayments, but if there's one thing to take away from this article, it's to be on time paying down your debt. One late or partial payment, be it your credit card, car or mortgage payment, can jack up your total APR across each line of credit in your name. Can you imagine your auto or home loan going from 3 percent to 29 percent? Just like we've got the CARD Act, creditors have something called the universal default clause, which insures them against people who pose a credit risk. (Not like they need it.)

Write by: Paul Sisolak

Here are the top 10 credit card mistakes from financial experts :

1. Getting too many
Bypass the shredder and you could make one of the most common credit card blunders by collecting too many credit cards.
"Ask yourself," says Williams, “ ‘Do I need another credit card?' Probably 95 percent of us don't need another one to keep in the sock drawer or in the little metal box in the kitchen."
Howard S. Dvorkin, founder and president of Consolidated Credit Counseling Services, a nonprofit debt management company in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., agrees. "The worst mistake is that people don't know when to stop. Too many credit cards is not a good thing."
Even if the cards have zero balances, multiple open accounts could cause a lender to question what could happen if the account holder gives in to temptation and maxes out on all that plastic.

2. Misunderstanding introductory rates
But, you argue, that new card will help you manage your money better because you can transfer other balances to a no-interest account. Welcome to credit card mistake No. 2: being misled by introductory rates.
"People don't look at what the rate's going to be once the teaser is over," says Daniel Wishnatsky, certified financial planner and owner of Special Kids Financial in Phoenix. "The assumption is that it's going to be a reasonable rate. But with these particular loans, it's not unusual for it to go up to 18 to 20 percent. They're surprised six months later when it expires. But if they'd done their homework, they wouldn't be."

3. Not reading the fine print
That homework is reading the offer's fine print. Not doing so is credit card blunder No. 3.
That tiny text insert is where you'll discover when the zero-percent or very l ow interest rate expires. It's also how you can find out about any balance transfer fees, as well as any offer limitations. In most cases, the introductory rate applies only to balance transfer amounts or new purchases for a certain period of time, says June A. Schroeder, a CFP with Liberty Financial Group Inc. in Elm Grove, Wis., a private financial planning and advisory firm.

4. Choosing a card for the wrong reasons
You might be tempted to ignore the fine print because the card has other attractions, such as a rebate or rewards program. Don't, or you'll make credit card mistake No. 4: choosing a card for the wrong reasons.
"Credit card granters are not a consumer's friend. It is a business," says Dvorkin. "They don't know what's right for you. Their job is to extract as much money from you as they can. Your job is to not let that happen. People need to go through and find a card that's right for them. There's every sort of card out there -- points, cash back, donations to your college."

5. Not rate shopping
Look for the best possible interest rate. Not shopping around is credit card mistake No. 5.
It's especially important to note the rate on unsolicited offers. If you're struggling financially, you're not likely to get the most favorable rates or terms. You'll be paying higher interest rates. So comparison shop for a credit card.

6. Making minimum payments
OK. You do need another card. You read the fine print, you completely understand the terms and you got a competitive rate. But even after choosing the perfect credit card, people still make mistakes, such as No. 6 on our list, making minimum-only payments.
"Credit cards are not a form of supplemental income," says Dvorkin. "They're for convenience, and should be paid off at the end of every month. Paying the minimum is not going to get you anywhere. It's going to get you in trouble, that's where it's going to get you."
And it's going to get you into trouble for a long, long time. "People don't realize how difficult it is to pay off loans at a high rate," says Wishnatsky. "You're going to be paying it for your next three lifetimes."

7. Paying your bill late
Making late payments, blunder No. 7, is better than not paying at all, but not by much. Not only will you face a late-payment charge, which could be higher than your minimum payment, your tardiness will show up on your credit report, damage your FICO score and make it harder to get better terms for future loans and accounts.
Check your account statement for the due date and make sure you send your check in plenty of time. But the date alone isn't enough, says Liberty Financial's Schroeder. Some companies have cutoff times. If your check arrives on the 22nd as required, but in the afternoon mail, your payment is counted as late because your account terms called for payment by 9 a.m. that day.
If you've set up an automatic payment via your bank, make sure the time and date are taken into account, says Schroeder. And find out your bank's payment policy when the due date falls on a weekend or holiday.

8. Ignoring your monthly statement
You can avoid late payments by checking your credit card statement. Not doing so is mistake No. 8. Checking your statement will help you pay your bill promptly, as well as allow you to make sure that the charges on it are correct. "In these days of ID theft, you need to check your bills religiously," says Schroeder. And you need to do so as soon as the statement arrives. If you wait too long to dispute a charge, says Schroeder, "you're essentially accepting it."

9. Exceeding your credit limit
Checking your statements also can keep you from exceeding your credit limit, mistake No. 9. "If you're near the top of your credit limit, try really hard to pay in cash for subsequent purchases or get an increased credit line," says Schroeder. "If you don't, you'll get over-the-limit charges, which are costly and look bad on your credit report."

10. Buying things you don't need
Careful statement examination also could prevent the 10th credit card blunder, using plastic to purchase things you don't need."Go over your credit card bills every month and you'll be amazed at the number of items that, upon reflection, you could have done without," says Wishnatsky. "It's surprising how many purchases we make that we think are needs, but are impulse buys."
The Phoenix financial planner tells his clients who are considering a significant purchase to wait 48 hours, if at all possible. "If you still want it, wait another 48 hours," Wishnatsky says. "Then if you have to get it, then get it."
Also use your statements to help you create a budget. Wishnatsky realizes many people cringe at the "B" word, but he says control of your spending and your credit card usage doesn't have to be a way to deprive yourself. Instead, it can be a way to make things happen in financially positive ways.
"Once you get control, even to a degree, it frees you from this constant money worry," says Wishnatsky. "You might find there are things that you can actually end up having if you just have a plan, if you get your financial desires in tune with your financial resources."

That's all other knowledge about credit cards, hopefully useful for you!


Ref: http://www.creditcards.com/credit-card-news/help/worst-credit-card-mistakes-6000.php#ixzz2teLmVU59

A year after launching her printing business, Sherry Stewart Deutschmann began leasing a new facility and needed large printing and sorting equipment. She had a business credit card with a $5,000 limit, but it would take hundreds of thousands of dollars to finance the kind of fast growth she saw for her business.

It was 2003, and she was generating about $2.5 million in annual revenues at the time, yet several banks and equipment suppliers all turned down her credit requests. "Nobody explained to me why," says Deutschmann, the 51-year-old founder and CEO of Nashville-based LetterLogic, which prints business statements and invoices. "They just flat out said no." She suspected it was because she was still a new business with little track record.

Finally, later that year, she was introduced to a venture capitalist who offered $350,000 in exchange for a 25% equity stake in the business. He also guaranteed a $500,000 line of credit. Today, LetterLogic generates about $21 million in annual revenues with 33 employees. Banks now contact her regularly to see if she needs loans or new credit lines, Deutschmann says. "The interesting thing is we don't need it anymore. We don't really have any debt."
As she learned, getting credit is much easier when you don't need it. But there are ways to build your business credit to avoid the same rejections Deutschmann faced early on. Here are five options to get started.

1. Mind your personal credit rating. 
 The biggest factor in many banks' decision to initially lend businesses money is the owners' personal credit ratings and they typically look for a personal credit score of at least the mid-600s, says Ami Kassar, co-founder and chief executive of MultiFunding LLC, a Broad Axe, Pa.-based company that helps businesses connect with lenders. To boost your credit score, be sure to pay personal bills on time, keep a low ratio of debt to available credit on personal credit cards and credit lines, and make sure any balances remain under 30% of your limit on credit cards. Moreover, lenders will also often check the personal credit of any investor or business partner with more than a 20% stake in the business, Kassar says.

2. Apply for credit before you need it.
To begin building a credit history for your business, apply for at least some sort of credit soon after starting up, Kassar says. A small business will often have to establish itself for two years before a bank feels comfortable offering a sizable credit line. But there are ways around that, such as getting a business credit card or applying for a small bank loan. If you have trouble scoring even a small loan, consider opening a store-based credit line or getting a small secured credit card with a low limit. Some major retailers that supply to small businesses, such as OfficeMax or Home Depot, offer commercial credit accounts that can help build a credit history for your business.

3. Grow your credit and use it.
Many businesses with enviable credit histories applied early for business credit cards and credit lines and used them as early as possible, says Wayne Sanford, owner of New Start Financial Corp., a credit consultancy in Allen, Texas. Once you've established a payment history, request an increased credit limit -- even if you don't need it right away. Also, check to see if you have a profile with Dun & Bradstreet, a business data and credit reporting agency, suggests Gwendolyn Wright, a San Francisco business consultant and former first vice president of the Bank of San Francisco, a community bank. If not, it may be worth paying a fee to set up a profile. You can then add credit references, such as suppliers you've worked with, to elevate your credit profile as a business.

4. Forge relationships with more than one lender.
Banks can change lending policies on a moment's notice and cut your credit limit overnight, so it can help to not have all your financial eggs in one basket, Sanford adds. You might instead choose to have a credit card through a major bank and your credit line through a locally-owned bank or credit union. "With the smaller banks, you can actually speak to the one person who will put your [loan] package together and go to the board" for approval, Sanford adds. On the other hand, a big bank can offer more products and more locations.

5. Consider alternatives.
Remember that traditional banks are not your only shot at credit, Wright says. There are a growing number of other options, such as securing investors, like Deutschmann did. Other resources include asset-based lenders, which focus more on collateral rather than credit worthiness, factoring -- which lets you borrow against your accounts receivables -- and peer-to-peer lending and crowdfunding sites, such as Prosper.com and Kickstarter.com. Using these alternate channels can at least indirectly improve your chances of getting credit in the future. "If people know your business and that you're good for the money, it can only help you," Wright says.

Ref: http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/220192#ixzz2gcc9g2LY

Almost all major banks and credit card processors have a card tailored specifically for small businesses. Before you jump in and sign up, it pays to first think about the new credit you're taking on.

A business owner can usually get a higher credit limit on a business card than on a consumer card, and typical rewards include business-friendly discounts, like on shipping and office supplies. They also help keep business and personal finances separate.
"Almost any business credit card will fulfill about 80 percent of what you need, but the extra 20 percent is more nuanced depending on how you plan to use it," says Ben Woolsey, director of marketing and consumer research at Austin, Texas-based CreditCards.com, a review and comparison website.
Review sites such as CreditCards.com, CardRatings.com, and Bankrate.com offer online tools to compare interest rates, rewards programs and annual fees. Regardless of which card you chose, there are three questions you must ask yourself before signing up.

1. Do you really need it?
While it's tempting to sign up for a credit card at the first sign of a cash-flow crunch, avoid making a knee-jerk decision, Woolsey says. Most consumers already have four or five credit cards in their wallets but only really use one. If that's you, then consider designating one of your personal credit cards for business purposes only.
Also, remember that credit card processors and banks will use your personal credit history as a reference for the business card. If your business doesn't make it and you have to declare bankruptcy, your personal credit score is going to take a hit.

2. What are you going to use it for?
If you plan to make large purchases with the credit card that you can't pay back immediately, your top priority should be to secure a card with the lowest interest rate you can find. But if you're looking mainly for convenience, such as ordering monthly supplies that you plan to pay off each month, then search for the card that offers the best rewards programs.
While you might prefer no annual fee, sometimes the perks make the fee worth it. "Before you pay an annual fee, you should ask yourself: Am I getting something above and beyond that justifies the annual fee?" says Woolsey. For example, one American Express business card -- with an annual fee -- comes with complimentary entry into airport lounges, a popular perk for frequent travelers.

3. How organized is the rest of your financial life?
If you aren't on top of all of your bills, you run the risk of having your interest rates raised without advance warning on a business credit card. While the Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act protects consumers from predatory pricing, business cards are not covered in the law.
"Small business cards are still subject to the whims of the card industry in terms of the pricing policies, fee policies," Woolsey says. A credit card issuer can look at any publicly available source of information about you to determine your risk profile. "If you have been late with your water bill or cable bill, they can jack up your interest rate even if you have been current on the small business account," he warns.

Read more: http://www.entrepreneur.com/blog/223926#ixzz2g4ni9WSv

When your company needs a little extra credit, it might be tempting to fill out one of those business credit card offers stuffed in your mailbox. Before you act, here are a few things you should know.

1. Small-business cards aren't regulated by the 2009 Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility and Disclosure Act, which protects consumers from such practices as arbitrary interest-rate increases. The Pew Health Group warns that such an increase could amount to hundreds or thousands of dollars in extra costs for your business. Just check the fine print: Some issuers have voluntarily adopted these protections.

2. While consumers often look for cards with no annual fees, credit card expert Beverly Harzog of Credit.com says small-business customers should evaluate the full package of costs and benefits, which may include baggage insurance, concierge service, employee-expense tracking and even access to airline clubs. "If the card is offering you something you'd otherwise pay for or that's worth it to you--like having a comfortable place for employees to work if they're stuck in an airport for hours--then it may be worth it to choose that card," she says, "even if it has an annual fee."

3. Small-business cards are typically issued to the business owner specifically and often require a personal credit score of at least 720 out of a possible 850. And most cards report late payments to both business credit bureaus and the business owner's personal credit reports.
Small-business cards can be good for building business credit and racking up perks, especially if you can channel your expenses onto the card. But beware of carrying a balance, and be sure you can pay the bill on time so you don't damage your personal financial profile.

Ref: http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/223033#ixzz2g4Yy5grb

More than 80 percent of small-business owners use credit cards, according to the Federal Reserve. But some make the mistake of reaching for plastic too soon when starting up their businesses and reduce their chances for long-term success.

Nearly 60 percent of start-ups rely on credit cards for financing during their first year of business, according to a recent study from the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, and for every $1,000 increase in credit card debt, a firm's chances of survival decrease by more than 2 percent.
What's so problematic about funding a start-up with a credit card?

It puts personal finances in jeopardy and increases stress.
People often assume that small-business credit cards insulate the owner's personal finances from the company's. But that's just not true. Whether you use a business or consumer card, you're going to be personally liable for debt. So, relying heavily on a credit card for financing could significantly increase the pressure you feel. If things don't go as planned, you not only will default on your business debt, but you also will face serious ramifications on a personal level.

You will have limited funding.
How much money you're able to glean from a credit card is largely a function of your credit standing and income. Many entrepreneurs are young and often at a disadvantage when it comes to those factors. And even if you've managed to garner high credit lines, they will likely be insufficient to cover the costs of getting a business up and running.

It's harder to weather tough times. 
Credit card debt is expensive: The average interest rate for a business card is about 15 percent. Given that you're unlikely to have much money in reserve, an economic downturn or lag in sales could prevent you from making even minimum monthly payments.
Given those problems, why do entrepreneurs repeatedly turn to plastic in their search for start-up funds?

Credit card funds are easier to come by.
Getting approval for a credit card account usually is easier than qualifying for a bank loan, especially in the current economic climate.

Entrepreneurs are often reluctant to ask friends and family.
They are too shy or proud to approach loved ones and acquaintances about investing in a budding business venture.

Entrepreneurs don't want to sacrifice equity to investors. This is perhaps the biggest reason that entrepreneurs are hesitant to bring on investors: They don't want to give up a slice of what could end up being a lucrative pie.

How can entrepreneurs avoid the perils of credit card funding?
The primary way is to seek investors early. By putting together a solid proposal -- complete with a detailed business plan and projections for both future revenue and potential return on investment -- you'll be putting your business in the best possible position to succeed.
If you fund your startup through equity rather than credit card debt, you won't have to waste crucial early-stage revenue paying down debt or the interest associated with it. More money will therefore go into making your business a success. And even if it doesn't pan out, there will be far less personal risk. You won't have to worry about catastrophic damage to your personal finances, which means you'll be able to bounce back more quickly.

Despite these caveats about using credit card debt to fund startups, it's important to remember that credit card use in and of itself is not a mistake. Not only will a credit card allow you to earn rewards on everyday expenses, but it also will help with cash flow because you'll have up to 55 days from the time you make a purchase until a payment is due. In addition, if you're a young entrepreneur, responsible use of a credit card will help you establish a positive credit history.
That will be very important when your business has matured enough to move to the next level and seek a bank loan.
When you're choosing your credit card, make sure you don't fixate on those branded for business use. There's no reason why you can't use a consumer card for business, especially considering the fact that you'll be personally liable with either kind of card and consumer cards actually have better legal protections. Consumer cards are protected under the CARD Act -- a law that eliminated many of the unscrupulous banking practices prevalent prior to the Great Recession -- but business cards are not.

Ref: http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/224350#ixzz2g4RNOLoo

It's true that careless use of credit cards can put you out of business faster than you can swipe your card through the reader.
When used effectively, however, a business credit card can simplify your financial record keeping--and maybe even earn you a little something "extra" for your diligence, too.

Here are 5 ways a business credit card can help:

1. Separation of personal and business finances
All business owners know how important it is to keep personal finances separate from business finances. A simple way to do this is to obtain a business credit card that's used only for business-related expenses and purchases. When the statement comes, you'll know without a doubt that every transaction listed is associated with your business and can avoid having to review the statement carefully to highlight or circle any expenses that don't belong with your business records.

2. Track employee spending
Most businesses have an employee who's responsible for paying small bills or making purchases on behalf of the business. It can be time-consuming to require that every transaction get your approval before making the payment, especially if vendors come looking for payments when you're in meetings or out of the office. An easier way to keep track of employee spending is to issue designated employees credit cards in their names, linked to your business account.
Most credit cards let you set monthly spending limits per card, so you'll have some peace of mind knowing your employees aren't charging excessively.
When your billing statement arrives, the transactions will be itemized and divided based on which employee made the purchase. If an employee abuses his or her credit card, you'll know before it gets out of hand.

3. Reduce time balancing your checkbook
When you get into the habit of using a business credit card to pay for all of your monthly expenses and purchases, you'll benefit from the reduced time required to balance your checkbook. Instead of having numerous transactions in your checkbook register each month, you'll be able to write a single check to the credit card company. This makes it faster to balance your checkbook and reduces the margin of error since there will be minimal transactions to keep track of.
If you get into the habit of paying the credit card in full each time the statement arrives, you can eliminate the need to pay interest on your purchases by using the grace period. Check with your particular credit card, but most offer at least 20 days' grace, meaning payments made in full within this time period are made without interest accruing.

4. Useful financial statements
In an effort to serve their business customers better, many credit card companies offer a range of reports. In addition to monthly statements, you can also receive quarterly and annual reports to categorize your spending. These additional financial reports can make tax time a breeze. Instead of searching through boxes and files for statements and records, you'll have just about everything you need on a single printout from your credit card company, categorized by the type of expense (gasoline, office supplies, travel, food and hotel, miscellaneous, etc.).
Some credit card companies also allow you to generate custom reports as needed. If you need a list of all payments made to a specific vendor over a certain time period--enter in the details and print out your report!

5. Extra benefits of business credit cards
In addition to making your financial record keeping easier, using a business credit card to handle the majority of your business expenses and purchases allows you to accumulate rewards faster.
Choose a card with rewards you will actually use--if you travel frequently, go with a card that offers airline miles, hotel stays, car rental discounts or free trips. If you don't travel much, choose from one of the many other types of rewards cards, and save on office supplies or gasoline, or get cash back.
Using a business credit card allows you to increase your productivity because it helps you save on time spent managing your financial record-keeping. For small businesses, switching to an all-credit-card system may even eliminate the need for a bookkeeper.

Read more: http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/196036#ixzz2g3xlFwjw