Tips on Credit Card Offers and How to Apply Online

American Express Blue Cash Everyday Card Review – Is it the Right Credit Card for You?

The Blue Cash Everyday card from American Express has been around for a while, but American Express implemented some changes to it in the summer of 2011. It is a cash back card, which customers enjoy. Customers’ former complaint about American Express Blue Cash Everyday was that they had to spend too much using the card to make its cash – back provisions valuable to them. In response to that consistent complaint, American Express changed the terms of usage so that there are not so many purchases required now to activate the maximum level of cash – back rewards. In researching material for this American Express Blue Cash Everyday card review, it seems that Amex’s alterations have made all parties happy.

How It Works

The American Express Blue Cash Everyday is a credit card that returns a prescribed percentage of specific types of purchases to the customer. Cash rewards are not automatic, but have to be requested. Cash rewards are awarded in the form of “Reward Dollars” that the customer can redeem for cash, gift cards or merchandise. Unlike other cash reward cards, this one has no cap on the amount of Reward Dollars that any specific customer can earn. Chase and Capital One cash-back cards have been available for some time, and it appears that Amex is focused on providing the greatest value of all cash-back cards.

The card pays varying amounts in rewards. It pays its highest percentages on purchases made at locations that typically sell everyday items. This is in stark contrast to other cash reward cards that pay higher rates of rewards on occasional or big – ticket items. This card pays:

3% at supermarkets
2% at gas stations and department stores
1% at other types of retailers

Another benefit is that American Express welcomes new users by offering a $100 reward when the new account holder spends $1,000 in eligible purchases during the first three months that s/he holds the card. There is no annual fee, so the value of the initial Reward Dollars is not diminished either by an annual fee or a usage fee.

Pros and Cons

Blue Cash Everyday from American Express
The current version of the card must not be confused with its predecessor. Originally, customers earned 5% on everyday purchases and 1.25% on other types of purchases, but only after spending $6,500 using the card within the calendar year. Customers complained that the spending threshold was far too high. American Express responded by eliminating the spending threshold entirely. What this means for customers is that they can begin earning cash rewards from the beginning, and earn those rewards on every purchase they make using the card.

Another advantage of this card is that there is no cap on the number of Reward Dollars that customers can earn. This is in stark contrast to most other cash – back cards, which limit the monetary value of cash rewards available to any single customer in a calendar year. This is not the case with this card. There is no limit to the number of Reward Dollars that any customer can earn by using the card.

The interest rate on this card can be seen as a “pro” by many users, but as a “con” by others. There is no interest at all for the first twelve months, but after that, the interest rate will be either 17.24%, 20.24% or 22.24%, depending on the customer’s credit history. How this is an advantage is that the only way the card can be valuable is if the customer pays off the full balance each month. Otherwise, any rewards accumulated will be decimated by the high interest rates. The high interest is an advantage in that encourages payment of the full balance each month.

The only potential con that surfaced from research for this American Express Blue Cash Everyday review is the generic caution about the use of credit cards in general. Using any card for most purchases and even using it to pay other bills can be dangerous for irresponsible borrowers. Amex is unlikely to extend credit to those with such a history, but card customers do need to remain aware of what they are spending between statements.

Why to Apply

Apply for Amex Blue Cash Everyday Card
There are not many reasons to apply for most standard credit cards, but this one offers many:

No annual fee
No interest for twelve months
No additional charges for additional account users or their cards
Highest rewards paid on life’s most common purchases and needs
No minimum purchase thresholds
Flexible payments that allow payment over time
Use the card to make automatic payments, earning Reward Dollars even on bills not originating with Blue Cash Everyday
Discounts at several retailers, including Hertz and 1-800-FLOWERS.com
Free $25 Flemings card when paying a bill of at least $100 at Flemings using the card
Travel accident insurance included
Car rental loss and damage insurance coverage
Accident insurance for card holder and family members
Unlimited cash rewards potential
Accrued Reward Dollars never expire

The bottom line is that Blue Cash Everyday from American Express is an excellent credit card program overall, and it appears to be the best cash back card available for those with superlative credit.

Top 5 Reasons to Apply for a Secured Credit Card

Secured Credit Cards
There are credit cards that best serve the needs of people with excellent, good, fair, or poor credit. Cards for those individuals with excellent credit offer the best rewards and lowest interest rates. Good credit allows consumers to obtain reasonable rates. People with fair and poor credit may have trouble getting approved for any card, and they will be charged the highest interest rates. Poor credit customers seldom qualify for credit cards, but these tools are increasingly essential in modern society for multiple ordering and bill paying purposes. Secured credit cards for bad credit card customers provide a viable alternative for many people, and allow them a second chance to build a credit history. Read our detailed review and learn more about this type of credit card before filling out an application online.

Secured credit cards to rebuild credit work like other credit cards with one exception – customers must secure the credit limit with a bank account, which they cannot access until the card is cancelled or the secured restrictions are dropped by the credit card vendor. Individuals can deposit from $200—$3000 to cover various credit limits. The bank account cannot be touched, but otherwise the credit card works just like unsecured cards. Consumers can use these cards to order online, pay bills, get cash advances, and use anywhere credit cards are accepted.

People with no credit history or poor credit can build credit and improve their score with the three major credit-reporting agencies. All that is required to improve credit score is to use the card and pay the bill on time each month. Keeping balances low also provides significant improvement in credit scores. Many people choose to use a credit card for all purchases and pay the bill off when it comes due to avoid interest rates. Following this approach will substantially increase credit scores over time. Eventually, the secured credit card lender will lift restrictions, or consumers will qualify for credit from other providers.

Top Five Reasons to Apply for a Secured Credit Card

There are many reasons why consumers stand to benefit by obtaining secured credit cards with no annual fee. The top five reasons are as follows.

1. When making hotel and plane reservations for travel, a credit card is needed. Even people who plan to pay cash must provide a valid card number to secure the reservation. Travelers do not need to find a friend or family member to guarantee their tickets or reservation, which can be an embarrassing situation.

2. Using a credit card builds a credit history that can help consumers obtain a car loan or home mortgage. The better a credit score, the lower the interest rate for these long-term loans will be. Even a point or two can make a significant difference in the terms of large loans, and consumers should utilize all available resources to reduce interest rates. When applying for loans or credit cards, consumers should cluster applications within a two-week period. Credit requests can lower credit scores, but multiple requests within a short time period will not negatively impact a credit rating.

3. Consumers can utilize a secured credit card to order online for convenience. More shoppers buy goods and services directly online, and a credit card is necessary to pay for these products. When poor credit customers obtain a card, they have immediate access to all the products the web has to offer.

4. Customers can use their secured cards to pay recurring bills. With a valid card, customers can schedule automatic bill payments or pay manually each month. This option saves time and money, removing the necessity of mailing payments or making them in person.

5. Consumers need a credit card to rent a car. If a car breaks down or is damaged in an accident, people without credit cards cannot rent a car. Secured cards allow consumers the option of renting a car locally or at any travel destination around the world.

Shopping for the Best Secured Credit Card Offers

Even though some consumers have poor credit, they should still shop around for the best offers. The best secured credit cards offer reasonable interest rates without additional fees. Some lenders take advantage of people with bad credit by tacking on high charges to secured accounts, requiring high insurance fees to qualify, or charging exorbitant rates of interest. Consumers need to check each deal carefully.

One of the best companies for rebuilding credit is Orchard Bank. Annual fees are waived for the first year, and the company reports to the major reporting agencies monthly to build credit. There is no processing fee for people with poor credit, and the company’s secured MasterCard has an annual interest rate of 7.90–19.90 percent. The minimum secured account is $200, and credit limit increases are granted to consumers who make their payments on time. The card will be upgraded to unsecured status for customers with dependable payment histories. Applicants should have a credit score of at least 494 to obtain approval for this secured card. The average credit score of people approved for this card is 599.

Citi Platinum Select MasterCard Review – Top 5 Reasons You Should Apply

There are so many new credit cards on the market that it’s sometimes hard to decide which ones are the best. This Citi Platinum Select MasterCard review will show just how many great benefits come with this select credit card. It all begins with an extraordinary introductory offer and then the deals just keep getting better. Here are 5 reasons why you should apply today.

Introductory APR lasts for 21 Months!

The best feature of this Citi Platinum Select card is the introductory APR that’s offered to new card holders. This introductory offer is 0% APR for 21 months! That includes both purchases and balance transfers. With that said, it can save you thousands of dollars if you transfer the balance of another card with a high interest rate to this one. Since the balance transfer fee is only 3% (which is far less than a high interest rate), this card is perfect for paying off some of these high interest cards. Just keep in mind that you have to transfer the balance within the first 4 months of getting your card for this offer to apply.

For Those Who Love to Shop Online

Shopping online has become very popular and now it’s even better. The ‘extra cash’ feature is perfect for placing those online orders. With this Citi Platinum Select credit card, you can purchase all of your favorite items and get an automatic 10% discount. Here’s how it works:

Select Savings – Go to the Citi website and log in to the Extra Cash section. Select the products you want to save on.
See Savings as they Happen – Any time you make a purchase with the Citi Platinum Select Card, you see live information regarding your ‘Extra Cash’.
Enjoy – All you have to do is use this credit card during the purchase and you’re set! The extra cash savings will be automatically deducted from your card’s balance.

Security Features

In today’s world, credit card security is a great concern. Identity theft is a growing trend that has a lot of people on edge. Fortunately, Citi utilizes the most advanced security features such as Secure Sockets Layer (SSL). To your privacy information even more secure, Citi includes industry standard as well as optional security measures. Here are some examples of how Citi protects owners of this credit card. Keep in mind that some of these are optional and must be activated by the card holder.

No liability for unauthorized purchases! If by some small chance you’re compromised, then you will not be responsible for paying unauthorized charges.

Citi Photocard is one of the best features. It would be extremely difficult for a black hat to use a stolen credit card with your picture on it! Citi gives you the option to unlock this cool feature and gain peace of mind.

Virtual account number add even more security to online shopping. You will be able to create a one time substitute credit card number that is directly linked to your credit card. Once you use this number, it becomes inactive. Therefore, it’s next to impossible for your number to be stolen online.

Auto Rental Features

For those of us who are constantly traveling, this Citi Platinum Select credit card adds yet another outstanding feature. First of all, by simply using this card to rent a vehicle, you’ll automatically be covered with auto rental insurance provided by Citi. Travel and emergency assistance are also included. These services include medical, legal, lost luggage, and emergency transportation. This protection is active throughout all of the U.S. and many other countries. You also get discounts for using Hertz with this card. Since Hertz is one of the leading car rental agencies in the world, this is a great discount.

Protect your Purchases

Citi Platinum Select Application Most items that you purchase while using this card will include an extension of the manufacturers warranty. This is normally for a period of up to a year. Additionally, most items purchased are eligible for special protection such as:

Fire
Breakage
Theft

This normally applies up to 3 months after the purchase date.

As you can see, all of these benefits can quickly add up. But what this Citi Platinum Select MasterCard review has shown us is that the most useful feature is the introductory balance transfer offer. Since it’s completely interest free for 21 months, it can wind up saving you a lot of money. It’s no wonder that this card is quickly becoming one of the most popular on the market.

Chase Freedom Card Review – Top 5 Reasons You Should Apply

People who have managed to keep their credit reports free of any major missteps will now be rewarded. This Chase Freedom Card review will demonstrate why being able to qualify for the Chase Freedom Visa Card is such a positive thing.

Top Five Benefits of Chase Freedom

If a Chase Freedom credit card holder makes purchases in the amount of $500 in three months, this card holder will be entitled to $200 in cash back, and this goal would be relatively easy for most card holders to accomplish.
People do not have much time to meet the following goal, but because the holidays are coming up, they might be able to do it. If they purchase $1,500 on their Chase Freedom Visa cards by December 31 of this year, they will receive 5% cash back on their purchases from the following establishments:
- Restaurants
- Department stores
- Movie theaters
- Charities
The Chase Freedom credit card offers people chances to receive more opportunities to earn cash back. Every three months, a new category will be added that makes it possible for people to earn 5% cash back, such as for supermarkets, gas stations, drugstores and stores dedicated to home improvement.
As long as people retain their cards, they will earn 1% cash back when they use the card at all other establishments.
This card also offers benefits for those who use it to make purchases online. Using this card at participating online stores entitles card holders to a maximum of 10% cash back on their purchases.

Chase Freedom Rewards
Terms
This card gives people a 0% introductory APR for balance transfers. Card holders who transfer their balances from other credit cards within the first month of owning the card will qualify for the 0% annual percentage rate for a full year. The fee for transferring balances is only three percent of the balance. If they qualify, it’s possible that the transfer fee will only be five dollars.

The card also offers a six-month introductory rate of 0% APR for purchases made with the card. After the introductory periods are over, the APR will increase to 17.99%. Also, the card holders will enjoy the fact that they will never have to pay an annual fee for this card.

The card gives people a chance to avoid having to pay any interest on the purchases they make. Those who obtain this card will have three weeks to pay their balances in full after the close of each month’s billing cycle. If they do this, no interest is charged on these purchases.

Qualifications and the Application
Those who have a credit score of at least 750 may feel free to apply for Chase Freedom cards online. The application is on a secure website, so people can be assured that their personal information is safe. They will need to give their names, addresses and financial information as well as contact information, and they will be able to quickly submit their applications to Chase Bank.

Applying online is safe and secure and gives people a chance to receive an answer as to whether or not they have been approved in a much faster manner than mailing in their applications. This Chase Freedom card review is all that is necessary to have the desire to apply for Chase Freedom cards.

What happens if I do not pay credit card bills

So what happens if you have a huge credit card balance and can’t pay it off at this time due financial circumstance? Or you may want to ask what do I need to do so that I don’t have to pay for my credit card bills? There are a couple of things you can do depending on the situation. First thing first, if you can’t pay off the entire balance, pay at least the minimum to avoid late fees. The financial charge will still apply for the remaining balance. Call the credit card company to find out if they can low the APR for another 6 months or even 12 months. If you consistently pay the minimum in the past, chances are they will go lenient on you. Secondly, compare the current APR and compare with other credit cards. They are many cards that offer special balance transfer for as low as 0% for at least 6 months. But remember, this is the only temporary solution. You have to figure out how to pay off the balance at the end of six months.

Pay credit card bills

If you really have to rely on balance transfers make sure to find the ones that offer you the longest Intro APR period. Like I said before, 6 month is the minimum. Many cards give you 18 even 21 months special APR on balance transfer and purchases. One thing to keep in mind is that although the monthly payment is very low you will need to manage to pay offer the entire balance at the end of the intro period. If you have a huge amount transferred from the old card you should pay a bit more than the minimum due – the better way to do it is to divide the entire balance by 21 months or whatever the number of months the financial institution is giving you. Let’s say you have $5000 credit card debt, you should pay about $240 each month for the next 21 months. There will be no surprise at the end. Another thing to keep in mind is never make any purchase with the new card. Some cards offer different intro APR and period for balance transfer and purchase. Don’t mess them up. You can apply for a different card just for purchase you need to. Just remember to pay off the balance each month so you don’t have to repeat the “balance transfer method” again. Once you forget the pay the entire balance you will end up accumulating more debts instead.

Credit card bills Some people have way more cards to use than they really should. In the case you forget to pay the bill when balance is due you should contact the credit card issuers first to find out if they are willing to waive the late fee and financial charges. Most of the time, if you don’t have a history of late payment and always pay in full in the past, they will credit back the fee in the next statement. My recommendation is to cut down the number of cards you own, especially the company or department store credit cards you signed up just to take advantage of one time saving.

In the next post, I will talk about other ways of avoiding credit card bills.

Shopping for Father’s Day

Everyone is looking for savings when shopping for Father’s Day. I am no exception. Recently, I get a Bloomingdale’s card at the 25% discount. That’s a timely promotion for the Father’s Day. Hey, things cost more these days, 25% off everything is great. They mean almost everything except some designer brand like the Louis Vuitton is never on sale, so no luck on that. Anyway, the point I am trying to make is that Department stores are offering discounts if you sign up for their store credit cards. The discounts range from as 10% to as much as 30% of your first day of purchase. Some stores actually extend the savings up to one week so you will have enough time to think about and buy whatever you want during the week. The savings will not be reflected at the time of purchase, which means the dollar amount on the receipts will have the same price as retail. The discount, however, will eventually show up on the first bill. So be sure the check whether the percentage match the promotion you are suppposed to get when you first signed up at the store.

How to Earn Rewards with Everyday Credit Card Purchase

I am the kind of person who will carry more credit cards than cash. It’s just convenient for me – a cup of coffee and a bagel are just one swipe away. Just think about many coins you get return from small purchase like coffee, newspaper, and sandwich. When said convenience, it’s not just for me. It’s for everyone who is waiting behind me. Most of the purchases with small dollar amount don’t require a signature. The cashier can take the next customer after you swipe you card (unless you need the receipt). Most importantly you are earning rewards with every dollar you spend! One reward point for a dollar spent. And the points never expire.

Some credit cards make it easier to earn rewards these days. Chase Rewards Card with Blink is one card that doesn’t even require a swipe. All you need to do is to bring your card toward the credit card readers with a special sensor. The card reader then rings up the transaction. There is no paper to sign (very environmental friendly too). The Blink card readers are now widely available at fast-food restaurants like Wendy’s and McDonalds.

Earn credit card rewards

Just think about something that costs $5.55 and you will end up paying 6.03 with tax. If you don’t have the exact change (I bet most people don’t), you will end up giving a $7 and getting about $.97 changes in coins. That could be annoying. Just use your credit cards, save time and hassle. Your cashier will certainly appreciate it. And every dollar you spend earns you 1 point. In the case of Chase rewards card, 100 points will give you $1 back with minimum 2500 points to be able to redeem. Just by purchasing breakfast and lunch everyday can earn you $25 rewards quicker than you think. It’s the only card that I use everyday for every purchase – breakfast, lunch, pen, stamp, snack, transportation, you name it! I have earned many $25 gift cards from Chase ever since I signed up for the Chase rewards card.

credit card rewards To earn even more rewards with every credit card purchase – beware of promotions like double reward points. From time to time, especially during holiday shopping season, card issuers offer double or triple reward points during a certain period of time. Even though the promotion is free, you still have to log into your account or call customer service to sign up. Department store reward cards usually offer you like 3 days to 1 week to shop so you can earn more rewards. Some of the stores occasionally promote a certain hot items and you can earn up to 5 times the regular reward points if you purchase a special items. There are a lot ways to earn rewards quickly. The bottom line is that you don’t need the merchandise, never buy it.

Cash Back Reward Cards

Cash Back Reward Cards Want to earn cash back while doing your every day shopping. There are Credit Cards that allow you to earn cash back for everything you purchase through your cashback credit cards. Whether you are buying a cup of coffee or paying for a new car, you will earn a small percentage for every dollar you spend. You can earn 5% cash back rewards at supermarkets, gas stations, and drugstores. For example, if you spend $5000 a year buying grocery at supermarkets you will be eligible for a $250 check. There is usually an annual limit on how much you can earn – $300 for most credit cards with cash back reward.

One quick way to earn cash back without spending too much is to sign up a new reward credit card. Card issuers like Citibank and Capital One offer cards that give you $100 to $200 cash back after you spend $500 in purchase within the first 3 months of account opening. Capital One even offers 50% bonus cash. Let’s say you earn $240 cash back over the year you will get $120 as bonus cash. With one-time $100 bonus offer you will earn $460 in total cash back the first year. How easy is that? The regular cash back is 1% on all purchases – that means the more you spend the more cash reward you will earn. You also have the choice to redeem cash rewards via check, account credit, or gift cards. Our recommendation is always get a check – that gives you the maximum flexibility. You can use the cash to buy gift cards, toys, gadgets, or whatever you feel like.

So if I apply for more cash back reward cards I can earn more cash back? If you apply for 5 cards and each card requires a minimum purchase of $500 during the first 3 months you actually have to spend $2500 in total by the end of the 3rd months. If you do want to take advantage of the one-time bonus cash offer I highly recommend you to get one card at a time so you can manage your spending easily. Some cards require you to carry a balance during the intro period – make sure you pay off the entire balance before the intro periods ends. Otherwise you might have to pay more financial charges than the bonus cash you earn.

Chase Bonus Cash Back It’s probably not the best approach to earn money by signing one numerous cards even if you have excellent credit. Having too many cards are difficult to manage. 10 cards will have 10 different due dates each months. Besides the regular cash back rate is 1%. Having more cards don’t mean you will earn more. You still have to spend more money to get the reward.

One or two cards are good enough in my opinion. Keep it simple to manage and avoid late fees and financial charges. What do you think?

Can I still apply for credit cards if I have bad credit?

If you have bad or poor credits and want to reestablish your credit, there are many special cards designed just for you. No one wants to have bad credit. Due to the shrinking economy, many people lost jobs, foreclosed their house, and default their credit card payment. Those are have a credit score or 600 or lower are considered bad or poor credit. And in recently years, financial institutions are tightening their underwriting standard to reduce the risk of default. So fewer people are being approved for credit card applications today.

So can I still apply for a credit card if you have bad credit? If you know you have a major blemish on you credit score you should not consider applying for any Diamond or Platinum credit cards that requires excellent credit. I know these cards offer perks like 0% intro APR and up to 5% cash back. But you will have 0% chance of getting it approved. Instead, since your credit history is poor, you should apply for a secured credit card. These cards don’t offer reward points or cash back, neither do they give you a credit line without your making a deposit first. Usually the credit line is the same as or a few hundred dollars higher than the amount you deposit. The credit is not an issue anymore since the card issuers can take the money from you deposit in case you don’t pay the balance due.

In addition to deposit to secure the credit line, you will have to pay a higher interest rate than that of regular credit cards. But if you are determined to get your credit back to good standing, apply for one of those credit cards and always make the minimum monthly payment, or even better – pay off the balance every month. Your credit lender will be willing to low the interest rate. And it will become easier for you to borrow more money and apply for a mortgage later.

Student Credit Cards

Getting a student credit card while in college is the first step to start building your credit history. Credit card companies offer some sort of incentives on campus when you apply – such free t-shirts and mugs. And most of the student credit cards now carry cash back or reward points programs. Since these cards are targeting college students and they are easy to qualify. Credit lines are usually low since most students are not yet working, but many offer 0 or low introductory APRs for purchases.

Student Credit Cards Some card issuers offer $25 cash back when you sign up and make your first purchase within 3 month. Although that’s not a huge amount compared to $100 to $200 cash back you will earn on cards that require excellent credit, this can pay for some of your school supplies (or party supplies depending on how you use it). Just charge everything from meal, books, and computers. Just be careful that your credit line can really limit your purchase. If you do need to buy more stuff, call the credit card company and request a credit increase. They are usually generous enough to bump up the credit line to $1000 – good for 2 iPads or a couple of iPhones for now. To help to encourage you to pay your bill on time, some card issuers like Capital One offers 25% bonus on cash back you already earn each month.

Don’t let the freebie lure you into applying for more cards than you really need. Sure at the beginning of every semester you might feel you need to buy a lot of stuff, let your parents take care of the essentials first – like new laptops or TV. You should use the student credit card to buy textbooks and other school supplies. One card should be sufficient to handle all these. If you have enough credit, you can pay your tuition bills and meal plans with these credit cards and start building your A+ credit.

Although the standard APR is generally lower than other creditcards you should always pay off the entire balance on time each month. Having a credit card doesn’t mean you can spend on whatever item you want. Learn to be responsible for your purchase. If you can’t afford buying a new computer just don’t purchase it even though your credit line is can cover the price. Remember you still have to pay off the bill at the end of the month or billing cycle. Leaving a balance on will incur unnecessary financial charges that will eventually add up to more than your original purchase price.

One question many students ask – when should I cancel my college student credit card? You don’t. It’s really the same credit card as others. They are just made for students when you are still in school. Once you graduate – somehow the card issuers know or predict based on your original application, they will send you an upgraded card that offer even more benefits and certainly a higher credit line based on your income. There is nothing you need to do unless you have a particular you really like to upgrade to.