Articles About Finance And Refinancing

Avoiding Credit Card Traps

The next time you open your credit card statement, take a closer look at the small insert titled "changes to your credit card agreement". You know the one I'm speaking about. It's that small, folded paper written in legalese that you promise to read some other time (but of course that time never comes) or you just discard it with the other "junk" inserts.

First and foremost you must understand that using your credit card after you've received this notification results in your automatic "agreement" to the new terms in the notice. To prevent these new terms from affecting your account you must stop using that credit card immediately or by the date given in the notification statement.

The most common modifications to credit card agreements include new APR's (annual percentage rates), new fees and/or changes to existing fees, or a change to the grace period on your account. The grace period is the number of days during which any credit used for purchases may be repaid in full without incurring a finance charge.

Not knowing or not keeping track of the dollar amount limit on your card is another trap you should avoid. Credit card issuers will allow you to charge a small amount over the limit set on your account. However, don't be surprised when you get hit with an "over limit fee", usually around $35.00 or higher, on your next statement. Also, be prepared for your APR to be increased if you go over your credit limit.

You'll also trigger an increase to your interest rate if you miss your payment due date. Some companies consider your payment late if not received by noon or 1 p.m. on the date due. Along with the higher rate, you'll also pay a "late fee" of $29 on up. Be sure to use the company's preprinted envelope when sending your payment. These envelopes allow the pre-printed bar code to be scanned by the post office so that it can be delivered more efficiently.

If you've counted on those few extra days from the time you mail your check and the time the check clears your bank, beware! Many credit card issuers have switched from the traditional method of processing checks to a new electronic process. This new system shaves off a day or more from the traditional method it normally takes for your check to clear by electronically debiting your account.

If you're considering paying your credit card bills online, check to see if any additional fees will be charged for using this type of payment. I recently received an e-mail message from one of my credit card companies announcing how easy it would be to make my payments online. Included in fine print at the bottom of the e-mail was this note - "A fee of up to $14.95 may be charged for this service and will be deducted from your checking account". Hmmm, spend 37 cents on postage and mail my payment five days before the due date or pay now and get charged an additional $14.95 fee? I'll bet you can guess which choice I made.

Taking the time to carefully read and understand your credit card agreement now will help you save money by avoiding unnecessary fees or climbing interest rates later down the road.

© 2004, http://www.yourfreecreditreportnow.com

About The Author

James H. Dimmitt

James is editor of "To Your Credit" a FREE weekly newsletter focusing on money management news and tips. You can subscribe to his newsletter and also get a FREE copy of your credit report when you visit: http://www.yourfreecreditreportnow.com

jimdim815@aol.com

Other Article Sites

findabook.com  moneycd.info  a-mortgage.info   about-lemon-laws.info  aboutstudentloans.info
all-about-publishing.info  auctions-articles.info  bestcollege-university.com  bestispconnection.com
biblefolder.com  blogger-website.com  books-used.info  brokers-guide.info  buywindows.info  cable-dsl.info
career-miner.com  carpel-tunnel.info  cashinaflash.info  cashloanreviews.info  casinobell.com  chat-house.info
clearmycredit.info  collegeloantips.info  crones.info  depression-articles.info   dirnic.net  dishguides.info
divers-below.com  expodog.info   financewizz.com  fire-insurance.info  getgood.info  handleit.net   it-idea.info
health-supplies.info  hosting-right.com  insidealert.com  insurance-facts.info  jobs-employment.info
justgood.info  lookgold.net   lowcost-travel.info  money-source.info  myhostzone.info  numisblog.com
peoplesearchfinder.info  pr-articles.info  realeas.com   refinancing-guides.info  spyware-remove.info
telelot.info  the-law.info   toppaid.info  travel-deals.info  travelcorrect.com  wedding-guide-site.com
your-blog.info  your-credit.info

MORE ARTICLES:

Online Mortgage and Financial Portal Expands Consumer Oriented Services
LendingGateway.com is expanding its services to assist the sub-prime credit borrowers to getting the best interest rate possible and helping them gets their credit score up to qualify for a low risk mortgage loan.

Private Loan Consolidations through EdFed
As a college student, you are constantly dishing out thousands of dollars towards various expenses, including tuition, books, fees, housing, food, cell phone bills, utilities, insurance and car payments. The list could go on forever. And, if you are like many students in America, part of your education is probably funded through private student loans.

Money Doesnt Finance Dreams
Are you putting off your dreams until you have money? Well, each day that you put off your dreams, you lose a little bit of time for that dream.Have you made choices that although made everyone else happy, left you feeling empty and incomplete? Maybe you used your lack of money as an excuse, so that you wouldn't feel bad about not pursuing your dreams.

Offset Mortgage Centre Profiled in Squidoo
Offset Mortgage Centre, a leading offset and flexible mortgage review site, can now be found on Squidoo.

Simple Ways To Consolidate Your Credit Card Debt And Get Out Of Debt
The world we live in is built on instant gratification. And what better way to receive instant gratification than spending money you don't have, using a credit card. All of this has lead to a virtual tsunami of credit card debt as more and more individuals find themselves trapped in a cycle of debt of which they can't escape.

Getting Cheap Uk Loan Protection Insurance
When it comes to getting cheap UK loan protection insurance then you simply have to know the best option when it comes to purchasing the cover. The cheapest premiums can generally be found by shopping around and buying your cover from a specialist provider. However when it comes to loan protection insurance the majority of people mistakenly believe that it has to be taken out alongside a loan from the company who are providing you with the loan, which is usually a high street bank or lender. By taking the cover the high street lender offers, the chances are that you will be paying well over the odds for the premium, as the media often highlights.

Why a Mortgage Professional Beats a Banker Every Time -- The Story Tells It All
The best way to explain why a mortgage professional is always better than a banker is to use an anecdote. My parents lived in the house I grew up in for 35 years, so it was finally time to move.

Car Loan Calculations
Sooner or later, everyone wants or needs to buy a vehicle; and unless you have a money tree in your backyard, you're going to need to take out a loan.

What You Need To Know About Frequent Flyer Credit Card
There are lots of people who travel everywhere in the world either for personal or official purposes. In this manner, both passengers and airline companies are mutually benefited. The passengers always see it as an advantage because their needs to travel could be turned out into something profitable.

House Mortgage: What Terms You Need?
Mortgage is a secured loan designed to finance people in buying a house or property. It is a long term loan which uses the house as collateral. So in case the borrower was not able to pay the loan, the lender (mortgage company, bank, and lending institutions), can foreclose the house sell it.

Debt Consolidation Loan ? How Does It Help You
If you are a borrower who needs to consolidate your debts into one package for whatever reason, make sure your debt consolidation loan is the most effective package it can be How it works A debt consolidation loan essentially pays off all the smaller debts and replaces the multiple minimum payments with a larger single loan

You?ve Decided To Refinance, Now What?
Researching and knowing your options is the key to making a responsible decision when you decide to refinance your home. You may wonder how to take advantage of offers like no-cost refinancing, or what type of new mortgage is right for your unique situation. Having the right information and asking the right questions is the key to making a decision you will never come to regret.

Basic Steps Needed For Obtaining A Cosmetic Loan For Surgery
At one time, cash was the only way to pay for cosmetic surgery, but along the way many other methods of payment have come about. One of those methods is financing. However, cosmetic surgeons perform more procedures than just nose jobs and chin lifts. Sometimes there is a medically viable reason as to why someone needs cosmetic surgery. This can be dental work, procedures to remove scarring, or the need to remove an abnormality from the face. Whatever the reason, there are companies offering loans for those wishing to have some sort of cosmetic surgery.

What Car Finance Deal Should You Choose?
Financing the purchase of your car can be difficult. Recent research has highlighted the fact that most consumers have decided how to pay for their vehicle even before visiting a forecourt. Reasons for this include high interest rate charges and the motor trade?s poor reputation. Showroom finance is often not considered as an option, with high street and online lenders greatly preferred, perhaps not surprising considering that they do traditionally provide better car finance deals.