Credit Card Rewards

The Idiots Guide to Selecting a Credit Card Part II

There are literally hundreds – possibly thousands – of credit card offers available to consumers these days. And these days there are more things to compare than just interest rates and fees. Now, credit card holders can be rewarded for their using credit cards. Or, if youre a business owner, you might find extra features and perks with a business credit card. In this article well go over the basics of some of these above-and-beyond features of credit cards. Whenever youre thinking of applying for a credit card, its always best to compare all of their features so you get the best credit card that matches your financial lifestyle.

Rewards Programs

Probably one of the most attractive features of credit cards these days is the rewards programs that they sometimes offer. Credit card companies will often reward their cardholders for making purchases with the cards. Rewards can range from airline tickets to cash back to hotel discounts, depending on which credit card you apply for. The rewards are usually based on a point system with each dollar you spend using your credit card, you are rewarded a certain number of points that are collected in your account. When you have a certain number of points, you are able to redeem them for the reward that your credit card offers.

How can you use these types of cards to your best advantage? Think about what you do the most do you travel? Do you drive a lot and use a lot of gasoline? Do you shop at a particular store a lot? Consumers usually choose rewards credit cards that match their spending habits the best. If you travel a lot, it would be best to get a credit card that offers airline rewards. If youre on the road a lot, try finding an offer that gives you a discount on gasoline, or cash back for gasoline purchases. One thing to remember when selecting a rewards program make sure that once you choose it, it fits your needs exactly. For instance, if you fly frequently but usually fly on Midwest Express, make sure your credit card offers rewards for Midwest Express and not American Airlines. If youre a big driver, make sure youre getting rewarded for using the gasoline thats most available to you BP, Amoco, etc. There are some rewards cards that allow you a choice, but its always important to make sure youre going to get what you expect!

Business Features

If you are a business owner, using a business credit card can help you with things like payroll, managing expenses, and managing employee spending. Business credit cards now offer features like:

Detailed expense reporting allowing you to see very clearly where your hard earned business dollars are being spent.
Online account management allowing you to view and manage your credit accounts via the internet for added convenience
Customized cards and employee cards allowing you as the business owner to receive cards for your employees
Increased credit limits- allowing you to make the business purchases you need to keep your business running.
Rewards either travel, cash back, or other discounts, rewards allow you to enjoy a little bit of what youre spending

Make sure when youre applying for a business credit card that you compare these types of features and make sure your business card will meet the needs of you, your business, and your employees.

Online Access

Its not news anymore online access to bank accounts and credit accounts is just about standard these days. If youre a high powered geek, though, you might want to check out the interface and features of the online access that your credit card allows you. Online access offers you 24×7 access to your statements, transactions, customer support and billing making it much easier for you to monitor your credit expenses and pay your bills.

Security & Protection

Another feature of credit cards that is just about standard these days is the protection that credit card issuers offer you for things like identity theft and fraudulent use of your credit card. Unfortunately, there are still people out there who can acquire your credit card numbers usually by finding a receipt with your credit card number on it, getting the number through hacking online, etc.
Consumers should always keep credit card receipts in a safe place, shred them, or at the very least make sure that the credit card number and expiration date is not shown on the receipt before you throw it out. The good news is that if you notice a fraudulent charge on your credit card, its usually as easy as calling up your credit card company and reporting it. 9 times out of 10, its easy enough to prove that you didnt make the charge, and your credit card company will remove that charge from your account. With some of the higher end cards platinum cards, etc. the credit card companies actively monitor your account and will personally call you if they notice unusual activity on your credit card. In some cases, they do not authorize payments until they get approval from the card holder. These types of features add safety and security for consumers.

Chase Travel Plus Platinum

With Chase TravelPlus Visa card, your purchases will earn points that can be redeemed for a variety of travel rewards including airline tickets, hotel stays, cruises, and car rentals. Travel domestically or internationally with no blackout dates.

Chase Travel Plus Platinum Visa Card is especially designed for frequent travelers. Card members are given one mileage point for every dollar they spend on general purchases. These points can be redeemed for a free travel ticket from your choice of airline. There are over 250 airlines to choose from so its guaranteed that your favorite airline should be on the list. If you want, you can also exchange your points for to rent a car, take a free hotel accommodation, or a free cruise.

Hilton HHonors Platinum Card from American Express

Hilton HHonors is a hotel rewards credit card that also gives its card members the opportunity to earn mileage points for a free travel with not just one but 50 different airline affiliates. There are over 2, 800 participating Hilton hotels that you can stay with and earn your points wherever you are. This hotel credit card is great for frequent flyers and for often who often have to spend days in hotels and inns. With HHonors Double Dip Earnings Style you can surely get the most out of your reward points and choose the reward you like. Members are also allowed to change the Double Dip Earnings Style theyve chosen. There are three Double Dip Earnings Style that you can choose from.

Chase PerfectCard MasterCard

This is a great gas reward credit card for consumers who are often on the road. It gives a generous 6% rebate on ALL gas purchases at ANY gas station for the first 90 days and 3% rebates on ALL gas purchases at ANY gas station afterwards. It also gives 1% rebate on general purchases. You can also enjoy a 0% APR for up to 6 months.

Capital One Business Platinum with No Hassle Miles SM

This card is especially created for business owners who want to maximize the benefits they can get from their card usage. It has a 0% introductory APR on purchases until December 2008 and some very exciting reward options.
As a Capital One Business Platinum with No Hassle Miles cardholder, every dollar you charge to your card entitles you to one mile point. You can collect as many mile points as you can without worrying about blackout dates at all. It doesnt limit you to a single affiliate airline so you can fly any airline you prefer. Another great thing about this travel reward card is that you can exchange your miles to cash back, gift cards or merchandise rewards instead of travel.

Other great features of this business credit card are free supplementary cards for your employees with individual spending limits and an annual summary of your account for free. It also has no annual fee and allows a credit limit of up to $20,000.

Advanta Platinum with Rewards

The Advanta Platinum with Rewards Card is a great cash back business reward card. It has a 0% introductory APR on balance transfer for 15 months and a low fixed APR of 7.99% afterwards. It gives a business a high credit limit, a $0 fraud liability protection, has no annual fee, no limits on the rewards you can earn, and the option to choose between cash or travel rewards. Your company name will also be printed on your credit card to enhance your business image.

Reminder

These are just some of the most rewarding credit cards available in the market. Remember to check out the complete Terms and Conditions of each reward credit card weve discussed here before submitting your application.

The Citi MTv Platinum Select Visa Card For College Students Is Good News For College Students

The Citibank Students Cards cater to the needs of students and is more than a debit card for the students. One among them is the Citi MTv Platinum Select Visa Card for College Students, which facilitates particularly those college students who pay off their credit card balance on time and manage to keep the balance low.

Benefits Of The Card

The Citi MTv Platinum Select Visa Card for College Students promises to be a rewarding experience for the students with high GPAs. Higher GPAs will give you higher points. The Thank You points that you earn can be utilized for MTv merchandise, airline tickets, gift cards and CDs.

The credit card enables you to achieve a solid education and gain smart spending. The card has a reasonable annual percentage rate (APR) convenient for building a good credit. You can also avail the opportunity to use your points towards MTv special events and for other fun purposes.

Absence of any annual fee makes it easier for the student to save money. The card enables students view/check their accounts and pay the bills online. The card also has provisions for theft protection as well as travel insurance. In case, you live away from your home, the Citi MTv Platinum Select Visa Card for College Students gives you the option of visiting your family and avail a discount on the airline tickets.

Other Benefits

The card comes handy if you require quick cash or desire to save a balance on another high interest-rate credit card. Moreover, you can avail of a 0% annual percentage rate (APR) on the balance transfers and a 0% interest rate on the cash advances for the initial six months.

Each and every purchase you make with the card enables you to obtain points. You can conveniently earn 5 points for spending 1 dollar at your favorite haunts, like video rental stores, bookstores, restaurants, record stores and movie theatres. For purchases elsewhere, you can earn one point for spending one dollar with the card.

The Thank You Redemption Network of the Citi MTv Platinum Select Visa Card for College Students further makes it possible for you to earn 2000 Thank You points twice a year for possessing a good GPA. You can, however, earn a maximum of 75000 points each year. The rewards expire in the duration of 5 years.

You can save 10% at the MTV store in New York City and mtvshop.mtv.com. If you are able to make timely full payments each month, you will be receiving 20 free of interest days in each billing cycle.

Bonus Points

The card brings for you other advantages like many Internet account related services, emergency card and cash replacement, lost and stolen card reporting, auto rental insurance and legal as well as medical referral services.

It also gives the cardholder the facilities like free access to credit education tips and tools, lost luggage assistance, fraud and security protection services, discounts on auto rentals, up to $1000000 travel accident insurance and more privileges.

The invention of the Pre-Paid credit card has several advantages and disadvantages. The advantage of having this type of card is that you can have an instant credit card without worrying about the usual credit check. This is good for someone with bad credit who can not get approved for an unsecured credit card. Unlike a secured credit card, the person doesnt have to have a bank account or deposit money.

Pre-Paid credit cards can be purchased at most private owned shipping and mailbox businesses, retail drug stores such as Walgreens, CVS, Rite Aid and many other businesses. This type of card can also be purchased online.

This is also recommended for the person who can not open a bank account due to credit issues. Many jobs require that a person receive direct deposit. Now, if a person can not approve for a bank account how can they receive their pay? Companies like GreenDot offer a solution by offering direct deposit for those who need it. This is perfect because there are no additional cashing fees that a person would normally be charged if they cashed their check at a check cashing store. The monthly fee is less than $5 per month. A person can order pizza, airline tickets or anything where credit cards are accepted.

Another advantage is that this helps a person to establish or re-establish their credit. Some Pre-Paid credit card firms offer services where the consumer can have their monthly account activity reported to major credit bureaus. All the person has to do is maintain a certain balance in their account.

The only draw back with a Pre-Paid credit cards that if you are in an emergency situation and you need to rent a car. Not all car rentals allow you to rent a car with a Pre-Paid Credit Card.

Another draw back is that with a regular credit card, most companies offer many benefits such as frequent flyer mileage. With a Pre-Paid card, there is none of the extras such as frequent flyer mileage or road side assistance. Many companies offer credit card holders benefits if their card is stolen. For example, some companies will immediately give their customers extra funds if money has been stolen out of their account in less than 24 hours. With a Pre-Paid credit card, that is not the case. Before investing in a Pre-Paid credit card, make sure that you read the companies terms and conditions, this will save you a lot of confusion in the long run.

Several credit card companies today are offering their customers credit card rewards for being loyal customers. This gives the cardholder the chance to earn points to gain all kinds of prizes. These incentives are great ways to keep customers loyal and using their rewards credit card to earn more points to receive their prizes faster. The more points you earn the more you can receive in the way of prizes they offer. The credit card companies understand that when their loyal customers use their cards more often they are also making more profit, so the system works for everyone involved.

There are many different types of rewards credit cards available. Some offer cash back, which gives the cardholder a certain percentage back from the amount that they spend. This is normally done either monthly or yearly. This can be a great way for person that do not wish to earn points for prizes but would enjoy the cash to spend anyway they desire.

Other credit card rewards are in either a point system or air miles. These types of credit card rewards give you a certain amount of points or air miles for every dollar or two dollars that you charge with your rewards credit card. These points or air miles can then be transferred into free airline tickets, hotel accommodations, and car rentals. However, these are more for people that fly often. The miles normally expire within one year, so if you do not fly but once or twice a year the benefit will not be profitable.

There are some other forms of prizes as well for credit card rewards such as gasoline purchases, etc

To get the most from your credit card rewards you have to, of course, use them. Many people never redeem their points for their rewards. Credit card companies cannot believe the amount of people that never receive their prizes after accumulating enough points to reap the rewards. The important thing to remember is if you are not holding a cash back credit card you will have to contact the credit card company that issued the credit card, so you can claim your rewards. The problem is many people just do not take out the time from their busy life to redeem their points from their rewards credit card program.

However, if you pay attention and just spend a little bit of time you will soon be enjoying the prizes that you can claim with credit card rewards. All you have to do is to use your card instead of using cash, pay off your balance before you have to pay interest and you will be earning points. Now, you are very close to receiving a wonderful thank you from the credit card company.

Quit being one of those people that just forget about their credit card rewards and contact the company once you have enough points for the prize that you wish. You may have enough air miles accumulated to take the entire family on a great vacation and not have to pay for airline tickets!

Observers in the lending industry have estimated that there may be at least 50 million Americans who are not able to qualify for credit. These consumers are usually young, often members of the minority groups and unbankedand they are faced with the long-standing dilemma of credit: how can I build my credit record if no one will give me any credit at all?

One of the answers offered by credit card companies is a variety of prepaid credit cards, designed for use by specific segments in the market. The prepaid credit cards are meant for that significant portion of the population that cannot meet the qualification criteria for regular credit cards, or who qualified before but have since lost their credit due to repeated defaults and other reasons.

Advantages of Prepaid Credit Cards For those who do not have enough credit history or have had it blemished, prepaid credit cards are an effective way to build or slowly rebuild credit. That may not happen immediately, but it is something to work on over time. The banks that issue prepaid credit cards are also prepared to extend normal credit the moment you are able to show that you have become a worthy credit risk.

For the moment, you may have to make do with prepaid credit cards. You can use prepaid credit cards as you would any other regular credit card to purchase airline tickets, reserve hotel rooms, or order items online.

Prepaid Credit Card for Students

There is a special prepaid Visa credit card for students, which offers a lot of convenience not only for the students but also for their parents. These reloadable prepaid credit cards offer parents several options on how to reload. Parents can add money to reloadable prepaid credit cards by depositing money, by arranging an automatic transfer of funds from their account (a deposit account or their own credit card account), or by online transfer. Using the prepaid Visa credit card is no different from giving the regular allowance to their child, only they do so by electronic means and there is no more cash that changes hands.

The big advantage of the prepaid Visa credit card is that the student is limited to spend only as much money as there is in the card. The parent is thus able to control to some extent the spending behavior of their child. They can use the prepaid credit card anywhere that the credit card brand is accepted.

Prepaid Credit Cards as Gift Certificates

Some prepaid credit cards function like gift certificates. You buy the prepaid credit card for a certain amount, and your recipient can purchase items with it at any of the brick-and-mortar stores or online merchants, and also for mail order items, that accept the particular credit card brand. Your recipient can use the prepaid credit card only up to the amount of money that you loaded on it. This particular version of prepaid credit cards is non-reloadable.

Like any gift certificate, recipients of prepaid credit cards can buy whatever it is they want at any time they want. Unlike a gift certificate that, when it gets lost is lost forever to the recipient, prepaid credit cards may be replaced if it gets lost or is stolen.

Prepaid Credit Cards for Travel There is a prepaid credit card designed for travel. These reloadable prepaid credit cards can be purchased in lieu of travelers checks or cash. In a way, it combines the best features of a credit card and a travelers check because of its convenience and security features. Should you lose the prepaid credit card while you are on travel, you can easily obtain an emergency replacement, both for the prepaid credit card and some cash.

Prepaid credit cards for travel are accepted all over the world, and also allow you to obtain currency from ATM machines. When you need to reload and you are already traveling you can arrange for the reload by phone or online. Apart from the fact that it is a prepaid credit card, you can use it exactly like a regular credit card. That also means you enjoy other benefits just like a regular card reimbursements for lost luggage of up to $1,000 per cardholder if your luggage is lost; zero liability if your prepaid credit card is used fraudulently after you lose it or have it stolen from you; purchase security up to $500 per claim for any items you buy with prepaid credit cards, which subsequently gets stolen or damaged for certain reasons.

Generally, you can purchase prepaid credit cards of all the major credit card brands at their participating retailers. You dont have to worry about not having acceptable credit because prepaid credit cards are made available without need of a credit report or a bank account. The only qualifications you need to have are that you have reached 18 years of age and that you must be able to present a valid identification issued by government.

Disadvantages of Prepaid Credit Cards

There are a few things about prepaid credit cards that may not be as convenient as the regular credit cards. For one thing, you load only so much money onto it. You will need to keep track of the balance on the prepaid credit card because not all of the merchant terminals where you use the card may be able to help you determine it. However, there are procedures that tell you how to determine your balance, and you will these detailed on the back of the prepaid credit card and in the instructions accompanying it.

The process of reloading your prepaid credit card may be a little inconvenient to some. If youre using cash, you would have to visit the participating outlet where you bought your reloadable prepaid credit cards. The more convenient way will be reloading online.

There are also the charges. Prepaid credit cards impose an application fee, the amount of which varies with the issuer, and there is also a service charge that you have to pay monthly. You also have to pay for transaction fees, charges when you transfer funds to top up the balance, when you replace your prepaid credit card, and many other fees. To be sure about the fees, you should read closely the fine print on the prepaid credit card account.

Prospects of Prepaid Credit Cards

Prepaid credit cards do not provide credit; it is your money that youre using. You are asked to pay other charges, so it is not for free. You are paying for the convenience and security of carrying plastic instead of large amounts of cash. People with bad credit will be able to act as if they had a regular credit card and enjoy the convenience of one.

Issuers of prepaid credit cards realize that it is a good way to monitor the credit behavior of the cardholder. A prepaid credit card would be a source of information that indicates to the credit bureaus and issuing lenders about how you as the individual cardholder use the card to pay your bills such as utilities. If these consumer data could be formatted in such a way as to provide the basis for a statistical model on probable future behavior in spending, then this could become the foundation for building a credit history.

You would benefit, because by using prepaid credit cards you are rebuilding your credit. The prepaid credit card issuers would benefit, too, because they would be making previously unproven customers bankable. More people could then qualify for regular credit, and that would mean tremendous incremental revenue for the lenders.

Just browse through the daily newspaper and you will be overwhelmed by the number of credit card offers advertised. Move around the town and you will find credit card offers being advertised everywhere. Same is the case is with television which seems to host a number of credit card offers too. So, the credit card offers are there everywhere. Why are there so many credit card offers? Well, quite simply because credit card business is a highly profitable business for the credit card suppliers.

In this situation, when there is no dearth of credit card offers, which is the best credit card offer?

There is nothing like a best credit card offer, really. A better question to ask would be – ‘Which credit card offer is the best for me?’ The spending habits of one person are different from that of another person. Their living styles vary and hence their needs vary too. So for deciding on which credit card offer is best for you, you need to evaluate your needs vis–vis your lifestyle and your spending habits (and not go just by the recommendation of someone). For example, if you frequently travel by air, a co-branded airline credit card might be more suited to you than the general purpose one. These airline credit cards offer discounts, rebates and other kind of rewards when the credit card is used for making payments (the rewards are even higher when these credit cards are used for paying for the airline tickets or other airline products).Similarly, if you have a favorite retail store where you do a lot of your shopping, it would be beneficial to check if the retailer is a credit card supplier too and if there is a credit card offer that suits you. A lot of big retail chains do offer co-branded credit cards to their customers and these credit cards offer rebates/discounts etc when they are used for making payments at the retail store. As such, you get reward points for making payments at any place but the rewards are higher on the payments made at retail store. On similar lines, we have credit cards for gas stations and grocery stores too, which you can opt for if you have a favorite gas station or a favorite grocery store where you shop a lot.

So, if you look around, you will find a lot of lucrative credit card offers. However, this doesnt mean that you enroll for all the credit card offers. You need to first evaluate your needs and rank them. Then you need to evaluate what all credit card offers suit your needs. And finally you can make your choice and go for a credit card offer that covers most of your needs and gives maximum benefits.

So many credit card offers, what to do?

Just browse through the daily newspaper and you will be overwhelmed by the number of credit card offers advertised. Move around the town and you will find credit card offers being advertised everywhere. Same is the case is with television which seems to host a number of credit card offers too. So, the credit card offers are there everywhere. Why are there so many credit card offers? Well, quite simply because credit card business is a highly profitable business for the credit card suppliers.

In this situation, when there is no dearth of credit card offers, which is the best credit card offer?

There is nothing like a best credit card offer, really. A better question to ask would be Which credit card offer is the best for me? The spending habits of one person are different from that of another person. Their living styles vary and hence their needs vary too. So for deciding on which credit card offer is best for you, you need to evaluate your needs vis–vis your lifestyle and your spending habits (and not go just by the recommendation of someone). For example, if you frequently travel by air, a co-branded airline credit card might be more suited to you than the general purpose one. These airline credit cards offer discounts, rebates and other kind of rewards when the credit card is used for making payments (the rewards are even higher when these credit cards are used for paying for the airline tickets or other airline products). Similarly, if you have a favourite retail store where you do a lot of your shopping, it would be beneficial to check if the retailer is a credit card supplier too and if there is a credit card offer that suits you. A lot of big retail chains do offer co-branded credit cards to their customers and these credit cards offer rebates/discounts etc when they are used for making payments at the retail store. As such, you get reward points for making payments at any place but the rewards are higher on the payments made at retail store. On similar lines, we have credit cards for gas stations and grocery stores too, which you can opt for if you have a favourite gas station or a favourite grocery store where you shop a lot.

So, if you look around, you will find a lot of lucrative credit card offers. However, this doesnt mean that you enrol for all the credit card offers. You need to first evaluate your needs and rank them. Then you need to evaluate what all credit card offers suit your needs. And finally you can make your choice and go for a credit card offer that covers most of your needs and gives maximum benefits.