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The Art of Stoozing to Make Money from Credit Cards

April 30th, 2008

Make Money from Stoozing

Stoozing, this is a sophisticated method of making money from credit cards that offer 0% introductory periods, the method requires cast iron discipline in never spending on the cards.

But, I hear you all ask - what is stoozing and can I do it?

Stoozing, in the simplest terms is borrowing money from credit cards that offer a 0% introductory deals and saving that money in a savings account for the duration of the offer on the credit card. Then, the stoozer will apply for another 0% introductory credit card deal from another provider and transfer the whole balance from the first card onto it. This way the cash balance never has to leave the savings account and can be held like this for a long period of time earning 5% + interest!

Find a 0% Credit Card suitable for stoozing

Stoozing and Offset mortgages

Offset mortgages allow your savings and current accounts to be used to lower the amount of interest you pay on your outstanding mortgage balance e.g. if you have a mortgage outstanding for £80,000 and a savings account containing £10,000 the bank will only calculate and add interest on the outstanding £70,000; effectively saving you interest by the savings amount, at the same APR as your mortgage. This APR is often equal or greater than their typical savings account. This is similar to overpaying on your mortgage or other loans except the money is not locked in, and still accessible to remove again later.

As the money residing in your other accounts is no longer earning interest, but reducing outstanding debt, it also means the savings money is also not subject to tax unlike a normal savings account. By offsetting in this way with savings, it is possible to greatly reduce the number of years that the mortgage will run for. Instead of paying off the mortgage for a typical 25 year period, with regular capital payments at the existing level, you can shave several years of the completion date. Once you have an offset mortgage, the more savings you have, the lower your mortgage interest will cost. This is where Stoozing comes in. Instead of using your own money locked away to reduce your mortgage, use the 0% balance transfers from the credit cards to put money into your linked savings account using the same Stoozing methods.

Find a 0% Credit Card suitable for stoozing

Stoozing cannot last much longer…

The situation can’t last though. Already Barclaycard and MBNA have introduced one-off charges on transferred debt, based on a percentage of the amount, and other card providers are expected to follow this strategy. Also, as the PricewaterhouseCoopers’ report notes, card issuers are likely to become increasingly selective about which customers they offer balance transfers to and there will be a much stronger focus on customer retention. They may also increase other fees, such as those imposed for exceeding credit limits.

Useful information has been brought to you by Phil Sproson, owner of http://www.quote-engine.com - a comparison engine for loans, credit cards and everything financial

Free Credit Card Bonuses Are Pricey if You Fail to Pay Your Bill

April 8th, 2008

The credit card business is a competitive one. It is also a very profitable one and the combination of the two explains why you seem to find a pre-approved application in the mailbox just about every day. A new customer is worth a lot to the companies that issue credit cards; most consumers will spend thousands of dollars in interest during the time they carry the card.

Because the business is so competitive, many card issuers offer various bonuses and incentives to help them acquire and keep customers. These incentives may include frequent flier miles, discounts on baseball tickets, cash back bonuses and more. For someone who has an interest in the particular type of bonus offered, these cards may offer a better value than another card of the same type. But consumers would be wise to remember that these bonuses are not offered out of kindness, they are offered in the expectation that you, the consumer, will pay the company far more than the bonuses are worth in interest. There is no such thing as a “free” bonus; the companies expect you to pay for them.

The average American household has nineteen credit and debit cards and debt that exceeds $9000. With that kind of debt, most consumers are clearly not paying their bills in full each month. And by not paying in full, they are paying a great deal of interest, as most bank cards carry interest rates that range from 10-30% per year. The “free” bonuses are funded out of the millions of dollars in interest that are paid by consumers who don’t pay in full.

On the other hand, if you are a savvy consumer, you can take advantage of these freebies by carefully shopping for a card that has bonuses that suit your needs. You can then use the card carefully by remembering to pay the bill in full each month in order to avoid paying more in interest than the bonuses are worth.

Some types of bonuses include:

Baseball affinity cards - You can get a card with the logo of your favorite baseball team, and even get a pair of free tickets just for signing up.

Cash back - The Discover card offers a cash rebate for a portion of the amount you spend each year. This could amount to as much as 1% of the total amount spent.

Extra warranties - Some cards, like American Express, offer extended warranties for merchandise purchased with the card. Should the item break, you may get it repaired or replaced at no charge.

These are but a few examples of the hundreds of different types of bonuses offered by the credit card companies to try to entice you to use their card. The offers are real and the benefits are great. If you like baseball, get the card from your favorite team. If you like to fly, get a card with frequent flier miles. Just remember that failing to manage your bill properly will leave you paying far more than those bonuses are worth. Otherwise, that “free” plane ticket could end up costing you thousands of dollars.

©Copyright 2006 by Retro Marketing. Charles Essmeier is the owner of Retro Marketing, a firm devoted to informational Websites, including End-Your-Debt.com, a site devoted to credit cards, debt consolidation, credit counseling, payday loans and personal bankruptcy.

Improving Your Credit Report

February 8th, 2008

Even if you think you have a wonderful credit report, be wary of the error factor. Just as you receive mail with your name and address misspelled, your credit report can have errors as well. Whether it’s human error, out of date information or even mistaken identity, errors occur more easily than we’d all like to think.

Under the law, both the credit reporting agency and the organization that provided the information to the credit reporting agency have responsibilities for correcting inaccurate or incomplete information in your credit report.

So, if you find an error on your report, be sure to notify the credit bureau in writing
immediately:

1. Tell the CRA what information you believe is inaccurate on your credit report. Include copies, never originals of documents that support your position.

2. In addition to providing your complete name and address, your letter should clearly identify each item in your credit report that you dispute. State the facts and why you are disputing the information. Enclosing a copy of your credit report with the items in question circled can be helpful.

3. Though you may think your reason for writing is obvious, be sure to request that the error be corrected.

4. Send your letter by certified mail, return receipt requested so you can document what the credit reporting agency received. Make sure your letter is dated, and don’t forget to keep copies of everything you send.

Credit reporting agency must reinvestigate the item(s) in question, usually within 30 days unless they consider your dispute frivolous. They also must forward all relevant data you send them to the information provider (bank, credit card agency, etc.).

After the information provider receives notification of a dispute from the credit reporting agency, it must review and investigate all relevant information provided and report the results back to the credit reporting agency.

If the information provider finds the disputed information to be inaccurate, it must notify all nationwide credit reporting agency so that they can correct this information in your file.

Disputed information that cannot be verified must be deleted from your file.

Inaccurate information must be corrected by the CRA.

Incomplete information must be corrected by the CRA.

Any account that belong only to another person must be deleted by the CRA.

NOTE: Credit repair can be long and tedious, the importance of knowing your rights cannot be emphasized enough so be sure you take time to digest this information.

Copyright © Credit and You | All Rights Reserved |

To find more easy steps anyone can take to repair there credit report and what to do after the investigation visit http://www.creditandyou.com/creditrepair.html it’s a free information website!

Credit Card Basics: Make the Right Choices

February 5th, 2008

If you’re getting ready to apply for a credit card for the first time, you may be concerned about finding the best credit card. Here’s a secret little tip for you - there’s no such thing as a best credit card. There’s only the right one for you. And even the right ‘one’ can go woefully wrong if you don’t handle it wisely. Here are a few nuggets of advice from experienced users - some of whom learned the hard way how NOT to handle plastic.

  1. Before you make applications, take stock of your spending and saving habits.
    Does money burn a hole in your pocket? Are you the type that does without lunch for two days before payday because you HAD to buy that scarf on sale? If so, credit cards are going to be a dangerous temptation in your wallet. Minimize the dangers of temptation by opting for a credit card with a low spending limit and the lowest interest rate that you can find. That way you can only dig yourself so far into debt before the spending limit stops you.
  2. Consider why you need a credit card.
    People want cards for lots of different reasons, and those reasons can help you choose the best option for your situation. If you want the convenience of not having to carry cash, for instance, and a ready record of all your spending - but you don’t intend to live beyond your means on plastic, then a good choice for you is a rewards option with a mid-range APR. By charging everyday purchases on your card, you’ll keep a running record of your expenses AND earn cash back or rewards. It’s a good plan for you as long as you only charge what you can afford to pay off in full each month. That way you won’t be incurring interest on your balance - so the APR doesn’t mean much.
  3. Choose the right credit card for the job.
    The best credit card for charging large purchases is not the same as the one that’s right for everyday use for expense accounts and the like. If you need a card in order to finance a new computer or refrigerator - something that you’ll pay off over the course of the next several months - you’ll want a card that has a low APR. If you shop carefully for your credit card, you may even find one that offers discounts on large purchases, and insures any item that you buy with it against loss or damage for up to a year.
  4. Read the cardholder agreement in full before applying.
    There’s more to your credit card than just the APR. Before you choose a card, take the time to read ALL the small print. Total up annual fees, application and processing fees, late fees, transaction fees and any other charges that may be hiding behind the legalese so that you know exactly what it will cost you to apply for and use each credit card.

That last is especially important. Shop as carefully FOR your credit card as you will WITH your credit card. If you don’t, you could find yourself in a situation where your new card arrives - complete with a balance of £150 in application, membership and setup fees that nearly eat up your entire available credit balance.

There are some really good comparison site where you can compare all the terms of dozens of credit card offers to find the best for you, then apply online for the credit card that works the way that you need.

Jon Francis has been involved in various areas with the world of finance and has a keen eye for a bargin! He has an in-depth knowledge of the credit card UK market and now helps others get the best from a credit card. For more information visit “http://www.moneyeverything.com”.

How Do Credit Laws Work?

January 15th, 2008

If you have been repairing your credit you have read the FCRA and the FDCPA. If not, you need to do that by going to the FTC website.

These laws place a very large burden on the credit reporting industry in general and collection agencies in particular.

But still, people are harassed every day by rogue collection agencies and credit reporting agencies. In most of these cases they are totally ignoring the credit laws and violating your rights.

You need an understanding of the basic principles of these laws in order to use them. It will also take a little courage to do it yourself or a lot of money for an attorney to do it for you.

The reason is you are the only one who can enforce these laws. The credit reporting agencies and collection agencies are well aware of this. They know that less than 1% of the people whose rights they ignore are willing to push them to the point of collecting the damages granted in the laws.

In other words, it is far cheaper for them to pay off the few who do sue them than it is to comply with the law.

Meanwhile, the FTC sits back and collects more complaints on the credit reporting industry than any other. Still, you can expect no help from them.

Maybe, eventually, if they get enough complaints they may take some kind of wrist slapping action. Perhaps a token fine or something else that is totally insufficient to encourage following the law in the future.

As long as the credit industry has the money to pay for government officials and the passing of such absurd laws as the new bankruptcy law they bought, you will have to go it alone.

Sadly, if you want to repair your credit you will have to be the exception and not the rule. You will have to apply the credit laws on your own behalf.

You will have to learn how to prepare complaints suitable for filing in court, although it is highly unlikely you will ever have to actually make an appearance there.

For those with the courage to fight the fight, there is clean credit and perhaps a few thousand dollars to pocket for your efforts.

For those not willing to take the initiative and enforce the laws for themselves, expect to have your rights violated throughout the credit repair process.

Darell is a credit repair expert by neccessity and went from terrible and accurate credit to a mortgage in less than a year. Now he is trying to help others do the same. Visit his free website at http://www.rylansreviews.com/credit

Avoiding Credit Card Traps

December 31st, 2007

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.

© 2005, www.yourfreecreditreportnow.com
Author: James H. Dimmitt
James is editor of “To Your Credit” a FREE weekly newsletter focusing on managing your personal finances and credit. Subscribe and get a FREE copy of your credit report when you visit: www.yourfreecreditreportnow.com

Recovering from Bad Credit

December 10th, 2007

There is no doubt that credit plays a more important role in our lives than it did in the lives of our parents and grandparents. While a few generations ago many people were reluctant to borrow money for anything other than the roof over their heads, in today’s world it is often simply not possible for the individual to get the things they need without some level of credit and debt.

Unfortunately, however, there are no courses on how to handle credit wisely, and most of us end up learning the hard way, through the school of hard knocks. This means that there are plenty of dinged up credit reports out there, and if you are the proud owner of one such credit report you may find it very difficult to borrow money for a car, a home or any other purpose.

It can be quite difficult, of course, to recover from a bad credit situation, but the good news is that it can be done, and it has been done successfully by many individuals. One of the most important things to help an individual recover from bad credit is to carefully review your credit report, and determine which negative events are legitimate, and which are not.

It is not all that unusual for a credit report to contain errors, and you should not assume that every negative event shown in your credit report is correct. If you do spot an error in your credit report, be sure to notify the credit reporting agency at once, and to follow up to make sure the error has been corrected.

Another good way to help rebuild damaged credit is to start out slowly, by taking out a small loan, and being diligent about repaying it on time month after month. It is this slow steady payment history that will help build up your damaged credit history and increase your credit score. It is a good idea to start out with a small loan in order to make sure that you can make the monthly payments. If you end up behind the eight ball and miss a few payments, a bad situation will only continue to get worse.

After your credit has begun its repair process, you will find it much easier, and much less costly, to get the loans you need going forward. While at the beginning it may be necessary to use a hard money lender or similar type of loan, as your credit is rebuilt, the land of traditional lenders, and lower interest rates, will no longer be off limits, and you will be able to continue to rebuild your credit for the future.

Brooke Sikula is a freelance writer based in Ventura, CA and writes on a wide range of topics from home improvement to credit repair and everything in between. She is a regular contributor to http://www.loan-mortgage-auto.com and http://www.get-home-improvement.com For more information and advice on credit issues, check out http://www.credit-card-faq.com

Tips For Credit Card Approval

October 8th, 2007

With the vast expanse of the internet, it has become easier than ever to gain approval for a credit card instantly. This makes it extremely easy for those who have the need to pay off debts, take a vacation, or if they have an emergency to gain the credit card they want fast and easily. Of course, you can still go through the traditional methods of applying for credit card by filling out the forms, sending it with “Snail Mail”, and then waiting another four to six weeks before you even hear a reply. However, with today’s busy society many people opt to apply for their credit cards right online and receive instant approval.

It is extremely easy, fast, and possible to gain instant approval on a credit card thanks to the internet world. These approvals typically occur within one minute of submitting your application, since millions of people shop, do their research, and spend a great deal of time online in this day in age it just makes sense. There is no other method of applying for a credit card that is faster, easier, or more convenient than applying online. Think about it, if you were to fill out the application by hand, you have to take the time to fill it out, and it has to be done in ink, if you make an error you have to take the time to correct it in a manner that is legible. Another fallback of applying “offline”, is that fact that you have to take the time to drop it in the mail box, then you will have to wait to hear back which could take anywhere from four to six weeks.

By applying online, if you make any errors, the backspace on your keyboard works wonders, additionally once you hit the submit button, the wonderful world of the internet provides you with approval in minutes. Now it is just as important to investigate and thoroughly research all online credit card offers as it is for those you apply for by hand. You need know what kinds of fees and rates are charged to you, the percentage rates, any times of introductory offers or incentives the card offers you. The best and easiest way to do this is to go to a site that has the comparisons already outlined for you. This will allow you to view specific cards side by side and compare them to find which credit card works well for you.

Jeff Lakie is a contributing author at our website where
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Free Credit Report and Credit Score

October 4th, 2007

Free Credit Report and Credit Score indicate the creditworthiness or financial position of a person. Initially there was strict prohibition to disclose the credit report and score. But due to development in business skills and policies many retailers and lenders extend credit facilities to their customers. In order to secure the credit transaction they demand for credit report and score to know whether the borrower is financially sound or not.

It is quite obvious that bad credit can affect one’s credit flexibility but good credit report can help to get better credit extension. The credit report and score has long-lasting impact in all the ways of your life. So it is better to check your credit report and score and try to improve it. You may also repair your credit report and score periodically as repairing can eliminate many bad remarks that exist in it.

There are credit bureaus that maintain the credit report of every person. These credit bureaus collect the information from various sources like department stores, collection agency, lenders, financial institutions, etc. But now due to development in online services one can easily get free credit report and have a glance look at his/her credit records.

Understand your Credit Report
One should thoroughly understand his/her credit report so as credit score. If it is not possible to understand it personally take the vital help from and credit report service agency. Once you understand your credit report maintain a well-structured record, as it can be used as future references.

What is Credit Score?
Credit Score is the statistical data that clearly show your financial position. It not only indicates your financial position but it also indicates your bankruptcy and many other negative remarks. It is generally 3-digit number, which is based on your credit report. In fact there is not so much difference between credit report and score.

Usually the credit score ranges from 300-750 but the average credit score lies within 600-750 which is regarded as good credit score. Person below this average range must try to increase their credit score.

Considering its vital importance one must always try to improve his/her credit report and score. Now day’s credit bureaus provide credit report and score through online service. With the help of online services one can easily get the free copy of credit report and check credit report rating, which can act as an obstacle if not favorable. So it is advisable to order credit report instantly.

Isabella Rodrigues writes for free-instant-credit-report.info,
offering the latest information on credit cards, visit them today for more best
buy credit cards.

Visit today: www.free-instant-credit-report.info

Understanding Airline Credit Cards

September 13th, 2007

Airline credit cards are credit cards that are associated with either numerous airlines or with one specific airline. For those that frequently travel by air, airline credit cards can provide an excellent means for saving on travel expenses. At the same time, it is necessary to research a variety of airline credit cards before selecting one in order to ensure you get the best deal possible.

Benefits of Airline Credit Cards

Airline miles credit cards have a number of benefits for frequent travelers. The exact benefits and how they work can vary among airline credit cards. For the most part, however, airline credit cards use a points system. With this system, every dollar you spend is worth a certain number of points. The number of points you earn is not necessarily the same from card to card. In addition, many airline credit cards provide bonus points for making certain types of purchases, such as purchases made through the airline the card is associated with.

After earning a certain number of points, you can trade the points in for airline miles. Many airline miles credit cards will even allow you to transfer the points you earn to a frequent flyer account. In addition to receiving free or reduced travel with the points earned from airline credit cards, most offer a variety of additional travel-related benefits. For example, you might receive free upgrades with your card. Or, you might get one free ticket per year or a free companion ticket with membership. Airline credit cards also tend to provide services such as lost luggage insurance, car rental insurance, and travel accident insurance. While it is not unusual for a credit card to offer travel accident insurance, airline credit cards generally provide a greater amount of coverage.

Selecting Airline Credit Cards

If you frequently travel with a certain airline, choosing an airline credit card most likely will not be difficult. Obviously, the card you will want will be the one that coincides with the airline you utilize. If you tend to vary the airline you use, however, you should select choose one of the airline credit cards that allows more flexibility in its rewards system.

You should also pay attention to the interest rates on the airline credit cards you consider. Airline miles credit cards tend to have a higher interest rate, which equals higher finance charges if you carry a balance on your card from month to month. Therefore, you should look for the card with the lowest rate if you don’t plan on paying the card off each month. You also need to consider the annual fees, which can become quite costly and negate the savings airline credit cards can provide.

Many people also forget to look at all of the benefits airline credit cards provide. Consider perks other than just the points system used by the credit card. You should also think about benefits such as purchase protection, extended warranties, auto rental insurance, and fraud protection. All of these perks can be extremely valuable and can make one card better suited to your lifestyle and needs than another.

Using Airline Credit Cards

Airline credit cards are used just like any other credit card. But, to get the most out of the card, you should use it carefully. For example, if you can only afford to spend a certain amount each month toward paying the balance on your airline credit card, be sure to only spend that amount. Otherwise, you will most likely pay a high amount in finance charges because of the high interest rate typically associated with airline credit cards.

In addition, choose your purchases carefully with airline credit cards. Often, you will get points for every purchase made with the card, but you will get additional points for specific purchases. Be sure to use your airline credit card for the purchases that count and use another credit card for those that do not. This way, you don’t have to worry about accumulating a large balance on the card.

For more information on airline credit cards, Rob Willard recommends that you visit CreditCardAssist.com.

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