If you would like to Repair Your Bad Credit, Fix Your Credit, or even try a Do It Yourself Fix for your Credit then read on. Has a credit repair company made you promises they have not kept? Yeah… thought so!

Frankly speaking though, this is a situation that you have gotten yourself into. And it may take you to get yourself out of it. If it is going to happen, you need a plan. And you need to be consistent in applying your plan.

• Educate yourself. Learn who the main players are. Also the players who say they are players, but they aren’t. The scam artists. The ones who take your money and disappear.

• The common practice of getting money before service is rendered is unlawful. Many don’t realize that. However, it is a violation of the Credit Repair Organizations Act.

• Some ask you to frivolously dispute each and every bad mark on your credit report. That’s unwise. Especially if you don’t have a leg to stand on.

• These Credit Agencies handle volumes of disputes. They have it down to a fine art. When they have checked and verified information on you that’s it. You can dispute until the cows come home.

• Don’t waste everybody’s time disputing. Do something positive and begin to turn your credit issues around.

Finally, do not allow a Credit Repair company to hoodwink you into grand schemes to repair your credit. If it sounds too good to be true, then maybe it is!

Plan your work, and work your plan. You can do this. You got yourself in-you can get yourself out. It would also give you a sense of accomplishment knowing that you navigated through the treacherous credit waters.

f you would like to Repair Your Bad Credit, Fix Your Credit, or even try a Do It Yourself Fix for your Credit then read on. Has a credit repair company made you promises they have not kept? Yeah… thought so!

Frankly speaking though, this is a situation that you have gotten yourself into. And it may take you to get yourself out of it. If it is going to happen, you need a plan. And you need to be consistent in applying your plan.

• Educate yourself. Learn who the main players are. Also the players who say they are players, but they aren’t. The scam artists. The ones who take your money and disappear.

• The common practice of getting money before service is rendered is unlawful. Many don’t realize that. However, it is a violation of the Credit Repair Organizations Act.

• Some ask you to frivolously dispute each and every bad mark on your credit report. That’s unwise. Especially if you don’t have a leg to stand on.

• These Credit Agencies handle volumes of disputes. They have it down to a fine art. When they have checked and verified information on you that’s it. You can dispute until the cows come home.

• Don’t waste everybody’s time disputing. Do something positive and begin to turn your credit issues around.

Finally, do not allow a Credit Repair company to hoodwink you into grand schemes to repair your credit. If it sounds too good to be true, then maybe it is!

Plan your work, and work your plan. You can do this. You got yourself in-you can get yourself out. It would also give you a sense of accomplishment knowing that you navigated through the treacherous credit waters.

Counseling for credit card debt is not for every situation. For one thing you must have some kind of available funds in the first place to offer as part of your credit card consolidation plan. This means having some kind of income.

If you don't have some kind of income that can prove that you will pay off your credit card debt consolidation loan in the future then many credit card debt counselors will simply take your fee for their advice and then promptly turn around and advise that you declare bankruptcy. That is because if counseling for credit card debt is to be effective, you as the debtor have to bring something to the table for your creditors.

Unfortunately most people see counseling for credit card debt as a temporary stalemate or necessary stopgap. Many people who apply for this type of counseling don't intend to pay off their debt at all but rather are just hoping for some kind of delay until they get a job or win the lottery. Many of them have no intention of paying.

Counseling for credit card debt is not for you if you secretly have no intention of paying. All you will be doing is costing yourself money and others their valuable time and resources.

The absolutely worse thing you can do is take out a home equity loan to satisfy credit card debt. Although most employees counseling for credit card debt will advise that you do this to get on top of your problem keep in mind that many of them secretly get a commission for luring you into the devil's snare of sub prime loans and state foreclosure laws should you miss a payment deadline. It is just too easy to lose your home so don't take this type of action unless it is absolutely necessary.

Choosing the right credit card that is most suitable for your needs will take a little work, but it certainly will prove to be worthwhile in the long run. Whether you want it so that you don't have to carry cash with you, or you are a businessperson who is looking to have an accurate record of all business-related expenses, there will usually be one card that is a little more beneficial to your situation than others. Here are some things to look for to help you get that perfect credit card.

Determine Your Primary Use of The Credit Card

Probably the most important question to ask up front is what do you want to use your credit card for most? This should largely determine what kind of card you need to look for. For instance, if you are in business for yourself, or if you travel a lot for your business, then there are a couple of cards that will really help you save some money.

If you fly a lot, then go for a credit card that will give you a lot of air miles up front, and will also give you a lot of options that you can use the points for. It should also have an option of allowing your points to be used for hotel rooms and possibly car rentals.

If you drive a lot, then go for a gas card that gives you rebates on your gasoline, and make sure your points can go toward car rentals, or towards a new car. There are also business credit cards that will not only help you with these things, but will also allow you to use your points toward the purchase of new office equipment and other similar things that every business needs.

On the other hand, if you are a student, or a mother just wanting to use it for more simple expenditures, like gas, food, prescriptions, and some pizza money, then you just want a regular card that will reward you for these type of expenditures. On these items, you can expect to get up to 3% rebate, possibly more on other types of purchases. Many cards may only give you 1% of a rebate, but by looking around, you can get the 3%.

Needs For Debt Consolidation?

If you have found yourself getting in debt pretty deeply from credit cards, then you can use a new credit card to actually help you eliminate some of the debt. Here's how. Get a 0% APR interest credit card that will give you the opportunity to have balances transferred to it - but make sure that there is not any balance transfer fees.

Many credit cards have these fees, but there are just as many that do not have them. Why pay for it when you can get this option for free from someone else? You also want to be sure that the introductory benefits last for at least one year - some only last for three months. Then, if you still have debt on this card, be sure to get yourself another card before the year expires, and give yourself another year of 0% APR interest on it.

Getting The Most Benefits From Your Credit Card

No matter what benefits you have attached to your credit card, you will not enjoy much of them unless you do two things. The first thing that you need to be sure to do is to pay your credit card bills on time so that you do not pay the monthly late fees. Being late even once with some credit card companies is all the excuse they need to charge you the full amount of interest - from that point on. A second thing is to pay off the bill in full each month - in order to avoid the interest charges – after the introductory period expires.

Establish A Good Credit Rating

With something as simple as too much debt owed on a credit card, many people have wiped out the possibility of buying some of the bigger items they may really want - like that nice house that they have dreamed of for so long. The best credit card will also help you to build up, maintain, or repair your credit rating, too - if it is used wisely.

Aside from the long string of numbers that serves to identify your account, a short series of numbers makes up the expiration date of your credit card. Many people are unaware of the expiration date of their credit card but the credit card approval network knows exactly when credit cards expire.

There are several reasons that credit cards have expiration dates and some of those reasons are mentioned below:

*Credit cards expire because the magnetic strip attached on the back of each credit card will eventually wear out. Once your credit card's magnetic strip wears out, credit card terminals and ATMs will not be able to read your card and process your transactions.

*Credit cards have expiration dates so credit card companies can get in touch with their customers in a timely manner. This time can be used by the company to inquire about any issues or complaints that the customer has. If your credit card were about to expire, you would receive a reminder from your credit card company with an option to renew with them.

*Credit cards expire for the security of cardholders. An expiration date allows the credit card companies to make sure that you are who say you are and that there have been no fraudulent activities associated with your credit card. With identity theft on the rise, this is not a bad thing. There have been instances when credit cards have been opened in someone's name without him or her knowing and charges made on the card. If your credit card expires, your credit card company will get in touch with you and alert you about current fraud trends.

*Credit card companies may also use the time before the expiration dates of credit cards to remind clients of their existence. This is especially for people who don't make use of their cards very often.

If your credit card is about to expire, renewing it isn't hard at all. You would most likely get a new one in the mail about a month prior to your current credit card's expiration date. If you are a frequent traveler, make sure you check your credit card's expiration date. It might expire while you are away. If your credit card expires while you are traveling, you won't be able to use it in your transactions or emergencies. So before you go off anywhere, call your credit card company and request they send you a new card before you leave.

As soon as you get your new credit card, read the literature that comes with it. You don't want to miss any new features such as new and improved terms of use. However, if you discover that there have been changes to your terms and they are not good, get into touch with your credit card company right away. Refrain from using your new credit card until your request for changing the term is approved. If the credit card company denies your request, you can simply cancel the card. You'll easily find a credit card company with better terms.

Typically, the life of a student involves a lot of expenses. And if you're attending college away from your family, having a credit card is always handy just in case you need to make emergency purchases. But for those who want to prove their independence, and take care of their own financial problems, the very first card that you may want to find in your wallet is a student credit card.

Before, applying for a credit card with no established good credit history is difficult. That was then, now is very much different. If you are a qualified student from an accredited university, you can avail of student credit cards offered by reputable banks in the state.

Student credit cards are especially designed for students; it is similar to any card, but it has more restrictions compared to non-student credit cards.

Some of these restrictions include:

- almost all student credit card holders are first timers when it comes to having their very own credit card, and in order to limit the bank's risk, these banks limit the credit amount to as low as $500 and to a maximum of $1000

- some issuing banks require a co-sign from parents or guardian

- interest rates charged for student credit cards are quite high since they don't have a proven credit history yet; in case of a loss, the amount is spread over the entire student population

Having a credit card is good, and students who have cards enjoy much of its benefits. But it doesn't end there, the students should also realize that credit cards offer a great value accompanied by a greater responsibility.

While it is most exciting for most students to have a credit card, others may find it scary. This is the initial step to responsible adulthood. At an early age, the student must learn to take care of his/her finances by using the credit card wisely and build a good credit rating.

Nowadays, the credit card choices being offered to students are no longer limited to high APR's, no benefits, and high fees. Issuing banks also offer reward cards to give students the opportunity to make points for cash back, merchandise, entertainment rewards, and airline regular flyer.

Some credit cards offer the students zero percent interest rates for a period of six months and maximum cash back of 5% on eligible gasoline station purchases, grocery stores, and drug stores. These cards usually have no annual fees; and these features are just recently introduced to the market. So the student can expect extraordinary features of the new phase of student credit cards.

Statistics have proven that most student credit cards are kept long after graduation, which provides the bank issuer an enormous customer value.

The students also benefit a lot from student cards. A student's life is accompanied by frequent spending on tuition fees, books, rent, road trips, and food. They will be given an opportunity to build a good credit history.

A student's years in college are a time for growing up, finding ones self, and choosing the right direction. It is therefore critical to build a solid financial record by using your credit card responsibly.

Once you have a good credit history, you will encounter no problems in making credit card applications after you graduate. And you have your student credit card to thank

Credit cards are one of the best financial tools you can have, but they can also be dangerous and leave you with lots of debt. If you are thinking about getting a credit card, then it important that you know the downsides as well as the benefits. This will help you to use your credit card more wisely and avoid getting into debt. Here is some advice what a credit card cannot do for you.

It cannot make you richer

Although having a credit card will improve your cash flow and financial independence, it does not make you richer. Many people who get into credit card debt do so because they see their credit limit as their own money. In fact, that credit limit is simply the amount that you can borrow from your card issuer. Instead of making you richer, every time you spend on your card you are pushing yourself into debt. The only way to stay out of this debt is to make sure you can afford to pay back what you spend.

It cannot stop your debt problems

Many people get hold of credit cards because they think a credit card will help them solve their current debt problems. If you are spending more than your income then using a credit card is not a good idea. Credit cards are an expensive form of borrowing, and charging things to a card will delay your problems and put you further into debt. If you are having problems with debt then consult a debt counsellor who can help you find the best way to manage your problems.

It cannot save you money

Although credit cards are a great convenience and can help you to buy purchases beyond your immediate means, credit cards don’t usually save you money. For example, if you decide to buy something on credit in the sale and pay for it over time, the interest payments will usually cost you more than the saving you made on the item. Credit cards usually cost you money rather than save you money. Also, the interest that you pay and the fees that you are subject to outweigh the rewards that you are usually offered on credit cards.

So why get credit cards?

Although credit cards can put you into debt and can be dangerous, if you are sensible and know about the risks they can be of great use. Credit cards are much more secure than using cash or cheques, and allow you to shop online where you really can save money. Also, carrying around a card is a lot more convenient than carrying around large sums of money, especially if you are travelling abroad. Furthermore, a credit card allows you to buy items that you can afford, just not all in one go. Although saving up for expensive items is more sensible, this is not always possible and credit cards allow you more freedom to spend. If you can try and pay the balance off in full each month, then you will get the most out of your credit card and avoid the things that credit cards cannot help you with.