If you are planning on applying for a credit card, make sure that once you receive your credit card in the mail, read the fine print. Credit card companies try to make sure that the agreement between them and the consumer benefits them in large part. Before you use the credit card, make sure you protect your rights and read the fine print so that you can determine if the credit card is worth the convenience.

Most credit cards create long, fine print terms and conditions in the hopes that most consumers will not read it. Yes, it is correct, that many credit card companies hope that you do not read the fine print of their contract with you. This practically guarantees that they have a financial advantage and that you sign on to an agreement with very little recourse.

Credit card companies are not looking to be fraudulent with you; however they try to gain every advantage that they can. This can include the possibility of raising your interest rate if you are late with a payment, the possibility of fees they can levy against you if you go over your credit limit or the amount of interest they charge you once you make a purchase.

If you want to make sure that you understand what you are signing up for, make sure you read the find print of the terms and conditions of the credit card.

Christain Cullen is a successful webmaster and writer. He has over 350 websites online which offer help or information on a diverse range of subjects, from 1031 Exchanges to Pet-Birds to Flying Schools to Plasma TV.

Having good credit can open up many doors for you and your family including approval for a mortgage or car loan and a lower interest rate based on your past experience of paying back your debt in quick time.

If you are looking for ways to improve or keep up your good credit rating, here are some tips.

Pay Your Bills on Time

Obviously, this is an easy one; however we all have financial difficulties from time to time. If you find yourself having difficulties paying your bills on time, the best thing you can do is contact your lenders and alert them of the situation. You can be put on a payment plan or have a deferment for a couple of months.

Don’t Go Over Your Head with Credit

Don’t take out too many credit cards or too many home loans. Even if you don’t have that much on your balance, a credit card company will look at having too many credit cards in your possession as a negative. While each creditor is different, usually three credit cards, two loans and a mortgage are seen as a responsible amount of credit.

Have a Balance on Your Credit Card

In order to build good credit, you need to show the credit card companies that you buy and then pay off your bill. If you have a credit card with no balance, they can’t predict your credit history.

Christain Cullen is a successful webmaster and writer. He has over 350 websites online which offer help or information on a diverse range of subjects, from 1031 Exchanges to Pet-Birds to Flying Schools to Plasma TV.

The truth is that we actually do not know exactly how your credit score is calculated because it is one of the most guarded algorithmic equations in the world. What we do know are some guidelines and some common trends learned from years of studying millions of credit reports. There are five main factors that will determine the overall score. Some factors are weighted more heavily and will have a greater influence on your actual score. Here are some guidelines:

Payment History & Late Payments: Your payment history and how many late payments are recorded on your credit will determine somewhere between 30 – 35 % or your overall score. This section takes a look at if you pay your bills on time or if they are late. If there are any late payments, it is taken into consideration how late those payments are. They can report as 30, 60, 90 or 120 days late. Each having a greater negative impact on your score. If the accounts been sent to a collection agency or a judgment lien filed against you, the score will decrease by an even greater amount. Bankruptcy will also have an adverse affect on the score. Chapter 7 will cause a larger drop in score than a Chapter 13. Conversely, the accounts that show no late payments will help increase the credit score. Scores will also continue to improve the further in the past the late payments occurred. Typically after 24 months, the negative impact of late payments drastically decreases.

Blend of Accounts: The overall combination of what type of credit accounts you have determine somewhere between 6-9% of your total credit score. Typically, the more even the blend of installment loans, mortgage loans and revolving loans the better your chances of having a higher score. Accounts that can have a negative affect on your score are store cards that typically have interest free periods such as furniture stores, clothing stores and electronic store. Since these accounts will never leave your credit history, they will never stop having a negative impact. It is better not to carry those types of credit.

The remaining breakdown is available at my website. Please visit so we can help you learn about your credit and improve it in the future.

Credit scores are the most important part in the finance area. Nowadays credit scores decide your financial future. Keeping an excellent credit score is something you can use in your favor to make your way to a debt-free horizon. Otherwise a negative score on your credit history can damage your possibilities to achieve your future plans.

There is not much anybody can do for those who do not help themselves the same thing happens with credit scores, you have to take action and do something about your score, this way your main goal will be to maintain an excellent credit record and lead a well planned life.

How to help myself to have an excellent credit score

In order to have an understandable idea about your credit score, it is recommended that you request your credit report from the credit bureaus once a year. With this you will be certain that your credit is being documented correctly. Normally credit scores are within 400 to 850. If your credit record is higher, your possibilities of getting a loan approved also get wider.



Most lenders take into account people that have high scores an average of 650 and up for you to be considered a potential debtor and have access to a higher substantial loan. This means that these people will most likely be approved loans at lower interest rates. According to credit reports from Equifax, 71% of the people with credit scores from 500 to 550 will fail to pay their credits. An additional 51% of buyers with a range of 550 to 600 credit score will also fail on their credits. The few people having credit scores of 650 or higher are considered to have a decent credit score.

More than 2 million credit reports are issued daily in the United States, allowing millions of consumers to acquire homes, vehicles and other durable goods and services on credit.

Based on statistical studies, Arthur Andersen concluded, that in only two-tenths of one percent of the over 15000 cases studied, where consumers denied a benefit based on an error in their credit report.

Experian’s credit files contain records of approximately 205 million credit-active consumers.

Every month, there are more than 4.5 billion updates to credit reports in the U.S. Moreover, there are more than one billion credit reports issued annually. Credit reporting rescues the average person from 200 basis points on their mortgage loan.

Bad Credit loans are a legitimate option for those who have less than perfect credit and need finance to get back on track. There are just several things you need to know in order to select the right lender and loan for you and in order to avoid these loans from becoming an unbearable burden.

Concept

Bad Credit Loans are personal loans that can be secured or unsecured. If secured, collateral can be a house or an apartment (mortgage loans, home equity loans) or a car or other vehicle (car loan, etc.). If unsecured, bad credit loans have more requirements and are harder to get approved for.

Bad Credit Loans are specially tailored for those who have a bad credit score and credit history. The lenders that deal with this kind of loans are used to risky transactions and will approve your loan when a traditional lender wouldn’t. This doesn’t mean however, that you will get approved no matter how bad your credit situation is. For example: If you are currently undergoing a bankruptcy process, you won’t be able to get approved for a loan. But, if your bankruptcy has already been discharged and six months had passed, then, you can get approved.

What to Expect

When you apply for a bad credit loan you should expect high interest rates, low loan amounts and short repayment programs. These lenders are used to high risk applicants but this is the way they reduce the risk of default or late payments. Secured bad credit loans however will provide you with higher amounts and lower rates as long as you have sufficient equity on your home.

What to Avoid

When searching for a lender you should avoid those lenders that offer cash advance loans unless that’s what you are looking for. Cash advance loans have almost no credit requirement but feature exorbitant interest rates and very short repayment programs. They should only be used in an emergency and not as a source of finance for regular use.

Income, Spending And Debt Exposure

Besides credit requirements, lenders will focus on your income, spending and debt exposure in order to decide whether to approve you for a loan or not. Your income needs to be high enough to let you afford the monthly payments and you still have to be able to face other expenses or else you won’t be approved. Spending is also an important variable; too much spending will reduce your ability to afford the monthly payments with your income and lenders always want you to have a surplus.

This is due to the fact that unexpected situations can always take place and compromise your ability to repay the loan unless you have money to cope with them.

Last, but not least, your debt exposure (incidence of your debt on your monthly income) is also an important factor. If most of your spending is debt payments, lenders will think twice before approving you for a loan even if you would otherwise qualify.

Once a student graduates from high school and heads off to college they will be tempted with student credit cards. Student credit cards are aimed at college students. They are easier to get and are great for helping a student establish credit, however, they can also get a student into credit problems.

Before ever getting a student credit card a student needs to understand how credit cards work and how to avoid getting into debt. Credit cards offer a loan on purchases. A person can buy things with their credit card even if they do not have the money to pay for it. However, eventually the balance charged must be paid back. Most credit card companies allow a person 30 days to pay back the amount charged.

If the person fails to pay off the full amount within that time frame the credit card company charges them interest. Interest is charged at a percentage of the overdue balance. So if a student has a $100 balance and the credit card company charges 20% interest the student now owes $120.

Over time the interest keeps adding up and eventually if the student is only paying the minimum amount due they are in reality only paying off the interest and their credit card balance is never going to be paid off. This is why it is important for a student to understand how credit works before ever signing up with a student credit card.

Once a student decides to get a student credit card they need to look at a few things before making their choice. They need to check out the annual fee. An annual fee is a lump sum the credit card company charges to their credit card once a year. Some cards do not have an annual fee. additionally they need to look at the interest rate and other fees. Most accounts charge fees for going over the issued credit limit.

Sometimes interest charges can send a card over the limit. This not only causes extra fees, but also means the student can no longer use the credit card. Paying attention to the different terms and conditions of the card will help the student to choose the card that is best for them.

Student credit cards are a great way to establish credit. A student should be careful, though to make sure they are responsible when using their credit card, so they can get the benefits of it, not the problems.

Bankruptcy or foreclosure can seriously tarnish your credit, but it is possible to repair any damage that has been done. This article offers tips to help you improve your credit and spending habits after bankruptcy or foreclosure.

After bankruptcy or foreclosure, it is imperative that you improve your credit and spending habits. The last thing you want to do is fall back into financial trouble. Here are some tips that can help:

Establish a Budget

One of the best things you can do to improve your credit and put an end to your bad spending habits involves establishing a budget, and more importantly, sticking with it. There are many different ways to structure your budget, but it is a good idea to keep it as simple as possible. Start by recording your daily expenditures, as well as your weekly income. There should always be more coming in than there is going out.

Pay Your Bills on Time

It is impossible to repair your credit overnight, but with effort and consistency, you can build a credit history that shows you in a positive light. To do this, you will need to pay all of your bills on time, especially installment payments and credit card payments. This keeps the bill collectors at bay and proves to creditors that you are serious about your financial responsibilities.

Get Help

If you find yourself slipping back into bad spending habits after your bankruptcy or foreclosure, you should get some help. Try talking to a trusted friend, or if necessary, consider professional credit counseling. There are many services that can offer you advice and assistance free of charge.

Are you familiar with student credit cards? These credit cards are meant for college students, and are easier to get than regular credit cards. They can help a student establish credit, but they can also bring credit problems to careless students.

Student credit cards can be a source of temptation for college students. Young adults can be easily tempted to buy unnecessary things with their credit card, even if they do not have the money to pay for it. Eventually the balance they charged for their shopping sprees must be paid back.

If a college student is unable to pay the full amount within a certain period of time, interest will be charged. Credit card companies charge interest at a percentage of the over due balance. For instance, if a student has a $100 balance and the credit card company charges a 15% interest rate, the student now owes $115 to the credit card company.

The interest keeps adding up and eventually the student may end up paying only the interest, and their credit card balance is never going to be paid off. That is why the parents of college students should first explain the proper use of student credit cards to their children, before they allow them to get credit cards.

There are also a few things that should be examined before students choose a particular credit card. It is important to check the annual fee of student credit cards. An annual fee is a lump sum that some credit card companies charge to their credit card every year.

It would also be wise to look at the interest rate and other fees of student credit cards. There are cases where the interest charges can send a credit card over the limit. This will cause extra fees, and the student will be unable to use the credit card. Students should pay attention to the different terms and conditions of student credit cards, so that they can determine the particular credit card that is best for them.

There is a lot of interest in 0% APR Balance Transfer credit cards because of the tremendous savings possibilities they offer. You don’t have to be an MIT graduate to understand that the 20% you are paying to a high-interest credit card on a balance of $ 10,000.00 is two grand; and if the interest on your credit card was 0% APR, that money would stay in your pocket. It turns out, however, that not all 0% APR credit cards are the same. Major credit card companies, who are competing fiercely with each other at this moment, use a variety of enhancement programs that combine the idea of 0 % APR Balance Transfers and with other add-on bonuses. Consider the offerings of three of the largest credit card companies, how they are similar in terms of the basics, but are putting a twist on benefits:

The Chase Platinum Credit Card

Chase bank has been in the credit card business for a long time, and this card is their standard offer. It has 0% APR on all purchases and balance transfers, provides free online account access, and does not charge an annual fee. The only question about this card is how long does the 0% APR last; and the answer depends on your credit. If you have excellent credit, Chase will give you 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers for a full year. If your credit is good enough to qualify for the card, but not quite good enough to meet the higher standards, that period of 0% APR drops. Still, the opportunity to transfer balances and make purchases at 0% APR makes Chase a good choice.

The Miles Card from Discover

Another industry heavyweight, Discover, has 0% APR credit cards available for purchases and balance transfers. The Miles Card, however, adds the benefit of accumulating airline miles to help consumers choose Discover over everyone else. The company touts their 0% APR credit card for its twelve month duration and the ability to include balance transfers at no interest. The real inducement, however, is the 12,000 mile sign-up bonus and one-mile-for-one-dollar point award. Just to make the deal a little sweeter; there are no blackout dates for these miles and you can fly any airline at any time. You have to have good credit to get one, but the Miles Card from Discover may be a good way to save interest on purchases and balance transfers while building up miles for the next vacation.

Citi Diamond Preferred Rewards Card

This 0% APR credit card from Citi not only gives you 12 months of interest-free funds and no balance transfer charges, it also has a points reward system that gives you redeemable points based on purchases. The program works by offering five reward points for every dollar spent on purchases made at supermarkets, drugstores and gas stations; all other purchases get one point per dollar. You get 5,000 bonus points when you get your card, which can be redeemed for a $ 50.00 gift card after your first purchase. Like the Discover card, you will need good credit to get this 0% APR card, but the initial bonus points and rapid accumulation of reward points for purchases of the basic necessities of life could make this just the card for you.

These days, the question is no longer about finding a 0% APR credit card or a 0% Balance Transfer card; the issue is how would you like that card—with extra months of interest-free money, airline miles, or other rewards such as incentive point programs? Any person who is currently carrying balances on high-interest credit cards should shop online and take a look at the 0% APR and 0% Balance Transfer credit cards from Chase, Discover, Citi and other companies. You may just find the right card for you.

There is a lot of interest in 0% APR Balance Transfer credit cards because of the tremendous savings possibilities they offer. You don’t have to be an MIT graduate to understand that the 20% you are paying to a high-interest credit card on a balance of $ 10,000.00 is two grand; and if the interest on your credit card was 0% APR, that money would stay in your pocket. It turns out, however, that not all 0% APR credit cards are the same. Major credit card companies, who are competing fiercely with each other at this moment, use a variety of enhancement programs that combine the idea of 0 % APR Balance Transfers and with other add-on bonuses. Consider the offerings of three of the largest credit card companies, how they are similar in terms of the basics, but are putting a twist on benefits:

The Chase Platinum Credit Card

Chase bank has been in the credit card business for a long time, and this card is their standard offer. It has 0% APR on all purchases and balance transfers, provides free online account access, and does not charge an annual fee. The only question about this card is how long does the 0% APR last; and the answer depends on your credit. If you have excellent credit, Chase will give you 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers for a full year. If your credit is good enough to qualify for the card, but not quite good enough to meet the higher standards, that period of 0% APR drops. Still, the opportunity to transfer balances and make purchases at 0% APR makes Chase a good choice.

The Miles Card from Discover

Another industry heavyweight, Discover, has 0% APR credit cards available for purchases and balance transfers. The Miles Card, however, adds the benefit of accumulating airline miles to help consumers choose Discover over everyone else. The company touts their 0% APR credit card for its twelve month duration and the ability to include balance transfers at no interest. The real inducement, however, is the 12,000 mile sign-up bonus and one-mile-for-one-dollar point award. Just to make the deal a little sweeter; there are no blackout dates for these miles and you can fly any airline at any time. You have to have good credit to get one, but the Miles Card from Discover may be a good way to save interest on purchases and balance transfers while building up miles for the next vacation.

Citi Diamond Preferred Rewards Card

This 0% APR credit card from Citi not only gives you 12 months of interest-free funds and no balance transfer charges, it also has a points reward system that gives you redeemable points based on purchases. The program works by offering five reward points for every dollar spent on purchases made at supermarkets, drugstores and gas stations; all other purchases get one point per dollar. You get 5,000 bonus points when you get your card, which can be redeemed for a $ 50.00 gift card after your first purchase. Like the Discover card, you will need good credit to get this 0% APR card, but the initial bonus points and rapid accumulation of reward points for purchases of the basic necessities of life could make this just the card for you.

These days, the question is no longer about finding a 0% APR credit card or a 0% Balance Transfer card; the issue is how would you like that card—with extra months of interest-free money, airline miles, or other rewards such as incentive point programs? Any person who is currently carrying balances on high-interest credit cards should shop online and take a look at the 0% APR and 0% Balance Transfer credit cards from Chase, Discover, Citi and other companies. You may just find the right card for you.

It’s quite obvious for people to buy new cars but not everyone can afford to buy one. There are lots of people who prefer to buy used cars rather than new cars because of monetary constraints. But, even a used car is not so cheap that you can buy it an a few hundred pounds. You need to avail a used car loan if you don’t have funds to buy the car. In case you have bad credit problems you can avail a bad credit used car loan to buy the vehicle of your choice.

Bad credit used car loan is specially meant for those people who have a bad credit record. Bad credit can occur if you are not regular with your loan repayments. Defaults, arrears, missed payments, County Court Judgement against you, bankruptcy, any of these can cause bad credit. Once you have bad credit it is difficult to get a loan on low interest rates. Still, there are many lenders who provide bad credit used car loans at competitive rates.

The interest rate on a bad credit used car loan is high. In fact it largely depends on a borrowers credit records It’s quite obvious for people to buy new cars but not everyone can afford to buy one. There are lots of people who prefer to buy used cars rather than new cars because of monetary constraints. But, even a used car is not so cheap that you can buy it an a few hundred pounds. You need to avail a used car loan if you don’t have funds to buy the car. In case you have bad credit problems you can avail a bad credit used car loan to buy the vehicle of your choice.

Bad credit used car loan is specially meant for those people who have a bad credit record. Bad credit can occur if you are not regular with your loan repayments. Defaults, arrears, missed payments, County Court Judgement against you, bankruptcy, any of these can cause bad credit. Once you have bad credit it is difficult to get a loan on low interest rates. Still, there are many lenders who provide bad credit used car loans at competitive rates.

The interest rate on a bad credit used car loan is high. In fact it largely depends on a borrowers credit records as to how bad his credit record it. The APR (Annual Percentage Rate) is fixed on the basis of the borrower’s credit record. The repayment duration, monthly installments and the loan amount depend on the nature of the loan i.e. secured or unsecured.

To avail a bad credit used car loan you can follow the online loan application process. This will also help you make comparison between different loan deals.

About The Author : The author is a business writer specializing in finance and credit products and has written authoritative articles on the finance industry. He has done his masters in Business Administration and is currently assisting Uk-Direct-Loans as a finance specialist.

The concept of credit is as old as Man himself. Since the dawn of civilization, people have borrowed money in order to purchase goods or hire services for which they were not able to pay at that moment. In return, they promised to repay their debt in the future and pay the lending agent a fee for his service. In modern day language that means that a financial institution grants a loan to its client and expects that loan to be repaid with interest within a specified period of time. Until the 1970s, those loans were made for a specific purpose, like buying or building a house (where the credit is called a mortgage) or financing the purchase of a new car. The object for the loan was then taken as a collateral to ensure that the lending institution got back its money.

The credit card industry began to develop in the late 1970s, changing completely the way banks grant credit by making it available to huge numbers of people. No collateral is required when applying for a credit card. Instead, the banks look at the trustworthiness of its clients by checking their past behavior when borrowing money, which is called their credit history. This and the amount of fixed income the client has determines the credit line, the amount of money the client can borrow from his bank on a monthly basis through the use of his credit card.

Today it is not only banks that extend credit to large numbers of qualifying individuals. Many retail institutions like department store chains offer their customers their own credit cards in order to turn them into loyal clients. Nowadays consumers can buy nearly everything from groceries to clothes or book a holiday by using what has come to be called plastic money.

In consumer societies, for example the United States or Japan, buying goods on credit and paying for them later has become the norm. In fact, the granting of credit by financial institutions to individuals through the use of credit cards has become the engine for the whole economy. Societies that operate exclusively on a cash basis tend to be more conservative and its members tend to think more carefully before spending their money. However, the lending of money generates more economic activities and therefore creates more jobs and more wealth. This has to be based on the premise that the financial institutions grant their credit wisely to responsible consumers.

Banks and financial institutions, in general, are not government agencies or charities, but are companies that are in the business of making profits for themselves. They do that through various means such as the annual fee they charge the credit card holder, even if he never uses the card, the fees the merchants have to pay to the bank for the privilege of being able to accept credit cards in their stores, thus attracting more clients and the interest they charge the credit card holder for the credit itself.

But there is a risk as well that the financial institution runs when issuing credit cards to its clients. It may lose money when people default on their account, i.e. they do not repay all the money they have spent using their card. Or the bank may lose money when its customers do not use this particular financial instrument enough so that the profits generated are not sufficient to cover the cost of the operation of the whole credit card system.

For some parents, the idea of entrusting their adult child with a credit card while they are off working toward their university degree sounds like pure madness. Certainly, there must be a better way to make sure that your child’s needs are met while they are away from you, right? Well, if you are worried about your ace student running up debt while they are in school, then that is a valid concern. However, what better time is there to learn how to manage one’s personal finances than when going to school? There is wisdom in obtaining a student credit card; you just need to see the big picture and establish some ground rules before your student applies for one.

Many parents cringe when they send their adult children off to college. If your child has a tendency to be irresponsible, then college can either fuel that irresponsibility or teach your child how to grow up in a hurry. Unfortunately, it isn’t always clear how your child will respond to being “free” until you drop them off at their dorm and head back home.

A student credit card could possibly be dangerous for your student if they do not fully understand the responsibility of managing their personal finances. So, this is where you come in -- before your child applies for a student credit card you must discuss several things first including:

Will the card be in your child’s name only or will you be co-signatory? With the former option, you will not have any control over your student’s spending, therefore it is imperative that you tell him how managing his credit now can impact him after he leaves school. That is, any credit problems that come up due to his irresponsibility can keep him from buying a car, a home, even securing a job once he enters the “real world.”

If you are co-signatory on the card then you can keep a lid on his spending and check his statement out each month. With the latter option he will not be able to build up credit on his own, thus a student credit card issued only in the student’s name will help him establish a personal credit history.

Will the card be used for every day purchases, emergencies, or something in between? You probably don’t want to encourage your daughter to fund dorm-wide Friday night pizza parties with her student credit card, but you may think it a great idea to have the card on hand for book purchases and for emergencies. A student credit card can help you come tax time too as all of the deductible expenses related to attending university are listed on each statement. Moreover, if your daughter has an emergency she can use the card to pay for automotive towing, a trip to the optician to replace broken eyeglasses, or to catch a bus ride home for the Thanksgiving break. No need to worry about paying for the expense of wiring money; a student credit card has your daughter covered!

If your son or daughter shows plenty of responsibility with their card it can only help them later on in life. Yes, there is a potential debt issue involved, but if you are paying tens of thousands of dollars per year for tuition, then that expense pales in comparison. Most student credit cards offer only a small credit line starting at $500 on up, so the concern about taking on massive credit card debt is overblown. In addition, you can always tell the credit card company that you want to keep the credit limit down – just because they may offer a $10,000 credit line does not mean you must take it.

Ultimately, a student credit card can be a wise choice for university families. With a student credit card there is no need to worry about your child carrying around a wad of cash or wondering how they will handle an emergency when you are not around. A student credit card can offer the security and peace of mind that everyone needs when your adult child is hundreds of miles away from home and unable to turn to Mom and Dad for immediate help.

Having a credit card is almost a requirement nowadays. From purchasing plane tickets, to renting a car or making hotel reservations, there are simply some things you cannot do without having access to a credit card. One good thing is that a lot of bank accounts not have "check cards" that allow you to make credit-like purchases that come right out of your account. But even with that added convenience, sometimes you simply need a "plain old credit card" and if you have bad credit, that can present a real problem when it comes time to fill out the application.

The most common option, and one that most people are familiar with, is the secured credit card. This type of card usually requires some form of collateral to be made available before qualifying for the card. The most common means for doing this is to open a savings account with the bank issuing the card and depositing a sum of money into that account. Then, a portion of the balance of the savings account becomes the credit line you have available on the credit card.

This is almost like a pre-pay type of arrangement and makes things easier for the borrower and the bank. The borrower gets quick and easy access to a true credit card that can be used anywhere and the bank knows that if the borrower defaults for some reason, they can still recoup the money they're owed by pulling from the funds in the savings account.

Another option is an unsecured credit card specifically for people with bad credit. They're hard to come by but are definitely out there. Usually, you'll find these offered by smaller banks that are more willing to take risks with people with bad credit in order to get new customers and earn their business. With an unsecured card, you don't have to worry about having to pre-pay with any sort of collateral and the bank essentially trusts you to do the right thing, use your card responsibly and pay them back on time.

With either of these options, you have to be fully aware of the fees involved. The bad news is that either way you go, you're probably going to be paying higher fees and interest rates than someone with excellent credit. This is just one of the ways the banks minimize their risk. But not to worry though because if you pay your balance off each month (or at the most, every other month) then the impact that the interest rate will have on you will be negligible since you're not carrying a balance.

In addition, once you establish a good payment history over a period of months or perhaps up to a year, you should see a boost in your credit score. Depending on how much that changes your score, you might be able to qualify for a better card with better rates. So essentially, the bad credit charge card can be used as sort of a springboard to help get you up to a higher credit score and qualified for better rates (if managed responsibly).

If you're ready to explore your options for bad credit charge cards and help boost your credit score by responsibly managing your new credit account, start researching your options today to see which offers might meet your needs.

Credit card debt is a serious matter that has ruined the lives of millions of people. It can be hard to find humor in a mounting pile of unpaid bills. However, sometimes we need a good laugh to relive the stress and remind ourselves that the best things in life are free….

Here are some jokes having to do with credit cards and debt…enjoy!

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"A man said his credit card was stolen, but he decided not to report it because the thief was spending less than his wife did."

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Larry King interviewed Satan on his radio/TV program. At one point during the interview, King asked Satan to describe the foulest deed he'd ever done. Satan refused to name one, pointing out that there had been so much destruction over the years, so many lives cut short, and so many wars and calamities that none stood out. But Larry King kept pestering. 'Surely, if you think hard enough, there must be one dastardly deed you are most proud of.' Satan thought for a moment, his eyes brightened, and he replied, 'Well, yes. I guess if I have to pick just one particularly evil thing I'm proudest of, it would be this: several years ago I invented credit cards.'"

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In March 1992, a man living in Newton near Boston, Massachusetts received a bill for his as yet unused credit card stating that he owed $0.00. He ignored it and threw it away. In April he received another and threw that one away too. The following month the credit card company sent him a very nasty note stating they were going to cancel his card if he didn't send them $0.00 by return of post. He called them and talked to them about the problem. They said it was a computer error and told him they'd take care of it.

The following month our hero decided that it was about time that he tried out the troublesome credit card figuring that if there were purchases on his account he could end this ridiculous predicament. However, in the first store that he produced his credit card in payment for his purchases he found that his card had been cancelled.

He called the credit card company who apologized for the computer error once again and said that they would take care of it. The next day he got a bill for $0.00 stating that payment was now overdue. Having spoken to the credit card company the previous day, he assumed the latest bill was yet another mistake he ignored it, trusting that the company would be as good as their word and sort the problem out.

The next month he got a bill for $0.00 stating that he had 10 days to pay his account or the company would have to take steps to recover the debt. Finally giving in, he thought he would play the company at their own game and mailed them a check for $0.00. The computer duly processed his account and returned a statement. It reported that he now owed the credit card company nothing at all. A week later, the man's bank called him asking him what he was doing writing a check for $0.00. After a lengthy explanation the bank replied that the $0.00 check had caused their check processing software to fail. The bank could not now process ANY checks from ANY of their customers that day because the check for $0.00 was causing the computer to crash.

The following month the man received a letter from the credit card company claiming that his check had bounced and that he now owed them $0.00. Furthermore, unless he sent a check by return of post they would be taking steps to recover the debt.

The man, who had been considering buying his wife a computer for their anniversary, bought her a typewriter instead.

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At a grocery store in Milpitas, they have new credit card/bank card readers at the checkout stands. If you don't know how to orient your card to swipe it through the reader, the checkout person will say, "Strip down, face toward me."

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I was signing the receipt for my credit card purchase when the clerk noticed that I had never signed my name on the back of the credit card. She informed me that she could not complete the transaction unless the card was signed. When I asked why, she explained that it was necessary to compare the signature on the credit card with the signature I just signed on the receipt. So I signed the credit card in front of her. She carefully compared that signature to the one I signed on the receipt. As luck would have it, they matched.

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So you have received a credit card application? You know what it says, but do know what it really means?

What it says: "You have demonstrated financial responsibility..." What it means: You're breathing!

What it says: "Our membership is difficult to obtain..." What it means: Death row prisoners are not eligible... in most states!

What it says: "We have shortened the application process..." What it means: "We need lots of new members fast or we'll go out of business!"