Credit cards are fast replacing cash as currency, as they offer convenience on purchases. Large amounts of cash can make you susceptible to robbery. An ATM card, on the other hand, may be useless if there is no ATM close by. Credit cards can allow you to make emergency purchases, buy the things that you want, and pay the debt later.
What is the best credit card for you? Before you scout for a credit card to meet your needs and wants, take note of the following characteristics of the best credit card.
1. The best credit card for you will have a credit limit equal to about four times the amount you can afford to pay per month. To determine this, you will need to look at your spending habits, as well as your bank account. Despite the fact that a lower credit limit will impair your freedom to spend, it can also discipline you into better spending habits.
2. The best credit card for you will have cash back guarantee incentives. A cash back incentive simply means that you will be getting about one percent back off your purchases of certain goods or services. Such cash back incentives can be useful when you purchase expensive items such as luxury goods or gas, or if you pay the electricity bill.
3. The best credit card for you will offer rewards incentives. For every specified amount of purchase, you can be awarded points. These points can be accumulated and, at certain amounts, can entitle you to gifts. Such gifts may include certificates for discounts at credit card partner establishments, appliances, or even trips abroad.
4. The best credit card for you will translate your rewards points to airline frequent flyer miles. This can be advantageous if you travel and spend a lot – the more airline miles you accumulate, the more chances you have of availing of free trips.
5. The best credit card for you will impose reasonable interest rates on unpaid credit card debts. This can be important if you need to spend a lot, but earn a moderate to a low salary.
6. The best credit card for you will have a longer grace period for you to settle your payment.
7. The best credit card for you will have no annual fees on the first year of use – and, if you must pay annual fees for the years thereafter, these annual fees will be much lower. In fact, some credit card companies waive the annual fee for clients who are in good credit standing.
8. The best credit card for you will have incentives the moment you get your hands on the credit card. Some credit cards can offer gifts by virtue of their being used for the first time. Such gifts may include gift certificates, discounts at restaurants, or even a free pair of shoes!
9. The best credit card for you will have twenty four hour customer service support, and will have a secure server that will ensure that your identity and credit card information are not stolen. This is important nowadays, where credit card theft runs rampant, online or offline.
10. The best credit card for you will be one that you can use in as many establishments as possible, and in as many countries as possible. The wider the reach of your credit card, the easier it will be to use, and the easier it will be for you to buy the goods and services that you like.
In short, the best credit card is one that meets your needs and wants even before you recognize what they are. When you finally get your credit card, use it wisely, and you will certainly enjoy its advantages.
Mario C Churchill
http://www.articlesbase.com/finance-articles/the-top-ten-characteristics-of-the-best-credit-card-for-you-113159.html
How safe is it to give credit card/check information on the Internet when purchasing something?
When I buy something from another website lets just say some of the not so well known sites (sites that aren’t ebay, best buy, barnes and nobles, etc), how safe is it? Is there any red light characteristics that may indicate fraud/identity theft?
make sure that their is a lock or a security certificate and for a url shopping history copy url to
http://www.mywot.com/
top right corner
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If you don’t like giving out your credit card number join Paypal. It is free and will keep your info safe. Also if you don’t want to join paypal go to bbb.org and they should help you.
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it is no safe at all just don’t do it you going to regret that. if you want purchase something do it in pay pal.
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Google the company name, URL and address to see if there have been complaints on online forums about the company or any other company at that address.
Check the Whois information on the website http://www.samspade.org
Look up the store name on http://www.resellerratings.com
Look up the business name or URL at the Better Business Bureau http://www.bbb.org
Click on the security certificates and badges, they should link to a verification page at the security company. If they don’t link, or if they go to a page on the sellers site, then the certificates might be phony,
Be aware that judging the quality of products based on an online picture is particularly difficult.
Read the fine print.
What are the return and refund policies if the product is defective or not as expected?
Who pays for return shipping?
Is there a restocking or service charge?
Do you get a refund to the charge card or only store credit?
Where does the product ship from?- out of country supplies are particularly risky.
More info: http://guides.macrumors.com/Buying_Online_-_Is_This_Company_Legitimate%3F
BBB Consumer tips: http://us.bbb.org/WWWRoot/SitePage.aspx?site=113&id=9c2460f1-4c8d-415a-a55d-2da54c5d4f40
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you need the web address to be https not http
Also don’t buy from a site that requires you to E-mail credit card numbers..
Depending on your type of credit card some cards (like bank of America) offer disposable one time credit card numbers linked to your card. you can only used them once and they protect your true credit card number
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You can never be to safe these days. I have identity theft protection with SOLUS. With SOLUS Identity Theft Protection I no longer have too worry about it. I highly recommend them. They monitor your credit and if you or anyone in your family ever becomes victims of identity theft they do all the restoration work including legal care. The website is http://www.solusid.com if you want to check them out.
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