Prevent missed and late payments on credit cards
March 29, 2011
There are many people these days that use their credit cards to make payments for all sorts of things, from one off payments and to buy luxury items through to funding every day purchases and even paying bills with their credit cards. Whilst some people tend to repay the balance on their credit cards in full each month, which enables them to avoid interest payments, there are also those that spread the repayments over a period of time, which means that they have to make smaller, monthly repayments on the amount that they owe on the card.
However, for one reason or another there are many people that mess up with their monthly repayments. Some make the payment late inadvertently whereas others sometimes forget to make the payment at all. In both cases this can results in fees and charges being applied by the credit card provider, which can bump up the amount owed on the card. In addition to this it can result in the cardholder’s credit file and credit score being adversely affected because the provider logs the fact that payment was made late or missed altogether.
With today’s busy pace of life many miss or make late payments because they simply forget to make the payment on or before the date required. There are others who do make a payment but fail to meet the minimum repayments because they do not realise how much they need to pay.
According to officials there is one way around this and that is to set up a direct debit to make repayments on the credit card. Doing this can help people to avoid missed or late payments and will ensure that each month at least the minimum repayment is met. This will help consumers to avoid the various charges that are applied by credit card providers and help to ensure that they keep their credit file in check.
Tags: mastercard, credit, consumers, score, credit score, cardholder’s credit fileMillions set to increase credit card spending
February 1, 2011
It has been claimed that millions of people could increase their credit card spending over the course of this year. Figures have been released as part of the Consumer Credit Report from the Post Office, and the data suggests that around 2.4 million people could be putting more on their credit cards this year.
The figures also suggested that for around 52 percent of credit card users in the UK the level of spending would remain the same this year as it was last year. Research was carried out to determine consumer intentions with regards to credit card spending for 2011. The figures showed that in around 17 percent of cases consumers were expecting to increase their credit card spending by around £200 a month.
A further 32 percent of those that were polled said that their credit card spending was likely to increase by around £100 a month. Many people struggled last year in terms of their finances, and ended up having to turn to credit cards and other forms of finance to fund their spending. Officials believe that this year is set to be as difficult if not more difficult for many households, and this could contribute to the increase in spending on credit cards. For many, this could lead to spiralling levels of debt, and could result in some people being pushed over the edge financially because they cannot afford the repayments on their credit card debt.
Tags: long wait, consumers, Many people, Personal finance, households, officialAn official from the Post Office said: “January has been a tight month for many of us, especially with the long wait until pay day, and we can see that many people are falling back on credit cards to ease the costs of day to day living.”
Consumers make everyday purchases with credit cards
December 2, 2010
An industry official has pointed out how people are now using credit cards to make everyday purchases rather than reserving them for one off purchases, luxury items, or more expensive items. In the past many people that had credit cards only used them in emergencies or if they were buying something that they could not afford to pay for in one go.
However, these days more and more people are using their credit cards to make everyday purchases, from paying for groceries and travel to paying for drink and lunch in the pub. The convenience and ease of credit cards has made them very popular amongst consumers that don’t want to be carrying cash around everywhere. They have also proven to be a financial lifeline for many people that have suffered financial struggles due to the credit crisis and recession.
Richard Sorsky, who works for the UK Insolvency Helpline, said that credit cards were no longer seen as a luxury, and rather than being used by wealthier people, as they once were, they were now tools that were used by the average consumer to pay for many different items both online and on the High Street, as well as by phone.
He said that more people were now spending instead of saving, and this was because it was impossible to save any significant amount of money for some people due to the high cost of living. There is also the fact that most people are not getting any return on their savings due to low rates of interest from banks.
Another recent report has also highlighted how popular credit cards are becoming, but industry experts want to ensure that consumers are being sensible with their credit cards as well as enjoying the convenience and ease that they offer.
Tags: Credit Cards, Richard Sorsky, buying, consumers, recession, consumerTaking Advantage Of 0% Balance Transfer Credit Card Offers
October 26, 2010
Taking Advantage Of 0% Balance Transfer Credit Card Offers
If currently carry a balance on your credit cards, chances are you are spending hundreds, if not thousands of dollars a year on interest. How much money you waste every year will vary based on how much credit card debt you have, but, according to studies, the average American household carries approximately 00 in credit card debt. At a modest interest rate of 12%, this would translate into 0 a year in interest expenses. If the interest rate is higher, say 16%, carrying a balance on your credit card could be costing you over 00 a year in interest!
0% APR balance transfers provide an excellent solution to consumers who carry debt. With one of these offers, you can enjoy an entire year without interest to help you pay down your current debt and prevent compounding interest from moving your credit card balances into the stratosphere. Here we will discuss the benefits of 0% balance transfers.
The best type of 0% offers are for no fee balance transfers. Buried in the fine print of nearly all credit card applications is the balance transfer fee. This nuisance fee applies to 3% of all balances transferred. Over the past year, balance transfer fees have risen quite a bit. Generally, the maximum dollar amount does not exceed – per transaction. However, a few sneaky companies have put no limit on fees.
Fortunately, with a no fee balance transfer, you can avoid these fees. In some instances, the fee to transfer a balance can add up to 0 or 0 on an 00 balance transfer, depending on how many different cards you need to transfer balances from.
Because there are a limited number of no fee balance transfer credit cards on the market, the next best option for balance transfers is to find a credit card that offers a 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers for 1 year. While the number of these offers is becoming somewhat limited, finding a credit card that offers 0 APR balance transfers as well as a 0 APR on purchases is easier than finding a no fee balance transfer credit card.
To select the best balance transfer credit card, begin by looking at the dollar cap on fees for each transaction. This can be especially helpful if you are simply transferring a balance from one credit card. For example, if you have an 00 balance on a single card, your maximum balance transfer fee will be to , or around 1% of the transaction.
The effect of balance transfer fees grows when you have many small balances on multiple cards, as each card you transfer will be counted as a single transaction with a 3% fee. For example, if you have one credit card with a 00 balance, two credit cards with a 00 balance and a third credit card with a 00 balance, your total balance transfer fee will be 5 or 2.4% of the balance.
Even though paying a balance transfer fee isn’t the most pleasant of experiences, the savings you can reap with 0 balance transfers more than offsets this annoying fee. For example, if you are transferring 00 from a single credit card with a 15% interest rate, your total interest savings, including fees, will be close to 00. Now, even if you have to transfer balances from multiple credit cards, and thus pay multiple fees, you will still be saving over 00 on interest. Plus, this doesn’t even take into account the amount of money you will save with your 0% interest rate on purchases.
Aside from 0 balance transfers, there is one last type of balance transfer offer. This is the fixed APR balance transfer. For some people, it may be worthwhile to use 0 balance transfers for a number of years, transferring your debt from one company to another until the balance is repaid. However, there is always the chance you may not get approved for a 0% rate in the future. If you would prefer to avoid this risk, a fixed APR balance transfer may be right for you.
With a fixed APR balance transfer, you pay a set rate until your balance is repaid in full. For example, a typical fixed APR balance transfer offer will provide a 5.99% interest rate for life. A few credit cards offer no fee fixed APR balance transfers, but the majority do not. Thus, if you opt for a fixed APR balance transfer over a 0 APR balance transfer, your interest rate in the first year will be closer to 8.99% with fees. However, if you know it will take you many years to repay your balance, the long term rate of 5.99% can provide great savings and the security of knowing your interest rate won’t be going through the roof anytime soon.
Overall, the best option for consumers looking to lower their credit card interest rates is a 0 APR no fee balance transfer. However, since these offers are difficult to come by, the next best option is to find a credit card that offers 0 APR balance transfers and a 0 APR on purchases as well. Lastly, consumers looking to pay down their debt over the long term may want to consider a fixed APR balance transfer. However, as with any type of credit card, always look for one with low or no balance transfer fees.
This article was written by Jay Mayweather for Smartcreditchoices.com,, who offers 0% APR balance transfers and no fee balance transfers and compare current 0% APR credit card offers from every major card issuer. Article reproductions must include a link pointing to http://www.smartcreditchoices.com/.
I transferred a balance from Capital One to Citi because my interested on capital one was recently increased. The only issue is I still use that card and pay it all off every month since the interest on that card is 23.99% How can I pay the balance transfer off at the same time while not paying interest on the other charges that I put on that credit card?
Best answer:
Answer by Avatouir
http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/site/the-money-man-gmtv
I use this site whenever I need to know anything. It’s Martin Lewis’ official website. You know, the guy that writes for one of the major tabloids(either the Sun or the Star I can’t remember) and has appeared on Tv several times with tips on consumer rights, how to deal with unfair bank charges etc. I find it very useful and you’ll find a far better answer than I can give
What do you think? Answer below!
I am in a slight amount of debt ( 4,000 on two cards)
I cant deal anymore with 23% apr!! i havent even spent 8,000, i just am paying all these finance and interest charges…any ideas what I should do? Which credit card is best to transfer this balance so i can pay it off with 0% apr in 1 year?
Best answer:
Answer by kelco
Virgin credit card are 0% for 18 months
Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!
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September 13, 2009
With the Easter holidays now upon us, many people in the UK may be thinking about heading abroad for a break with their loved ones, and many will go armed with their credit cards either for general spending or just for emergencies. However, a recent report has stated that the cost of using both credit and debit cards whilst abroad can really mount up, and consumers are better off avoiding the use of their plastic cards unless there is a dire need to do so, as otherwise they could be hit with a series of charges. Read more
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