Credit Reporting Agencies
Credit reporting agencies maintain electronic records of your credit activities. Today, there are three major national credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian and Trans Union. If you are planning on applying for a loan or credit anytime in the near...
Do you worry about credit card debt and your card payments?
Do you worry about credit card debt and your card payments? It's one of the most expensive loans we can take out, so why do so many people have credit card balances that they don't pay off each month? Perhaps it's because the application form comes...
Important Questions To Ask Yourself Before You Apply For a Credit Card
When you apply for a credit card, fill out the application with the knowledge that you will absolutely be paying your bills off at the end of every single month. Don't even entertain the idea of making payments and accruing interest.
The trouble...
Laws in Credit Repair
There are certain laws issued for people that have bad credit and to know these laws is important to protect all those involved in your life. The Federal Legislation and several other agencies including the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA)...
Read and Understand Your Credit Card Statement
Have you ever looked at your credit card statement and ended up just scratching your head in frustration? Well join the club! But don’t take any comfort in the fact that you have plenty of company, because lack of knowledge can cost you….right on...
Low Interest Rate Credit Cards
There are many credit card offers that advertise a low interest rate but not all of them are necessarily as good of a deal that they want you to believe. You will have to read the fine print to determine the legitimacy of the credit card offer. Here is some basic interest rate information to help you determine if those "low interest rate credit cards" are really a "high interest credit trap."
Finding the True Low Interest Rate Credit Cards
Be aware that interest rates are variable. Credit card rates are set by adding a spread, or margin, to a base rate. Your base rate is often a widely used index rate, which is almost always a rate that changes periodically, without warning and for no reason.
The spread that is added to calculate your rate depends on your credit history. If you pay your bills consistently and on time, the spread may be as few as 2 or 3 percentage points. If your credit history reveals that you make late payments, or have too much debt, the spread may be 5 or 6 percentage points or more.
The advertised rate on a credit
card is often the card's simple interest rate. The effective interest rate, however, is your true cost of borrowing and includes annual fees you pay to use the card. The compounded interest rate is a better barometer of your effective interest rate. For example, if your card has a rate of 12%, your monthly rate would be 1%. Because credit card interest is compounded monthly, the effective annual interest rate on a 12% simple-rate card is 12.68%. Understanding how the interest rate on a credit card works can save you from overpaying in interest and fees.
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About the Author
About The Author
This article was written by Beth Pardue who has over 10 years of experience in the financial industry assisting clients with assorted financial needs. To learn more about credit cards or to apply for a credit card online please visit: Visit http://www.amex-visa-mastercard.com today!