Search
Recommended Products
Related Links


 
 

 

 

Informative Articles

A Credit Card Glossary of Terms
The Credit card industry comes with a lot of jargon. You can't be expected to recognise all the technical phrases employed and some of them could be very important. Listed below you will find a quick description of the most common credit card...

Applying For A Credit Card With No Credit History - Tips You Need to Know
Oddly enough, not only will bad credit work against you when applying for a loan or a credit card, but no credit will too. Even though this doesn't seem fair, it is the way things work in the complicated world of consumer credit. Lenders are leery...

Building Credit Ideas
There are several ways that we can build credit. If you are tired of collectors hounding you, or if you are frustrated that no one will loan you money because you never had credit, it is time to learn how to build your credit. First, and...

Credit Card Entrapment- The Secrets are out
Have you ever wondered why your credit card bill is so high and you can't seem to pay off the balance? Well you are not alone in this. You should be aware of a couple of trick that they use and you probably don't even pay attention to it, but you...

Credit cards - The top 3 things you need to know
----------------------------------------------------------------- Credit cards - The top 3 things you need to know ----------------------------------------------------------------- Today there are so many different credit cards available, student...

Credit Report – Check Yours Regularly…and for Free
In the twenty-first century, there are few documents that have a greater impact on the lives of Americans then their credit report. Credit rating determines one’s ability to buy a home, a car, or to obtain a credit card or a job. Since these things...

Cut Back Credit Repair Solution
If you want to get out of debt, you need to cut back and start saving money. If you think you are going to get out of debt going on spending binges then you had better think again. Too many debtors believe once they are in debt it does not matter...

How to avoid being victimized by a secured credit card marketing scam
According to bbbsilicon.org, Beware of offers of easy credit. No one can guarantee to get you credit. Before deciding whether to give you a credit card, legitimate credit card processing service providers examine your credit history through a...

My Credit Card Application Was Rejected! Now What?!?
This article tells you exactly what you need to do if you're ever denied or rejected on any of your credit card applications both online and offline. It may be easier to deal with than you think... No doubt, you've probably gotten literally...

Refinancing vs Line of Credit
Refinancing vs line of credit are two popular options you have when deciding the best way to take equity out of your home. Sometimes it makes sense to establish a line of credit. But in other situations it's better to get a cash back refinance...

 
 
 
Common Credit Card Terms and What They Mean

When shopping around for a credit card, it is very important to understand the terms and fees that each card offers in order to make an informed decision regarding the best credit card for you. Because these terms affect your overall cost, it is important to compare the terms and fees of various cards before opening an account.

Annual Fees

These are the annual membership fees, or participation fees charged by some card issuers. They can range from $25 up to several hundred dollars.

Annual Percentage Rate (APR)

The annual percentage rate, or APR is the cost of credit as a yearly rate. By law, this rate must be disclosed to all applicants of a credit card. This rate is often variable, meaning that it can be raised or lowered depending upon the performance of the index, or econonmic indicator, that it is linked to.

Balance Transfer

This is the process of transfering an unpaid credit card balance from one card to another. Often the card receiving the balance will charge the card holder a balance transfer fee.

Cash Back

Some credit cards offer cash back incentives to the card holder. These offers usually mean you will receive some percentage of the total amount charged to the card monthly, quarterly, or annually. This

 


percentage may be paid to you by check or may be reflected on your account as a credit.

Grace Period

This is the period of time offered by some cards that allows the card holder to pay the balance in full without accruing any interest charges. If your card does not offer a grace period, then you may be paying finance charges from the date the card is used.

Introductory Rate

Credit cards often offer special "introductory rates" to new card holders. These rates may be as low as 0% for a specified period of time. After the introductory period ends, the annual percentage rate will increase to the cards regular ongoing rate. It is important to know what this rate is as well as how long the introductory period lasts prior to applying for one of these cards.

Transaction fees

Some credit cards will charge additional fees for transactions such as cash advances or balance transfers. Late fees may also be applied when a payment is received after the due date.

About the author:

Karyn Kudrna is owner of websites that offer information on low interest credit cards and credit cards for bad credit and payday loans