Credit Card Chaser

The economy is slowly recovering, but household budgets are still tight. When choosing a credit card, many people want a card that provides them with points or rewards they can use toward travel, dining, or cash back. If you are looking to find the best credit card with the best rewards, then check out our FREE credit card finder! The following are 10 of the best reward credit cards for 2012.

Chase Sapphire

Chase Sapphire offers the option of redeeming points for travel or merchandise or for cash back. Currently, they are rewarding 25,000 bonus points after you spend $3,000 in the first 3 months. Additionally, the card rewards 2 points for every dollar spent on dining and 1 point for all other purchases.

Points never expire and there are no limits on the number of points you can earn. Only applicants with a credit rating of excellent should apply. There are no annual fees. Standard APR is 15.24%.

Capital One Orbitz Visa Platinum

The Capital One Orbitz Visa Platinum credit card rewards 3x bonus points for travel booked on Orbitz. Bonus points are earned for airfare, hotel and other travel bookings. Points can be redeemed for airfare, hotels, merchandise and gift cards. All other purchases earn 1 point per dollar.

Capital One is offering a 0% introductory rate until November, 2012 including balance transfers. There is no annual fee. The standard APR is 13.9% – 19.9%. Applicants must have an excellent credit rating to get the 0% introductory rate and the lower APR.

Miles by Discover

Discover offers several cards, but the Miles by Discover credit card allows cardholders to accumulate rewards faster. Cardholders earn 1 point for every dollar spent and can redeem points for travel, merchandise, gift certificates or cash. During the first year, it’s possible to earn $120 in travel rewards by getting 1,000 bonus miles every month you make a purchase the first year.

Discover offers a 0% introductory rate for the first 6 months, then charges 10.99% – 16.99% APR, depending on your credit rating. Discover charges no annual fee.

There are no blackout dates for travel redemption for airline, hotels or rental cars. Discover has been rated #1 in customer loyalty by a popular consumer group (2011 Brand Keys Customer Loyalty Engagement Index Report).

Gold Delta SkyMiles AMEX

With the American Express Gold Delta Skymiles card, points can be redeemed for airfare on Delta and Northwest flights only. There is no introductory APR, but members can earn 30,000 bonus points when making purchases during the first year.

The SkyMiles card has a standard APR of 15.24% – 19.24% APR. Like most AMEX cards, there is an annual fee of $95, but it’s waived the first year.

BankAmericard Power Rewards

Unlike the other cards, the BankAmericard Power offers bonus points on everyday purchases of groceries and gas. Points are redeemed in the form of cash back bonuses.

Bank of America is offering a 0% introductory rate for 12 months for balance transfers with the rate adjusting up to 12.99% making it one of the lower rate cards. There’s no annual fee. Applicants must have a good to excellent credit rating.

Chase Freedom

The Chase Freedom offers 10,000 bonus points at sign-up and an introductory rate of 0% for 12 months on balance transfers and purchases for 6 months. Bonus points are earned on airfare, hotel, car, groceries and gas. All points go toward a cash back reward. Every 3 months, Chase creates categories, such as grocery stores or airlines, in which consumers can earn 5% cash back rather than the standard 1%.

There is no annual fee and points never expire. After the standard introductory period, interest rates climb to 11.99% – 29.99%. Chase is only offering the card to those applicants with a very good or excellent credit rating.

Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards

The Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards card is offering a 25,000 point sign-up bonus and awards bonus points on all Southwest Airlines purchases. Bonus points are earned for travel related expenses (airfare, hotels, travel bookings) and points can be redeemed for airfare, hotels and gift cards.

There is no introductory period, but the interest for all cardholders is 14.24%. Annual fees run $69. Consumers with a good credit rating can apply.

This card is about perks when flying on United. Rewards are accumulated in miles rather than points, and then redeemed for airfare on United. They offer a 25,000 mile sign-up bonus, with the potential of earning another 15,000 miles during the first year. Miles never expire and there’s no limit on the number of miles you can earn. For every $1 spent on United or Continental Airfare, you earn 2 miles, while all other purchases earn 1 mile per dollar spent.

Other perks include checking your first bag free, ability to board during priority boarding and 2 complementary day passes to the United Club annually. There is a $95 annual fee, which is waived the first year. The standard APR on this card is also 14.24% across the board. You might ask, “Would airline miles credit card work for me?” It all depends on your situation, but we all love to travel at some point…right?

Extras

All cards offer 24/7 on-line access and customer support, account alerts via e-mail or text and zero liability if the card is lost or stolen. All cards, with the exception of Southwest and United, provide emergency replacement.

As a consumer, you have lots of choices for a credit card that offers rewards. By reviewing the rewards that are important to you, finding a card to suit your needs can be an easy and rewarding endeavor. Before you apply for any credit cards, you should take the time to check your credit score to insure you have great credit. One slip-up in your payments could drastically affect your rewards.

Similar Articles:

• Discover Business Miles Credit Card
• Virgin Atlantic White Credit Card
• Escape by Discover Card
• Airline Credit Cards
• Chase Marriott Rewards Premier Visa Signature Card
• Discover Credit Cards
• New Chase Freedom Balance Transfer Rate: 0% for up to 12 Months

Continue Reading

Identity theft affects nearly one in three consumers, according to the Washington Post. In 2010, it cost Americans $37 billion in losses. Fortunately, there are several ways consumers can protect themselves from becoming victims of identity theft.

We’ll hone in on four ways that you can keep yourself and your credit cards safe from fraud. After you have found the best ways to protect your credit, use our FREE credit card finder to find the best credit cards for your personal needs!

Enroll in Credit Monitoring

You can sign up for a credit monitoring service for free at CreditKarma.com. The site will check your credit report daily for significant changes, and email you if any changes occur, such as a new credit inquiry, a new account, a delinquent payment or improved payment history.

When you receive the notification via email, you should note immediately if it was initiated by your own actions. If not, get a copy of your credit report from AnnualCreditReport.com to find out more information; it could be an error, or worse, a red flag of identity theft or fraud.

Set up Credit Card Security Alerts

Some credit card companies will let you set up manual alerts, such as one that notifies you when a certain amount is authorized on your credit card for a single transaction, or when you have a specific amount of available credit remaining on your card. Setting up security alerts will help you better track the status of your credit cards and keep your eyes open for any suspicious activity.

If you have a joint credit card, remember to talk with the other cardholder about the alerts you’ve set up. After all, you do not want to find fraudulent credit card charges on some crazy credit card receipts!

Initiate a Fraud Alert

If you place a fraud alert on your credit report, lenders and creditors will be required to contact you to verify your identity before extending a credit line or loan in your name. A fraud alert can prevent thieves from opening new accounts in your name. There are three different types of fraud alerts:

• Initial Fraud Alert – For those who are concerned about identity theft but haven’t yet become victims, this fraud alert will protect your credit from unverified access for at least 90 days.
• Extended Fraud Alert – For victims of identity theft, this fraud alert will protect their credit for up to seven years.
• Active Duty Military Alert – For members of the military who wish to protect their credit during deployment, this fraud alert will last for up to one year.

You can remove a fraud alert at any time. To place a fraud alert on your credit, you need only contact one of the three credit bureaus. That bureau is required to notify the other two bureaus about the alert.

• Equifax: Online or by calling 1-800-525-6285
• Experian: Online or by calling 1-888-397-3742
• TransUnion: By calling 1-800-680-7289

Initiate a Security Freeze

A security or credit freeze prevents any new inquiries into your credit profile. In other words, any individual attempting to open a new line of credit in your name will be unable to do so unless you temporarily lift the freeze. A security freeze is best used by those who have been recent victims of identity theft. It allows them the time they need to deal with any fraudulent accounts and activity without worrying about new accounts being created.

There is no time limit on how long a security freeze can remain on your credit, but there is sometimes a fee since laws are set on a state-by-state basis. To initiate a security freeze, first review your state’s credit freeze laws. Then, go to each credit bureau’s website to inquire how to place a security freeze:

• Equifax
• Experian
• TransUnion

Bottom Line

However you decide to protect your credit, make sure to review your credit score and reports on a regular basis. It will keep you up-to-date with what’s going on with your credit profile.

Bethy Hardeman is the social media maven at CreditKarma.com, a completely free credit management service that provides free credit scores, financial education and personalized savings recommendations. Credit Karma helps more than 4 million consumers realize the everyday cost savings of having a good credit score.

Similar Articles:

• Fraud Alert
• What is credit card skimming or cloning?
• What are some common scam credit cards?
• Credit Freeze
• How safe is RFID in credit cards?
• Identity Theft
• How do I find out how many credit cards have been issued in my name?

Continue Reading

Have you ever wondered if your debit or credit card receipt would compete with some of the largest spending splurges ever? Well, we did some number crunching and some intense research on the largest and most interesting receipts, and came up with some pretty hefty credit card receipts.

Take a look at these 20 enormous and interesting receipts. We hope this doesn’t make you justify excessive spending and rack up your credit card bill on your next purchase. Once you are done reading, try out our FREE credit card finder to find the perfect credit card for your needs!

1. The Largest ATM Receipt Ever

Receipt of: David Tepper

Amount: $99,864,731.94

Ok, we know this is a debit card but couldn’t leave an almost $100,000,000 receipt off the list. Coming in at #1 is the hedge fund master David Tepper. With that type of money in his checking account, he better be covering that keypad when he types in his pin. After all, he would not want someone to touch those millions. Wonder if he would even realize if a couple million was missing?

Speaking of credit/debit card safety. Take a look at this video of how easily one can steal your pin and eventually your millions (in David Tepper’s case).

Now that the credit/debit card protection course is over, let’s move on to some more crazy and larger receipts.

2. One Expensive Night Out by Drake

Receipt of: Drake

Amount: $189,375.98

ONE NIGHT! That is all this bill was for! Drake should consider using this money next time to take his sold out crowd out, and not just his entourage. At least his crowd could help fund these types of bills through buying cd’s and going to concerts!

3. The Most Expensive Lunch Receipt

Receipt of: Roman Abramovich

Amount: $47,221.09

Do you remember when your mom used to give you $.25 for milk money? You thought you were living large. Just think of all the milk you could have bought with $47,221. You could have practically bought the whole dairy farm (a little exaggeration). Abramovich didn’t blink an eye whipping out his credit card for this expensive lunch receipt. We just would have love to see the waiter’s reaction when they saw a $7,000+ tip.

4. The Bruins Win Stanley Cup and Spend the Money!

Receipt of: Boston Bruins

Amount: $156,679.74

The Boston Bruins not only dominate the professional hockey world, but also make the list for one of the largest receipts! Management must not have been too excited to see their team spending all this money on one night, but sometimes you just have to celebrate a big win. After all, the Bruins are one of the most historic franchises, and have sold out enough games to cover this little (but really big) bill!

5. Lebron James Dominates Las Vegas for the Weekend!

Receipt of: Lebron James

Amount: $171,937.53

The King struts his large contract in Las Vegas! This shows what you can do once you make it in the “Richest NBA Players” list. We just wonder what his bill will be like the night after he wins an NBA Championship.

6. Iron Maiden Takes Care of the Tab

Receipt of: Iron Maiden

Amount: $20,109

There seems to be a lot of spending when people accomplish something great (Who knew?). Iron Maiden continues to sell thousands of records to their die-hard fans. With their enormous sales, Iron Maiden makes it on the list of largest receipts. Maybe they have such die-hard fans because they take them out and cover their tab….or maybe it is due to their amazing music. We will let you decide that for yourself.

7. A Really Expensive Starbucks Coffee

Receipt of: A person who loves Starbucks!

Amount: $20.65

This goes to show why Starbucks is so successful, and how every business can learn something from Starbucks! Although this bill says $0, the total amount was over $20 for a single cup of coffee. This person just went to Starbucks enough times to build up the Reward Points. Hopefully, paying over $20 for a caffeine fix isn’t a daily habit for this guy.

8. Charged for Farting?

Receipt of: Unknown

Amount: $2.00 of a $49.70 bill

You know it’s bad when you get charged for farting. We have heard of having to put money in a jar when you cuss or do something you agreed that you wouldn’t do. However, this is the first time we have ever heard of someone getting charged for farting. If the person kept going to this place, they might want to look at investing in some BEANO!

9. Twilight Vampires Like Coffee?

Receipt of: A Thirsty Vampire?

Amount: $2.00 of a $30.20 bill

We all know Americans love coffee so we assume it wouldn’t be to strange to see your average vampire at the local coffee shop. We just wonder if this was for one of the Twilight vampires breaking their truce with the werewolves, or just Bella giving nourishment to her new baby.

10. A Wife…….

Receipt of: Someone in need of someone special

Amount: $3.99

What is the world coming to? Granted, there have been instances when people have bought a wife. But to buy one in Target, and for $3.99?? This sounds a little ridiculous to us. What happened to love and building a relationship rather than buying one?

11. Buy a Burrito Get a Cockroach for FREE!

Receipt of: A Tofu Burrito Aficionado

Amount: Free Cockroach w/Purchase

Hmmm… it seems like most people are trying to get rid of cockroaches. Imagine the sign to this place: “Free Cockroach with the Purchase of 2 Burritos and a Small Guacamole”. We are guessing this place must have some other interesting specials! We are going to keep our eye out for what they offer next!

12. An Expensive Receipt = Being Charged for Nothing

Receipt of: A person who should ALWAYS check over their receipt (You should too!)

Amount: $50 for Nothing

You know the saying, “Nothing is free.”? Well, this goes to show that “nothing” could cost you $50. This person probably had a pretty funny expression once they realized all they got for $50. Hopefully they were able to go and get their money back. That leaves us wondering if there would be a “Refund Charge” though.

13. Pay for Those Insect Eggs

Receipt of: We don’t want to know.

Amount: $3 for Something You Can Find in the Backyard

Who knew there would be such a market for insect eggs? Maybe people should think about collecting insect eggs from their backyard and selling them in their neighborhood (kind of like a lemonade stand).

14. Optimus Prime Saves the World and Saves you $4

Receipt of: N/A

Amount: It doesn’t matter… Optimus Prime was the customer’s assistant = PRICELESS!

Optimus Prime does it all: saves the world from ultimate destruction, turns into a semi-truck, and now assists customers at local department stores. What is next? We don’t know the exact price of this receipt, and we could care less. Anything with Optimus Prime is priceless!

15. Nothing Worse Than a Cocky Cashier

Receipt of: We aren’t worried to much about the customer on this one. We just want to make sure the cashier isn’t to cocky with the next customer that comes in.

Amount: N/A

Have you ever gone and bought something from someone who wasn’t going to give you the time of day? We can only image what it would be like to come across this cashier.

16. Paying for a Cat’s Hairball?

Receipt of: Someone who either 1. doesn’t have a cat or 2. likes wasting money

Amount: $11.99 for “One Cat Hairball”

The receipts keep getting crazier. A cat creates many hairballs throughout their life, so you would think this customer could find a local cat in their area to get a hairball from. They must have gotten really desperate for their hairball, though, because we can think of plenty of ways to spend $11.99 better!

17. Cat’s Pee Costs Money?

Receipt of: Someone who either 1. doesn’t have a cat or 2. likes wasting money

Amount: $16.84 for “Cat’s Pee”

First there was a cat’s hairball, and now people are paying for cat’s pee. It’s time to move away from those interesting animal purchases, and move onto some other receipts.

18. “Employee of the Month” Janet

Receipt of: The Customer of the “Employee of the Month” Janet!

Amount: Priceless. Janet is the employee of the month!

We had to show this one! After all, Janet was employee of the month and for good reason. This is the only receipt that is actually correct and not ridiculously overpriced. Congrats, Janet, hopefully you would have corrected their spelling of “tries” if they had asked you to edit this before putting it onto the receipt!

19. Joints at Target

Receipt of: Someone needing some new joints?

Amount: $19.99 for a Joint…not bad!

Ok, we know this isn’t literally a joint. But you have to admit that it looks pretty funny. We can picture it now….Target: The #1 stop for Joint Replacement!” You think it will catch?

20. A $1,000,000 Dinner Side

Receipt of: N/A

Amount: $1,000,000 for a side

We saved one of the best ones for last.: a $1,000,000 side. This restaurant should definitely market themselves as the “Home of the $1,000,000 Side”. We are just wondering what their sales are? It should only a couple $1,000,000 side orders to cover the restaurant’s annual expenses.

Any Others?

From the most expensive to the very odd, you have seen the craziest credit card receipts we could find. Now don’t go out there and try to match some of the most expensive credit card receipts. We wouldn’t want you getting into any serious debt. No matter what your purchase is, make sure you always make good choices and check over your receipt. Last but not least, don’t forget to keep track of your receipts for further accounting. Hopefully you don’t run into a machine like the one below:

Similar Articles:

• Receipt
• Starbucks Credit Card
• Georgette Credit Card
• Point of Sale
• Associated Credit Union Visa Platinum Preferred Credit Card
• Truncation
• PerkStreet Financial Checking Account 2% Cash Back Bonus Promotion

Continue Reading

Do You Want to Feel Like a Financial Genius?  How would you feel about being rewarded with the opportunity to win awesome prizes every time you contribute to your savings account? Haven’t you ever wondered what it would be like if paying off your loans felt less like losing money and more like taking positive steps toward financial fitness? Well let CreditCardChaser recommend SaveUp.com as a great resource for daily opportunities to win back some of your money, great services, and cool gadgets for simply keeping your finances under control.

What Is SaveUp.com All About?

SaveUp.com is intended to “help Americans succeed financially,” as stated by CEO and co-founder, Priya Haji. This is how it works:

• You sign up to the rewards program here.
• You click the accounts tab at the top of your home page.
• You put in your information and verify your identity.
• You start playing for rewards!

Each time money is deposited to a savings or loan account, you receive more credits. Prizes are won by playing simulated scratch off games which cost about 10 credits each. You have a limited amount of “plays” (opportunities to spend your credits), but you win something almost every time.

Security Issues

Since the encryption is at the same level used by most banks, we felt pretty comfortable using confidential information to register and with allowing the site to monitor accounts. The site also has three reputable systems of security in place; which also happen to use the same monitoring software that most banks uses for online banking.

SaveUp.com does not access or make changes to any financial accounts, nor can any users do so through them. This is important to note, especially if you are a bit skeptical about linking to your bank account through other websites. Not to worry, your privacy is protected three-fold.

It All Sounds Awesome…But What Kinds of Prizes Can I Win?

Everything from gaming to cash to home improvement can be found on the prize opportunities. Here are some of the recently popular prizes you will find:

• Gift Cards from American Express, Apple, and Crate&Barrel
• Home Make-Overs
• Gaming Consoles
• Portable Electronics
• Trips and Vacations
• Airfare Packages for Anytime you Want to Fly
• Debt Repayment Offers

Not to mention the cash prizes and , of course, the $2,000,000 jackpot! There are so many rewards, you may have a hard time deciding what to play for. You will be able to read comments posted by winners of different prizes, however, so that should make it a bit easier to figure out. Besides, you’ll always be able to play again tomorrow.

Definitely Check This Site Out—SaveUp.com Makes Saving Worth Your While

Take it from CreditCardChaser, this site is safe, interesting, and most of all rewarding. You will feel great about saving money and you won’t have to suffer through the debt repayment blues; SaveUp.com will be the silver lining around your cloud of loan payments. Plus, it can be a lot of fun to play the little scratch cards available on the site; it’s like gambling without wasting all your cash! Overall, experience was great, the site was clear and user friendly, and the prizes are enticing. Enjoy!

Similar Articles:

• Associated Bank Visa College Rewards Card
• Can you get personal loans from credit card companies?
• Discover More Card
• Hawaii State Federal Credit Union Business Visa Platinum Rewards Credit Card
• American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. American Express Platinum Card
• PIN
• Kirkland’s Credit Card

Continue Reading

Good credit can do more than get you approved for a new credit card or loan; it helps you save money by getting you the best terms and rates on credit cards, mortgages, auto loans and more. If you’re new to the credit world, never fear; CreditKarma.com has gathered a few of the most time-tested methods for keeping up good credit health for anyone, no matter where your credit is starting from.

Let’s take a look at three of the best tips and how you can implement them in your credit life.

1. Monitor your credit.

Your credit report is a long and data-rich document that contains information about your credit and financial life. Are you paying off a student loan? It’s there. Have you ever made a late credit card payment? Unfortunately, that’s there too.

According to the 2010 Consumer Financial Literacy Survey, approximately two thirds of adults haven’t checked their credit report in the past year—even though it’s free. Avoid joining that statistic by getting a free copy of your credit report from each of the three credit bureaus at AnnualCreditReport.com. Look for common credit report errors, such as outdated personal information, mistaken or fraudulent accounts or incorrect account details, and dispute the error if you find one.

What you can do: After you check your report for errors, keep on top of your credit by monitoring it in CreditKarma.com’s “My Credit” section. Each time you update your score, you’ll be able to see what credit report changes have occurred since your last update and what caused them.

2. Use your credit wisely.

One of the most important factors in your credit score is your open credit card utilization rate, weighing in at about 30 percent of your score. Your credit utilization rate measures how much of your available credit you’re using at any given time. Here’s how you can calculate it: Take your total credit card balances and divide that number by your total credit card limits. The resulting percentage is your utilization rate.

Ideally, your credit utilization rate should be under 30 percent. Keeping your utilization rate low communicates to lenders that you don’t pose a high credit risk, you use credit responsibly, and you don’t max-out your credit cards. This is one of the most tried-and true methods of maintaining your good credit health. Keep in mind that you don’t have to carry over a credit card balance from month-to-month; you just need to show active credit card use over the month to benefit your credit score.

What you can do: Calculate 30 percent of your available credit limits. Then, set up balance alerts on your credit cards. Some cards permit you to set up an alert when you’re close to a pre-determined spending limit. If you can’t set up an alert, watch your utilization on a regular basis with CreditKarma.com’s “My Accounts” page and curb your credit card spending when you’re close to 30 percent.

3. Pay your bills on time, every time.

Keeping up with your bill payments should be top priority for good credit health. Your on-time payment history accounts for approximately 35 percent of your credit score, so just one missed payment will knock your credit score down.

If you’re just one day late on a payment, you’ll get hit with a late fee. If you’re more than just a little bit late on a credit card payment, your creditor could report a 30- 60- or 90-day late payment to the credit bureaus, which will result in a derogatory mark on your credit report. Unfortunately, it takes at least seven years for a derogatory mark to fall off of your credit file. If you neglect a bill payment long enough, it could be sent to a collection agency, which will significantly hurt your credit score.

What you can do: To make sure you never miss a payment, set up calendar alerts or automatic bill payments.

Bottom Line: These are just the first few steps in getting and maintaining good credit health. You’ve got to have somewhere to start, and these basics will get you started on the right track—the track to saving more money with your good credit.

Bethy Hardeman is the social media maven at CreditKarma.com, a completely free credit management service that provides free credit scores, financial education and personalized savings recommendations. Credit Karma helps more than 3.5 million consumers realize the everyday cost savings of having a good credit score.

Similar Articles:

• What is credit utilization?
• 4 Ways to Protect Your Credit From Fraud
• When do credit card companies report to credit agencies?
• Should you close credit card accounts that you are not using?
• Soft Inquiry
• Does transferring credit card balances affect your credit score?
• What happens when my credit card payment is late?

Continue Reading

Many companies are recognizing the power of customer feedback by using survey software. Surveys are just one way companies can improve their products and services. Numerous credit card companies are conducting surveys to solicit 360 feedback from customers and employees. The feedback is analyzed to offer credit card offers that will be attractive to customers.

Why is survey software used?

Survey software allows companies to produce surveys in a record amount of time. The usability level of most survey software is high. Most people can learn the software in a matter of minutes. Listed below are a few reasons why survey software is used by numerous companies.

• Software is Customizable. With some survey software, companies may add their logos, questions, choices, graphs, text, messages, reports, images, emails and nearly any other thing to improve their surveys. Companies may also change the colors, fonts and coding for the surveys. The information may also be exported to SPSS, Excel and other external software programs for analysis and data manipulation. The information may then be placed in a report format and shared with sales, marketing, promotions or product development. Each department will work to improve credit card sales and increase the number of qualified applicants. Collaboration between departments will help credit card companies produce the best product possible.
• Software is Universal. Whether your customers or employees are located domestically or internationally, survey software will help you get consistent feedback. The survey software is designed to administer questions in over 48 different languages. This is an essential tool for global companies that need to pay attention to how their product performs in different cultures. Marketing tactics that work in the United States will not work in other countries. Global credit card companies must be aware of this when conducting their surveys and modify them accordingly. Many survey software applications allow companies to do this with ease.
• Many Survey Software Companies have Excellent Support. Friendly support staff members can help clients develop surveys that will get the information you need from your customers to aid in credit card improvement. Technical support is also provided complimentary support via phone call or chat. Since many survey software applications operate in a cloud, customer support and technical support can assist the client easily or simply. Additionally, when you select cloud computing survey software applications, no data intensive software will slow down your computer.

Examples of Companies that Have Used Survey Software

Survey software is used by many leaders in the business world and academia. In fact, many of the world’s top business schools use survey software, along with most of the major universities. Even government agencies, retail and non-profit organizations use the software. Listed below is an example of a company that used this survey software.

ABN Amro Bank uses surveys in their business to find out customer opinion about their products. The company primarily provides home loans with low interest rates. After the surveys were conducted, ABN Amro improved their self-service loan qualification system and generated an additional $1 million in revenue. ABN Amro had so many calls that the system paid for itself in a matter of one month. This same survey system may be transferrable to credit card surveys.

How do surveys help companies?

Employee surveys are written documentation of the public’s opinion about the product. A company may produce a product that sells well, and they may not be aware of why. Alternatively, the product may be performing poorly.
Customer feedback provides insight into how companies can establish a competitive advantage. This can help companies view their product historically, presently and establish where they are going in the future. Surveys can be an effective form of communication.

Surveys are also a way for companies to build brand loyalty. When companies solicit new customers, marketing and advertising costs are significantly more than retaining a new customer. Companies conduct surveys to determine how to retain their current customers and build brand loyalty.

Companies also want to determine how to attract new customers, while investing their marketing dollars in ways that will instrumentally benefit the customer. When customers are loyal to the product or service, companies do not have to work quite as hard.

How has technology improved surveys?

With the Internet, surveys are easier to administer than ever. In the past, customers and employees would be mailed a survey. Customers and employees were asked to complete the survey and mail it back. They also conducted surveys via telephone. Both of these methods required substantial time and effort.

Paper surveys are fast to complete, but they require a trip to the post office to mail them. Telephone surveys are often time consuming, because most customer service calls are between five and 30 minutes long. An additional five to 10 minutes per survey takes a significant amount of time.

The introduction of Internet surveys allowed customers to perform the surveys on their own time. Internet surveys are also less expensive to administer. The survey can be created online, and the results may be processed electronically. Other surveys require manual labor to enter the information into a computer.

Because it is such an inexpensive marketing tool, companies issue surveys frequently. Credit card companies in particular can issue a survey after every chat conversation, every credit card application and every customer service call. Companies may also conduct a survey with visitors that visit the site and do not complete an application. Business owners find out why customers are not interested in their products. With the information, companies may reduce their bounce rates and improve their credit card offerings to entice more customers.

Some companies save so much money that they can offer their customers promotional discounts or special complimentary products to build brand loyalty. When customers receive free products, they feel appreciated and are more likely to continue their relationship with the bank that issued the credit card. This business model increases the longevity of companies.

Final Survey Tips

Companies that use surveys to increase their credit card sales will probably notice significant gains in a short period of time based upon results with other companies and products. Credit card companies should consider surveys as a solution to obtain feedback and increase revenue. Compare credit cards online for FREE with our credit card chaser tool!

Similar Articles:

• Small Business Credit Card Companies
• American Express Business Gold Rewards Card
• Who are the largest credit card processors?
• Adirondack Trust Company Visa Gold Card
• Wells Fargo Credit Cards to be Marketed to Wachovia Customers
• Are there any unethical credit card companies?
• What makes the best credit cards stand out from the pack?

Continue Reading

When most people buy a car, they take out a loan to pay for it. However, some people pay for all or part of their new car with their credit card. There are quite a few reasons why this can be advantageous if you’re looking for a reasonably priced car. However, there are also reasons why you should avoid doing this.

One reason that you may want to consider funding all or part of your new car purchase with a credit card is if you have a low-interest rate credit card. This is especially useful if you have a card with an introductory rate of 0%.

There are many cards that will provide you with this introductory rate for the first 90 days or so. If you put your down payment on the card, you wouldn’t have to pay any interest on the money within this time frame. Just make sure that you pay as much of it off as possible though.

One of the main benefits of buying a car with a credit card is that your loan will be unsecured. If you obtained a traditional car loan, you will have your vehicle repossessed if you fail to make payments on it. This isn’t the case when you buy it with your credit card. Your credit rating will certainly go down though.

When you get a traditional loan, you will have a set monthly payment. You’ll have to pay this amount each month even if you don’t have it. With a credit card, you have flexible monthly payments. If you’re running low on money for a particular month, you can simply pay the minimum required payment for the card.

Many people have trouble getting a loan whenever they go to buy a new car. It can often take hours or a few days in order to find a lender that’s willing to provide you with the money. You wouldn’t be subjected to this waiting time if you bought the car with a credit card instead.

One of the main reasons that people look to buy a car with a credit card is because they can get it for a better price. To the dealer, it’s basically like you’re paying cash for the car. They’re usually willing to negotiate better in these cases.

As mentioned earlier though, there are quite a few drawbacks of buying a car with a credit card. You may have a lower interest rate in the beginning, but it’s usually only for a very limited time.

Your interest rate may soar through the roof after the introductory period expires to 15% or more. You would often be able to get lower interest rates through a traditional lender. This is especially the case if you happen to be a member of a credit union.

If you buy your car using a credit card with a low introductory APR, then you will have to make all of your payments on time every month, and pay off the car soon after the intro period. Most companies will terminate the introductory offer as soon as you make a late payment.

Some dealers won’t like the fact that you’re using the credit card to pay for the new car either. The dealer will have to pay a fee based on the amount of each credit card transaction. If you make such a large transaction, it would considerably cut into the dealer’s profit on the sale of the car.

As mentioned, these low interest rates are usually for a limited time only. This means that it’s in your best interests to pay off the balance within this time frame. If you don’t, then you’ll end up paying much more for your car than you would otherwise.

It’s also important to note that by using a credit card to pay for the car, you won’t actually have any cash invested into it. You already know that the value of the car will drop as soon as you drive it away. This will leave you owing more money on the car than it’s worth.

This is especially important if you happen to get in an accident. Insurance companies only pay the car’s actual value. If you have financed 100% of it, then you’ll have to pay a lot of money out of your pocket.

Similar Articles:

• How long will it take to pay off my credit card?
• Can you get personal loans from credit card companies?
• Qualifying Ratio
• How do I consolidate credit card debt?
• What is a credit card?
• National Association of Realtors Credit Card
• West Suburban Bank Credit Card

Continue Reading

While the easiest way to protect one’s credit and one’s credit score is to never allow it to come under pressure, this is not always a realistic approach. Below are five tips on how to improve and maintain one’s credit rating that are easy to follow and have a demonstrated track record of being effective. While it is not necessary to follow all of these tips to see an improvement, the more of them that are adhered to, the more likely that a significant increase can be achieved in a shortened time period.

1. Make Payment Arrangement When You Know You are Going to be Late

In an ideal world, it would never be necessary to be late when making a payment on a credit card, car loan, or other debt. It is often unavoidable, however, due to circumstances beyond one’s control. Circumstances change, disasters happen, and at some point, most individuals find themselves facing a situation where a payment is due and they do not have the funds necessary to make the payment by the deadline.

When this happens, the most common reaction is to feel embarrassed and simply make the payment late, quietly paying the late charges and moving on. While many creditors will not report late payments to the credit rating agencies if the payment is less than thirty days late, so will. From the perspective of the lender, a late payment may mean that the borrower has simply decided to default. By calling the lender, explaining the situation, and setting a time by which a payment can be made, one drastically reduces the chance that the late payment will be reported.

In terms of pure technical fact, once an arrangement is made, the account may be removed from the delinquency list, and an automatic notification may be avoided. The fewer negative reports the rating agencies receive, the higher one’s credit score will become. Be sure to utilize a service like CreditScoreQuick.com to know exactly where you stand with your credit score and payment history.

2. Know Which Bills are of the Greatest Importance

While paying all of one’s bills is an important step to achieving and maintaining a high credit score, some bills are more important than others. Generally, large ticket items are of greatest importance, then high interest debts, and utilities carry the least credit risk. Understanding this means that one can make payments according to the impact each bill will have.

For example, making a car loan or house payment is of top priority. When one needs to purchase one of these items again in the future, the potential lender will take into account your payment history on these items about others. If you have some late credit card payments, but have never been late with a car payment, you are more likely to get another car loan in the future.

Credit card companies are the most likely to make a negative report to the rating agencies, so they are of the next highest importance to pay on time. At the bottom of the list are the utility companies; while they can turn off your power, their late charges tend to be low, and they do not typically report any but seriously delinquent accounts. Adhering to this order can help raise your score.

3. Manage Balances Carefully

In addition to considering the total amount of debt, one’s credit score is heavily impacted by the percentage of available credit that you used up. As a general rule, it is best to keep your outstanding balances below 50% of your available credit to most significantly protect your credit score. Adjusting your balances to follow this rule can have a significant and quick impact on your score.

For example, if you have one credit card that is maxed out at its $500 limit and two others that have only $50 balances with the same limit, you will likely have a lower credit score than another individual with the same net balance but $200 or less per card. To improve your credit score, find a way to do a balance transfer. Opening up a new card or two to accomplish goal may have an immediate positive impact on your score. The rating agencies want to see that you are “managing’ the credit you have available.

4. Do NOT Close Credit Cards

Even if you have obtained a better credit card, do not close your old credit card accounts. Closing a credit card effectively removes that credit card account from your credit history and can negatively affect your credit score.

5. Check Your Credit Report and Dispute Negative Items

The single best way to manage one’s credit score is to be aware of what it is and fight to keep it intact. There are several free services to check your credit score quick that provide an individual with his or her credit quick. One is entitled to challenge any negative items directly with the rating agencies. If the information cannot be 100% verified as 100% accurate within 30 days, it must be removed permanently. Challenging negative items can remove negative reports and improve one’s score, as some items may not be verified in a timely way.

Similar Articles:

• Negative Information
• Credit Card Reporting Agencies
• How To Improve Your Credit Score
• Excellent Credit Score Cards
• Fair Isaac
• When do credit card companies report to credit bureaus?
• What are some store credit cards that are easy to get?

Continue Reading

There are many different unique credit card “extras” that you may not even know about! Major credit card companies have adopted and developed unique incentive programs to attract new cardholders and retain their valuable customers. Certain types of cards, called gold or platinum, will automatically provide valuable savings and protection programs for cardholders viewed as low-risk and high-volume charge clients. Cardholders in standard classifications will be offered many of these programs in exchange for the payment of an annual fee.

Credit Related Extras

Credit fraud has become a multi-billion dollar annual risk to banks that issue credit cards in many countries around the world. Third-party providers have established entire businesses to protect the credit profiles of clients that also carry major credit cards. The banks have identified services that will protect cardholder credit and identification information and yield large profits at the same time.

• Account Insurance – When the cardholder agrees to this type of insurance, the bank will cover the minimum monthly payments on any outstanding balance in the event of a disability. Some programs will actually pay the entire outstanding balance up to a certain amount if the cardholder sustains a permanent disability.
• Identity Theft Protection – This program secures the personal identification information of the individual cardholder from fraudulent use. Credit patterns are analyzed by computer programs, and when activity outside the defined parameters is noticed by the credit system, all current and future transactions are prevented until contact is made with the cardholder.
• Overdraft Protection – When the credit card account and the checking account are with the same bank, the cardholder is able to link the credit card to the checking account to guarantee any check that would have been stopped for insufficient funds. Instead of paying overdraft and returned check fees, the credit card account will cover the amount of any check written until funds are deposited in the checking account.
• Verified by Visa – A password is assigned by the cardholder to prevent anyone else from using the credit card in online transactions.

Purchase Related Extras

Many credit card companies offer additional protection for purchased goods, but many cardholders are unaware that their account offers these extra benefits. Even veteran credit card users let alone those with first time credit cards can be fuzzy on the specific credit card benefits that their card provides. Standard credit card accounts offer protection against damage and loss of most items purchased with the card. Gold and platinum cards will offer replacement insurance for many goods purchased with the credit card.

• Price Protection – Whenever the cardholder finds an identical item to the one purchased within the last thirty days and the price is lower, the credit card company will refund the difference in price. Complete claim forms must be filed online promptly to claim the sale price.
• Extended Warranties – Manufacturers offer a basic warranty on most durable goods, but the customer is usually offered the opportunity to purchase a longer warranty for additional coverage. Many banks have started to issue extended warranties to cover major purchases as an incentive for cardholders to use their cards instead of opening in-store credit accounts.
• Purchase Security – When items purchased with the credit card are lost through fire, theft or other misfortune, the owner will be reimbursed through monetary compensation or replacement of the item. Major appliances and expensive electronics might be covered by virtue of having paid for the items with the credit card that offers this protection.
• Home Improvement Programs – These programs are designed to aid the cardholder discounts, referrals and services during efforts to repair, renovate, or redecorate the home. The benefit of finding reputable craftsmen can be very beneficial to the homeowner who just moved into the area.

Travel Related Extras

Travel programs have existed for almost as long as the automobile has been a part of American life. Major banks have noticed that people are willing to pay annual fees for services that provide a sense of security while traveling. As an incentive to charge travel-related expenses, many of the credit card companies will provide the following extra benefits to cardholders.

• Road-side Assistance – Whether an additional fee is required for this program or not, there is an added security to knowing a tow truck fee is covered if needed. Each road-side assistance program has different features and the credit card documentation will explain what benefits are included in the program.
• Auto-Repair Discounts – Cardholders that have an older vehicle can benefit from this unique program that provides noticeable discounts and reputable automobile repair shops.
• Travel Services – Vacation packages, airfare, and hotel rooms are offered to cardholders of certain credit cards at deep discounts as an incentive to use the credit card for travel expenses. Gold and platinum cards have the added benefit of access to the travel services division of the credit card company. Travel arrangements can be made through these departments at no charge to the cardholder.
• Rental Car Collision Insurance – One of the most popular benefits for most credit card account holders is the automatic insurance that will cover rental cars that are driven by the card holder.
• Common Carrier Accident Insurance – In the event of an airplane crash, the credit card company will pay one million dollars to the beneficiaries in the event that the cardholder dies in the crash. The airline ticket had to have been charged to the credit card account.

Choosing the Credit Card with the Best “Extras”

Credit card accounts are enhanced on an annual basis by major credit card companies. Updated account documentation is sent to each cardholder. In the disclosure statements, the bank will describe enhancements to the specific credit account held by the cardholder. Limits are specifically documented in this literature, and the statements can be changed at any time by the bank. Prior to choosing a credit card, determine which bank offers the best combination of extra benefits to meet your needs. Even if some of these programs require an annual fee to be paid, the cardholder may realize substantial value from the right combination of extra benefits.

Similar Articles:

• American Savings Bank Visa Gold Card
• GE Money Bank PayPal Extras MasterCard Credit Card
• American Legion Platinum Edition Visa from First National Bank of Omaha Review
• Banker’s Bank of Kansas (BBOK) Visa Gold Credit Card
• First Community Credit Union Visa Classic Credit Card
• Associated Bank Visa College Rewards Card
• United Bank of Iowa Credit Card

Continue Reading

Travel expenses are easily handled through the convenience of using a credit card. Along with the convenience come some risks that every traveler should know ahead of time in order to mitigate the risks and enjoy the entire trip. Unexpected expenses can cause hardships, so every traveler must understand how to handle the credit card before, during, and after the trip.

Before You Apply

Instead of using an existing card for the next trip you take. Visit the websites of the major banks and determine which card provides the best value in the following categories. Most banks offer online applications and then issue the new card within 30 days.

• Best Travel Perks – Certain credit cards will offer discounts and air mileage bonuses for visiting certain gas stations, hotels, and restaurants. For automobile travel, the credit card will offer different advantages than for air travel. Look for a credit card program that offers the greatest perks for the region of the country where you will travel.
• Best Card for Destination – International trips are exciting because of the opportunity to learn about new cultures. Handling money conversion and different currencies can be challenging, and many travelers will choose to use a credit card while in the other country. Large banks have branches in other countries, and having their credit card for in the country can make use of the card much less expensive and more convenient.
• Best Card for Your Credit Score – Use a website like CreditScoreQuick.com or many others to get your credit score quick and in time for you to find the very best travel credit card before leaving on your trip.

Before You Travel

Once you have chosen the best credit card for the trip, take specific actions that will reduce risks and assist you if there are problems while you are away from home. Leave all unnecessary credit cards and personal identification cards at home under lock and key. Take a copy of the credit card that will accompany you on the trip and leave it somewhere in the house where a trusted person could find the information under your direction.

1. Understand Daily Limits – Banks will set limits for dollar amounts and number of transactions on all credit accounts to prevent loss through fraudulent use. Prior to departure, investigate all of the limits that are set on the card that will be used during the trip.
2. Contact Bank – Place a telephone call to the bank that has issued the card you will use on the trip. Tell them your plans and ask them if they can adjust any of the limits that are currently on the card. Ask for additional contact information that can assist you during the trip. If you forget to make these changes prior to departure, the foreign branch of the bank may refuse to relax the daily limits.
3. Record Contact Information – In addition to recording the customer service phone number, make certain that you have a toll number in addition to the toll-free number. Toll-free 800 numbers are only reachable from inside the United States, so an in country customer service number would be helpful. Record this information and keep it in a secure place apart from the credit card to prevent loss.

During the Trip

Travelers have a tendency to be distracted when conducting financial transactions while traveling. Thieves count on relaxed attention to take cards and make a quick getaway.

• Keep Track of the Card – When using the card, never let it leave your sight. Other cultures have norms that are different from your own, and you can object to anyone walking away with your credit card. Never leave your credit card as security for anything. Hotel front desks may request to keep your passport, but do not leave your credit card with them.
• Cash Advance Not ATM – Even if you use a bank-owned ATM to acquire local currency, you will pay cash advance fees on your credit card. Unless you have a checking account with ATM privileges, be aware of the cash advance charges that will be assessed.
• Plan for Obstructions – Wherever your travels take you, carry some of the local currency because there are times when a credit card transaction is not possible. Be able to pay for current purchases with the cash in your pocket so you do not have to reveal the fact you have a credit card. Know the location of at least one bank branch in case you need to access your credit account.
• Track All Purchases – Keep a small diary of all transactions, including the date and time. Keep a copy of all receipts so that you can verify the credit card bill when it arrives.

After You Arrive Home

During the unpacking process, gather all of the receipts from every hotel, rental car, restaurant, and every other purchase. Place them in an envelope until the credit card bill arrives.

• Verify the Credit Card Bills – Look at every receipt and the date and time printed on the credit card bill. Refer to the expense diary you kept during the trip to check for duplicate charges and incorrect amounts. You may have to contact the bank to discern the actual currency conversion charges on each transaction.
• Discuss Fees with the Bank – Some fees will look incorrect on the statement and should be discussed with the bank. Most customer service personnel can provide information for the fees that were paid for certain transactions during your trip. Contest the exorbitant fees and ask the bank to remove them.

Choosing a Travel Credit Card

One of the most important aspects to any trip is the ability to control expenses. Credit cards offer great convenience, but most banks are counting on the unaware traveler to pay fees for every use of the credit card. Educated travelers can avoid most of the fees simply by consolidating purchases and using the credit card just a few times during the trip.

Similar Articles:

• What is a credit card foreign transaction fee?
• What happens if you leave the country owing credit card debt?
• International Travel and Credit Card Rules
• What should I do if someone opens a credit card in my name?
• Banker’s Bank of Kansas (BBOK) Visa Gold Credit Card
• What is the best way to prevent credit card theft?
• Where can I get credit cards?

Continue Reading