Archive for June, 2011

The Best Credit Card Offers In Years

One year ago, consumers were still finding it difficult to gain approval for credit cards. Today, credit card companies are rolling out the red carpet, offering applicants sky high sign up bonus, ultra long 0% interest rates, and just about everything else under the sun.  Finding a good credit card is no longer an issue, and the deals available right now may be the best credit card offers in history.

Here is what you can expect to find in the most popular credit card categories:

Cash Back Credit Cards:  For a while it looked like cash back credit cards were on the decline. Today, credit card companies are not only offering better cash back rates, they’re also offering $100 sign up bonuses. In most instances, all that needs to be done to obtain these bonuses is spend about $500 within three months of signing up. This is usually not a problem and is as good a reason as any to ditch your old credit card.

Rewards Credit Cards:  General rewards cards are offering even greater sign up bonuses than cash back credit cards. Recently, some companies have floated $500 sign up bonuses. Incentives like these have never been bigger. And, while only two cards have come out with $500 sign up bonuses, close to a dozen airline credit cards offer bonus worth $250 or more. (more…)

Is The Macy’s Credit Card a Smart Choice?

The Macy’s card is a high interest rate credit card with a number of drawbacks. While really heavy Macy’s shoppers who always pay their credit card bills in full may benefit from the various promotions and deals offered to cardholders, most consumers can easily find a better credit card that is more widely accepted with a lower interest rate and more flexible rewards.

The primary perk that catches the attention of shoppers is that this instant approval credit card can score a quick 15% discount on all purchases made the first two days you have the card. This perk can be very valuable if you are buying holiday gifts or a new wardrobe and your bill is five hundred or a thousand dollars. In these cases, the 15% discount is worth seventy-five to one hundred dollars. However, if you’re only spending $100, this discount is a mere fifteen bucks. Compared to the best credit cards on the market today, many of which offer $100 sign up bonuses, this is chump change.

The Macy’s card also comes with a sky high 24.5% variable interest rate. Considering that average credit card rates are in the mid-teens and low interest credit cards charge around 12%, having debt on this card gets really expensive, very quickly. Add in the fact that using a credit card at Macy’s could induce you to spend more than you can afford, it is very likely you could end up paying for clothes years after you’ve warn them.

To make matters worse, the Macy’s card can only be used at Macy’s or at www.macys.com. Thus, unlike a Visa or Mastercard, this card is useful if and only if you are shopping with Macy’s. Again, consumers who spend heavily there and always pay their bills in full every month might be able to benefit, but most others cannot.

Overall, the Macy’s card is far from good. It has sky high interest rates, can only be used at a limited number of retail outlets, and makes managing personal finances more difficult by adding yet another bill that must be paid or that can be overlooked and subject to $35 late fees.

The one positive about the Macy’s card is that it may be easier to obtain if you lack credit or have been denied credit from a major credit card company. The ease of getting approved, coupled with the potential benefits having a positive account can have on credit scores, does make the Macy’s card a good option for consumers who want a no annual fee credit card that can help them improve their credit scores. For all others, stick to basic, low rate rewards credit cards.

 

World MasterCard Benefits and Features

When comparing credit cards, consumers often focus on finding the best credit card offers based on features like introductory rates or rewards. However, many consumers can benefit from the often undersold features that come with Visa Signature or World MasterCard offers.

Credit cards that feature World MasterCard benefits offer benefits and incentives for regular travelers who stay on the go including Trip Cancellation coverage designed to protect you against nonrefundable payments or deposit limitations when something occurs beyond your control. World MasterCard is like a typical MasterCard, but with extra benefits. You may actually have such a card and not even know. (more…)

Citi Platinum Select Credit Card Benefits

If you’re looking for a 0% APR credit cardto use for your everyday purchases or have a high interest balance on another card that you need to pay off – the Citi Platinum Select Card may be the best credit card for you.  The extra benefits the card offers are probably worth more to the average credit card user than what is earned through credit card rewards, including one of the longest 0% interest rate offers on the market. (more…)

Chase Freedom Credit Card Benefits

With so many credit card offers out there, it can be tough to isolate the best credit card offers for your personal spending style. While an offer might seem great at first glance, very often the fine print tells a different story. Plus, what might be a great offer for one person may not fit the needs of another. With that said, one reward credit card that seems to be a top pick for many is the Chase Freedom – $100 Cash Back Bonus credit card. Here is a look all it has to offer.

Benefits of The Chase Freedom Rewards Card

  • No annual fee: The Chase Freedom credit card offers card holders the bonus of no annual fee.  Many rewards cards charge annual fees, so this is a great perk that helps save you money.
  • Current Bonus Offer: Right now when you sign up for a Chase Freedom credit card you can get a bonus of $100.00 when you spend $500.00 or more during the first three months of card ownership. If you know you will have purchases of at least $500, it’s like a rebate of $100!    Cash advances are excluded. (more…)

Find the best credit card offer and Apply Online

Resources: Credit Card Education Center | Credit Card Calculators | Credit Card Blog | Terms and Conditions/Disclosure Policy | Privacy Policy | About Us | Home

Government Resources: CARD Act Consumer Protections | Federal Trade Commission