What To Do When Your Credit Card Is Lost Or Stolen
September 30, 2009
Unfortunately, wallets and purses do get stolen or lost on a regular basis. Your biggest concern is usually the fact that your credit cards are missing. If this happens to you, do you have a plan of action? Well, you should. It really isn’t as daunting to come up with a credit card action plan as it seems like it should be. All reputable credit card companies have a set policy that helps to protect you against loss or theft. All you need to know is how to get this policy to work for you.
Help! My Credit Card Was Stolen!
Never fear, help is here! The first thing you need to do is report the stolen card to the company as soon as possible. Most companies have a toll-free number or an online service that deals solely with this problem.
Fortunately for you, federal law dictates that you are only liable for the first $50.00 of any fraudulent charges made on a charge card. Still, you are required to report the lost or stolen card even though you’re not going to take a huge hit. Here’s a little extra incentive to make the call fast: If you report the loss or theft before any unauthorized use, you don’t even pay the $50.00.
Many card issuers are waiving the $50 exposure, so check the details on your credit card offer.
After the card is gone, make sure you pay attention to every charge on the bill. Whatever shows up that isn’t yours, notify the card company in writing immediately. Make sure to include in the letter the date in which you notified the company that your card was lost or stolen and send it to the billing errors address. Do not send the letter with your payment. It will get lost in the shuffle.
If your card was a debit card, things may work a bit different. The amount of liability you are responsible for depends directly on how quickly you report it lost or stolen. If it is done before it has been used, again you are not responsible for any fraudulent charges. If you wait, even as little as two business days, you could be held liable for up to $500.00 of any fraudulent charges found on the card.
Once your card is gone and you have reported it, review your bills. Make your bank aware of any questionable deductions from your account that occurred during the time your card was lost or stolen. A phone call is great, but follow it up with a certified letter and include the day you reported your card stolen or lost. This should absolve you of any liability.
The best way to avoid stolen or lost cards is to keep track of them. Know where they are at all times and keep your pin number a secret. Also, don’t use a pin number that is easy to figure out such as your birth date or phone number. Make it a number that only makes sense to you and keep it that way.
Dwayne Garrett is the creator of the # 1 Credit Resource site on the Internet that offers a place where you can search, compare and apply for the best credit cards available. Visit: http://www.TheCreditCardResource.com
Instant Approval Credit Cards Online Approval within Seconds
September 30, 2009
Instant approval credit card offers may appear in your mailbox, pop up on your computer screen or beckon you at retail outlets. If you’ve gone through the application process in the past, then you probably had to wait weeks to receive a decision. With the ease and accessibility of the Internet instant approval credit card applications are as easy as 1-2-3 and can take only a matter of seconds.
Step 1: Check Your Creditworthiness
The best instant approval credit card credit offers are reserved for those with good to excellent credit. If you know your credit is spotless, then there really is no need to worry. But as a side note, it is good practice to check your credit report regularly to make sure there are no errors or that you’ve unknowingly become a victim of identity theft.
If you’ve got borderline credit, poor credit or you’re really not sure where you stand, then it is very important that you obtain your report. Review it for accuracy, fix anything that might be a red flag to lenders and watch out for suspicious-looking accounts. Even if you have tainted credit, you may still qualify for instant approval credit cards. But be forewarned that submitting applications and getting rejected can bring your FICO score down, affecting your application for other offers. So consider your choices carefully.
Step 2: “Submit Now”
Okay, so now you’ve given yourself a thumbs-up. Your credit checks out and you are prepared to put in an instant approval credit cards application for credit. Instant approval credit cards online forms require you to include basic information: your name, address, previous address, phone number, social security number, date of birth and place of employment. Before submitting the application, read the Instant approval credit card terms carefully, ensuring that this card is what you want and that there are no hidden fees or limitations.
Your social security number is required so the bank or credit card company can pull your online credit report, including FICO score. Your credit report and scores are used to determine your creditworthiness and whether or not you will be approved for credit. Since you will be transferring personal information through the Internet, it is imperative that you submit instant approval credit card applications through secure web sites that use SSL 128-bit encryption. This protects your information and makes it impossible for hackers to intercept it.
Step 3: Shop ‘Til You Drop
Once you push the “submit” button, it can take as little as 30 seconds to get an instant response. Notice of your approval (or denial) will show up on your computer screen or will be sent to your email box. Follow the online instructions.
If you’ve been approved, then you can expect to receive your new instant approval credit card in the mail in only a matter of a week or two. In some cases, you may be able to start using your credit immediately. Many credit card issuers will provide you with your credit card number and expiration date for online purchases. However, rarely are you provided with the 3-digit security code that will be located on the back of your card. So for some instant approval credit card purchases you may have to wait.
If you were denied credit, you will be given a reason why you were turned down. Most likely this will relate to something negative in your credit report. Try speaking to a representative of the credit card company or bank to see if there is anything that you can do to get approved. If worse comes to worse, then get your credit cleaned up and reapply for an instant approval credit card.
For more on instant approval credit cards online, Robert Alan recommends that you visit CreditCardAssist.com
What You Can Do To Save Money With Your Student Loans
September 29, 2009
Anyone that has gone through college or has kids in college knows that it is pricey, which leads to many seeking out student loans. Just as with any type of loan, it is vital that you do your research to find the best student loans for your situation. Different loans will get you different amounts of money with various circumstances behind the loan. However, there are a few things you can do with any student loan to save money.
With student loans, the interest rate is adjusted every July 1st making it difficult to know how much you really are going to have to owe when getting out of college. There is, however, a way to lock your interest rates to avoid having them raised after a certain period of time. By consolidating your interest rates you can have them permanently locked for the remainder of your studies.
The next thing to look at to help you save money on your student loans is automatic payment. A lot of lenders will offer you incentives and reduced interest rates when you have your student loan payments automatically deducted from your account. The reason being is that you are guaranteeing the lender that you will be paying the loan on time and in full amount by giving them access to your account. This also makes it more convenient for you allowing you to avoid missing a payment.
As noted above, it is vital that you research to find the loan that best fits your circumstances. There are several different types of loans with many different companies as well. Some may offer an option that is more intriguing than others, so you must do your research. By getting many bids and finding out what different companies offer, you will be able to find a student loan that best fits your current financial status.
The most obvious way to save money with your loan is to be on time. The minute you are late with your payment the interest rates will go up and your credit will go down. If you do feel the pressure of making the payments on time, make sure to talk to the lender before getting too far behind to see if you can work out an arrangement of some sort.
When going through the process of finding a student loan you may feel pressure and find that it is difficult to make a decision. The important thing is that you research and talk to many different companies to find the best fit. By doing so you should be able to find a student loan that best fits your financial situation at the time being.
Craig Thornburrow is an Author and Business Owner. You can get more free advice on student loans at http://www.supplyloans.com
Real Estate Investments And Uncle Sam
September 29, 2009
Deductions in the property taxes that are paid on an individuals personal primary house and mortgage interest are one of the best tax breaks that have been provided by the US Tax Code. More than 66% of Americans are taking advantage of the benefits that this tax break offers. If you are buying a house for the first time with the purpose of occupying it, it can mean thousands of dollars in tax savings. For instance, residents of a particular community earn more than 100,000 dollars per year.
Now assume that a homebuyer will purchase a typical house in that area within the community at a purchase price of 600,000 dollars and finance the purchase with a conventional 30 years fixed rate loan, with an interest rate of 6.25%. The new owner of the house comes into the 25% tax bracket. He or she will have a tax deduction on an annual basis on the mortgage interest of around 30,000 dollars per year and annual property tax deduction of 7,500 dollars! In this way, the new owner can save approximately 9,375 dollars in a year.
Besides the annual tax breaks there is another additional tax break that is being offered to homeowners when they decide to sell the house. If you want to, you can avoid the taxes on the profit that you will be making but this will depend a lot on your circumstances.
Few years back in order to avoid the tax payment on the sale of a house, the homeowners used the sale proceeds for buying another house. Some changes were brought in to the law in 1997 so that approximately 250,000 dollars in sales profit or gain is made free from taxes, if the homeowner owned the property for at least two years and stayed in it for more than 2 years before the house is sold. If you have not lived in your property for 2 to 5 years even though you own the house, you do not qualify for this benefit. If you sell your house before you meet the ownership and requirements of residence, you owe the government tax on any profit that you will be making.
If the sale takes place due to some changes in the health of the owner, employment or otherwise, the IRS can provide some tax relief and in this situation the tax-free gain amount would be prorated. There was a ruling by the IRS in 2002 by which more dollars can be added into the pocket of the homeowners when they sell before they qualify for the full tax break. Some unforeseen circumstances have also been defined by the Treasury under which the homeowners can get some relief from taxes. These circumstances include divorce, death, legal separations, and loss of job or any change in employment. You should seek good advice on tax matters from any tax professional before buying because this will make a lot of difference in decision related to the kind of property you should, invest in.
Real Estate Investments are flying in our market like hot cakes….Why?, because we have the formula for YOUR Real Estate Investing Success. Unless you don’t want a great deal, then do not visit http://www.realnetusa.com.
How to Find the Best Commercial Real Estate
September 28, 2009
For most people, jumping into the commercial real estate market is done with sights set on millionaire land owners who have made their fortune buying, renovating and selling properties over and over and over. One of the keys to this success is finding the right commercial real estate properties to turn over. Do you go with a high-priced property and just hang onto it for a few years, letting it gain in value and then sell it or do you take a more out of the way property, fix it up and make it valuable then sell it? These are all options available out there for a potential buyer, but which one is right for you?
The best deals out there will give the biggest return on your investment. It is not unrealistic to look for deals that could give you upwards of two to four times the profit of what you invested. The amount of paperwork and red tape you have to go through is essentially the same weather it is a big deal or a small one, so try to maximize each deal and make it as profitable as possible.
The methods you use to find the best deals are important. You can rely on your own two eyes and simply go scout possible real estate deals that could turn a huge profit or you could enlist the help of a professional. There are real estate brokers that specialize in commercial properties but since they are hired by the people looking to sell, you might not get a straight answer on a particular property since all they want to do is sell it. The best thing to do if you are going to seek the advice of a commercial broker is to make a firm list of qualities you are looking for and dont deviate from them. The broker may try to sell you something you are not interested in so be careful. One advantage in using a broker is getting listings that have not officially gone on the market yet. This can help you get a head start in placing a big for a unit since no one else will know about it yet. Another good tip is to utilize the Internet. There are many sites out there dealing with property values and commercial sites that are for sale and many sites have excellent search criteria that can help you find what you are looking for quickly and easily in a non-confrontational environment.
One final place that is a great source of commercial as well as residential properties is auction houses. You may have to register with these houses and pay a small fee, but it is a sound investment since the auction house will be offering properties as a significantly smaller cost to you than if you were to buy it normally. In addition, these auction houses tend to send out notifications of properties that are about to go on the trading block. This can give you the time you need to research the deal, see if it falls within your criteria and then you can decide if you are going to bid on it or not.
Overall, there are many different options out there available for those looking to find sound commercial properties to invest in. If you do the proper research, you can find the one that is right for you.
We will buy your house As Is Now in any condition including Ugly Homes. If you need to Sell Your Home Fast Orlando, Jacksonville, Atlanta, Charlotte, Cincinnati, For Lauderdale, Houston, Tampa and Fort Myers. Call 1-800-AS-IS-NOW (800-274-7669)
Horrible Hump Day Can Be Better With A Cash Advance
September 28, 2009
If you are one of the millions of average people who have one of those jobs that allow you to get by, but barely, then no one has to tell you what Hump day is. It is Wednesday of course, the middle of the work week with at least a couple of more days to go until payday. We are usually glad to see Wednesday come around because it means we are half way to the weekend, but that is not always a good thing if you are also out of money about this time.
It has always been a struggle for those of us who have to live on a budget that is so tight that sometimes there is just absolutely no where that you can squeeze out another $50 or $100 bucks to get us through the rest of the week. It can be a bad situation if you need gas just to get back and forth to work so you can get paid on Friday.
People that have better paying jobs may not understand how easy it is to find your self in this situation. Sometimes no matter how hard you try there is just not enough money to go around for the basic necessities of life. If you have no credit and no savings of any kind, there is just no a lot you can do.
Something that is helping many people to make it through these days is payday loans. These businesses are popping up everywhere and are the answer to prayers for some. These businesses offer short term loans for a decent fee that you can get with no credit check. The only requirements at most of these places are your most recent checking account statements and proof that you have a job.
These types of loans will allow you to obtain a small loan, usually up to a few hundred dollars, that can get you through until you get paid again. If you borrow $200 hundred dollars, the fee will normally be about $25 or $30 dollars for two weeks. If you can not repay the loan when it is due, the majority of the businesses will let you pay the fee and set the loan up again.
Now, this might seem like a good idea at the time, and if you are in a real bind, it can be helpful. Just remember that when you take out a payday loan you should never borrow more than you need because it will have to be paid back sooner or later.
Dror Klar is a writer in the field of finances and is currently assisting those in need of cash advances and payday loans, particularly in the state of California.
Airline Credit Card Who Needs Them
September 28, 2009
An airline credit card is one which rewards purchases with air travel miles or points which can be redeemed for them. Airline credit cards ideally fit a certain user profile. Typically users of airline cards are financially well off and travel frequently. But who else needs them?
Ideal Airline Credit Card User Checklist
Before deciding to go for an airline credit card you should check your credit history. If it is perfect or almost perfect, you can check off one of the requirements of the ideal airline credit card user checklist. If you pay your credit card debt on time, you fulfill the second requirement of the checklist. It is also important that your debts on other credit cards and other bills are paid one time. You are a big spender, and spend it through your airline card. Most importantly, the travel miles are useful or important to you.
Reasons for the Airline Card Checklist
Airline cards usually charge higher interest than ordinary cards. If you are not timely in your credit payments, you incur a lot of interest. Also if you do not have excellent credit ratings, you fall into a higher interest bracket and do not qualify for the lower APR credit cards. This makes airline cards very expensive to own. It is also important to pay other debts regularly, since the rules link you credit ratings across debts. What this means is, if you have a bad credit rating in relation to another credit card you own, it affects your credit rating in the airline credit card and you may have to pay a higher rate of interest.
If you are not a big spender and do not spend much through your airline card you will not earn enough miles to travel by air for a long time. If travel isn’t interesting to you or is not incidental to your line of work, you may be better off looking for a low APR credit card.
If you do purchase an airline credit card, make the most of it, by using it whenever you shop. Also use your airline miles at the first chance you get. It is better to use your airline miles for long flights to make the most of them. Airline cards are used best when they are redeemed for airline miles. It is generally not worth it to redeem your airline card on other products.
Airline cards vary greatly in terms of their bundle of offerings. There are different APR’s and differing credit requirements (but you must have good credit). Also some airline credit cards offer bonus air miles. Different annual fees are charged. Bank sponsored airline cards allow you to redeem your air miles through a number of airlines. With airline sponsored cards you have to patronize the issuing airline. An informed purchase of your airline credit card can lead to smart savings for some, and free holidays for others. Remember to combine the informed purchase with smart usage of your airline card. If you can choose and use your airline credit card wisely, the only negative effect you can expect is jet lag.
For more information on airline credit card offers, Robert Alan recommends that you visit CreditCardAssist.com
Is Student Loan Consolidation Good
September 27, 2009
Consolidating your student loan(s) is one of the smartest things that you can do. You should consider a student consolidation loan if you have several federal student loans or even just one large one.
Student consolidation loans will have fixed interest rates which are similar to those of the loans that are being consolidated. The amount that you can save through consolidation can be up to 58%.
Federal Stafford loans, Federal Direct Loans, Federal Perkins Loans as well as many others can be consolidated. Most of the time, they already have low rates.
Advantages
- You will have a single loan payment which is often lower than what you currently pay.
- It is easy to set up.
- It will help lower your debt burden.
- You can secure the lowest interest rate at the time.
- It can help you qualify for new or renewed deferments.
What To Consider
When you consolidate, make sure that the interest rate that you are offered is lower than your current rate. You want to pay off your student debt easier and maybe quicker too.
While consolidation can simplify the loan repayment process and lower your monthly payment, in the long run it usually increases the total amount that you will have to pay.
Student loan consolidation provides lower monthly payments by allowing you to spread the loan over 30 years in some cases. You are paying more payments, so be sure to compare the total cost of repaying your unconsolidated loans with the cost of repaying them through the consolidation loan.
The process of consolidating is very flexible. Consolidation is available from before you graduate down through years of repayment.
First, you need to gather information about your current loan. You need to know the balances and the interest rates, the names and addresses of companies and the names and addresses of personal references. The National Student Loan Data System can help provide you with the information that you need since it holds the most complete and accurate information for federal loans.
Paying Them Back
You will have 2 options to pay these loans back.
1. Pay a standard amount each month. This will include principle and interest. This is the lowest cost of interest paid way to go.
2. Or a graduated repayment. Here you start with lower payments that are only interest, but then they will keep increasing.
Usually repayment of your consolidation loans will begin in 60 days and will take from 10 to 30 years to fully pay back.
There are some questions that you should ask the lender before going forward.
- is there a rate reduction, for example for making your payments online or on time?
- does the loan meet your specific needs?
- is that the best interest rate available?
To get a student loan consolidation, you can still be enrolled in school or graduated. Either way, you’ll find many lending options that will fit your needs.
Visit Consolidate loan for more. Ron King is a researcher, writer, and web developer, visit Articles for authors. Copyright 2006 Ron King.
Bad Credit Financing For You
September 27, 2009
Are you trying to determine what bad credit finance options that are available to you? You need a new automobile, but you are unsure of who will finance it due to your bad credit?
There is no need to be too concerned about financing if you have bad credit. There are several different financing methods that are available to most people, regardless of their credit history. The interest rates may be higher or they may require a larger down payment, but they may be just what you need to get financing for your purchase.
Financing a Car
If you need a new or used automobile, but you have bad credit, then your best source for financing will most likely be a finance company rather than a bank.
There are some companies that offer people with bad credit financing. The financing usually is dependent upon the vehicle chosen, where you buy the vehicle, and what insurance and driving records that you hold.
There are other things that the finance company will consider as well, including your income, cosignors that you can get for the loan, and any other references that you may be able to provide.
Financing a Home
Real estate financing is a little trickier to find if you have bad credit, but it is in some ways easier to finance due to the collateral being the home.
Some of the big considerations that are looked at when trying to get a mortgage loan with bad credit include income, home or real estate insurance that you have to purchase, how much your down payment is, and any references from past landlords that you may have.
You can find bad credit mortgage financing online, at some real estate companies, and at finance companies. You only have to be willing to look for them.
Other Kinds of Financing
If you need to find financing for other items, like electronics or collectible items, then you may find that this is more difficult.
The reason why it is more difficult to find financing for these smaller items is that they are much harder to repossess and to find buyers for them after they have been repossessed. These reasons make lenders more wary of financing people with bad credit. You may need to consider other ways to get the money to purchase these kinds of times if they are needed.
It may be possible to find a lender that will finance these items, even if you have bad credit. If you are rejected, however, you should ask them if they have some recommendations of where you might get financing.
Jay Moncliff is the founder of http://mortgageloans.bankingstudio.info/; a website specialized in finance home, resources, and articles. For more information on car finance, visit finance home.
Real Estate Investing Avoid Buying a Unique Home in Preforeclosure Even From a Nice Family
September 26, 2009
Early in my career as a real estate investor, I got a call from a really nice family about to lose their home to foreclosure. Located in the suburbs, the house looked pretty much like every other house in the middle-income neighborhood on the outside. On the inside, though, the house was very unusual.
You see, the husband and wife were theater majors in college and they remodeled the lower level of their home to look like the set of a movie. The home gym looked like the set of Million Dollar Baby. The playroom looked like the set of Home Alone. And the home theater (with seating for six and a big screen TV) was painted entirely black, floor, walls, and ceiling.
The parents home-schooled all four children, so the lower level also housed a study room with computers and desks. The two-car garage was fully carpeted because the youngest children liked to play there during the day.
The house was a full time home, school, gym and theater for this family. The parents thought they would live there forever - or at least until the last of their children moved away. But sadly, they missed a couple of mortgage payments and found it impossible to catch up. They called me in hopes of selling their house fast so they could save their credit.
When I did my due diligence, I learned that homes in this neighborhood did not stay on the market long. Close to the public schools, it was a quiet neighborhood with lots of green space. Add to that: the neighborhood homeowners association often held potluck dinners and street parties and were the envy of the surrounding community.
What could be better? I thought. A great one-of-a-kind house in a great neighborhood at a great price.
I bought the house with about 20% equity, no money out of my pocket, and cash back at closing. I immediately put the house on the market. At the time I thought the uniqueness of the property would be a great selling point. I thought it would stand out as “one of a kind” and families would fight to live there.
Boy, was I wrong.
Most people who looked at the house thought the unique features of the lower level were just plain weird.
I marketed the house specifically to families with children who I thought would love the spacious gym, the play room, the home theater, and the study rooms as much as the family who had put so much of their personal stamp on them. But no one else seemed to see the beauty of it.
Only the strangeness of it.
The house sat on the market five months without a decent offer. I watched my profit dwindle drastically over six months while paying holding costs, utilities, and lawn care.
Then I made a hard decision. I hired a remodeler to transform the lower level into an ordinary looking basement with smooth white walls, dropped ceilings and beige carpet. I watched even more of my profit evaporate.
But I quickly found a buyer.
Lesson to be learned: Three bedroom, two bath, bread-and-butter houses are the best investment properties for a reason. Everyone can imagine living in an ordinary house. Not everyone can see themselves living in a really unique one.
