Best Credit Card Offers

You’ve been turned down for a loan or offered a ridiculously high interest rate. You can’t get a new credit card. You’ve got bad credit.
What is ‘bad’ and how can you fix it?

The primary indicator of poor credit worthiness is a low FICO score, around 650 or lower. Below 500 is off the chart. FICO is a number calculated by the three major credit reporting agencies that takes into account total outstanding debt, number and length of late payments, and other factors.

The first steps to correcting the situation are usually highly personal. You may have trouble with self-discipline or find it difficult to keep financial commitments. Those factors may require a counselor or a credit repair specialist.
But other, more practical, steps are in your direct control.

Start by getting a copy of your credit report from all three major agencies: Experian, Trans Union, and Equifax. This can be had yearly for free. Review the documents thoroughly, with the help of a financial expert, if necessary.

No official statistics exist but estimates of credit report errors range from 8%-40%. Some are minor, such as incorrect age, address, and so forth. Some are not, and include accounts shown as open that were long closed, and even debts that were acquired by another person. So make sure that everything on your reports is accurate and up-to-date. But, be honest with yourself. The agencies make concerted efforts to check when pressed.

Make a detailed, realistic budget that includes all monthly expenses and a buffer for unexpected amounts. Then, call your creditors. If you encounter an unsympathetic person, remain polite. Ask for a supervisor, if necessary. Tell them frankly what you can pay and ask for a reduction of the debt. They may not grant your request immediately, but after a few months of steady repayment and a follow-up call they may reconsider. Keep notes of the agreement and keep your word.

Cut up and return as many of your old cards as you sincerely do without. Keep paying on the outstanding balances until the account is zeroed out, or you can convince the creditor to forgive the remaining debt.

Pay off what you can, as you can. Pay off any mortgage loans first. Then proceed to small amount, high APR debt. Pay off those accounts completely. Then move on to larger balances. Do your best to always pay something monthly on every account, though.

When applying for a new card, you have some options. A secured card, for example, is obtainable no matter what your present credit situation. It’s usable just like a regular credit card, but the credit limit is determined by how much actual cash you pay into the account. Remember, this card is for real emergencies only.

Other, non-general purchase, credit cards may be easier to get while you are increasing your credit worthiness. Department store or gasoline cards, used responsibly, are one way to get started improving someone’s view of your level of risk.

Fixing credit worthiness is less like repairing and more like mending. A repair replaces a broken part and you’re on your way. Mending takes time and patience, whether what’s broken is an arm, a sweater, or your credit reputation. Stick with it.

Credit cards are used as forms of payments now more than ever. There are also more online businesses and most of these businesses accept credit card payments. Therefore, protecting your online business from credit card fraud is vital. For businesses that are offline, the challenges of accepting credit cards as payment can be the same. Fraud is such an ugly word and we want to avoid it at all costs. Thankfully, there are steps you can take, whether your business is online or offline, that will help to eliminate your risk of being a victim.

Steps For Online Business Owners

Although most consumers think being a victim of credit card fraud, particularly when purchasing a product online, it is actually much more likely that the merchant will be the victim rather than the consumer. Here are some tips to help you avoid this.

First, always verify that the address the consumer has given you is correct. Your merchant account probably offers an Address Verification System that will verify that the address you have been given matches the billing address of the cardholder.

If you’re shipping a product to a consumer, make sure the shipping address matches the billing address. If it does not, you probably should investigate the transaction.

Be leery of unusual orders. Since a thief would have no idea of the consumers purchasing history with you, if something gets ordered that is completely out of the ordinary check it out. Phone the customer if you can. Even if it’s legitimate, they should be grateful that you called.

Take as much information from the buyer as you can when they are filling out the order form. In addition to their name, address, and telephone number, ask for the name of the bank that the card is issued from as well as the 3 or 4 security digits that all cards have now.

State on your web site that you have anti fraud devices in place and operating at all times. This will give the thief pause before entering your web page.

Steps For Offline Business Owners

Since you are actually going to see the person that is trying to use the credit card, your chances of being a victim of fraud are diminished, but problems can still happen. Here are some tips to help protect you and your business from credit card fraud.

Never take a credit card without getting identification. Check the name and signature to see if they match. This will not offend most customers who are on the up and up. Most will even be grateful.

Check the credit card for forgery by knowing what characteristics are found on legitimate cards. Many cards now contain a hologram that changes color in the light. Check the signature panel to make sure the signature cannot be erased. If it can, it’s fake. Look for the magnetic strip and make sure it is intact.

You should also use the Address Verification Service. This will help you as well.