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Well, this might not qualify for “sweet little nothings”, but the truth is that almost all of us feel most comfortable in paying out the lowest possible credit card payment every month rather than making an endeavor to settle credit card debt all at once. It is also not untrue that receiving calls from the debt settlement department is a suffocating experience and when that happens, we have this sudden urge to have access to unlimited amounts of cash to throw in the face of the collection officer and give him an earful for disturbing or otherwise peaceful lives!
Well, in reality such stuff does not happen, as if we had access to unlimited amounts of cash we most likely wouldn’t be in debt in the first place. So if you are in debt and the threat of collection is hanging over you the following tips are going to help you make a credit settlement effectively and hopefully without much hassle:

1. Talk to people who really matter – Most of the times it is either the tele-callers or the recovery agents that try to negotiate credit settlement with us and almost always the propositions that we get sound unreasonable to us. These people are literally willing to leave no stone unturned to pull us into an unprofitable proposition and if you have the habit of making the lowest credit card payment every time you get the credit card bill, the chances are you would not even think of raising your voice in the apprehension of getting ridiculed by them.
   The truth is, you should stop wasting time talking to these people as they usually cannot decide stuff for themselves – is actually a better idea to try to talk to some supervisor and if possible even to people higher up in the chain of command and urge them to help you out. You would be quite amazed to see that in most of the cases, these people are more than willing to help and if you can clearly make them understand that you have at least been making the minimum credit card payment every month and are actually serious about getting out of credit, chances are you will be offered a more manageable deal.
2. You should talk about your problems – In most of the cases, the recovery agents and credit collection officers would make you listen to hour long stories about how they almost stopped the earth from spinning in a bid to get you a 1% discount on your credit – but you really shouldn’t be very patient and listen to them because you will already know for sure that the discounts offered are not going to do you any good.
   The answer here is to actually talk about your own problems and let them know the very reason that has been preventing you from clearing your credit. Stick to your point and make sure it gets across properly to people sitting in the higher ranks to get the best deal possible.
3. All communications should be documented – If you have been in credit for quite some time, chances are different people have dealt with your account at different times. In reality, most financial institutions have very flexible rules as far as credit settlement is concerned and different people dealing with your account will give you their own versions of such rules to make them look lucrative to you.
   Always make it a point that all communications from the financial institution are documented so you can refer to them before taking any decisions.

Robb Biggs is a financial expert working in the debt recovery team at Payday Loans UK. His focus is on helping customers with debt problems and often writes for finance publications and websites giving practical advice on how best to manage a debt problem.

Are you looking for ways in which you can consolidate your credit cards? There are different methods to go about getting all of your credit card debts rolled into one monthly payment and each way works a little differently and is right for some people. You’ll want to know your complete financial situation and the various ways in which you can consolidate credit cards before you choose the method that is most appropriate for you. Once you choose a method, you’ll need to stick with it in order to be successful. Some may argue that these methods don’t work, but that’s most likely because the people gave up before they saw success. It’s the same idea as losing weight; as long as you faithfully cut back on your calories and exercise more, you’ll lose weight no matter which diet or exercise routine you do.

One of the easiest, yet more risky, ways to consolidate debt it to use balance transfer credit cards. Many credit card companies offer anywhere from three to eighteen months of 0% interest on balance transfers, so you could take out a card with a 12 month 0% interest rate on balance transfers, move your old debt to the new card. Instead of paying hundreds in interest, all of your payments would go directly to the balance and you’d pay it off much sooner. The risky part of this method comes into play if you can’t get the debt paid off before your interest free grace period ends. Also, you may have more debt than credit limit, in which case you’d have to do this in phases, using a different card each time. It takes some planning, but the rewards are great!

Another way to consolidate debt it to take out a personal loan or, if you are a homeowner, take out a line of credit on your home. These ways carry some risk if you aren’t sure you’ll be able to make the payments because your car, home or other valuable belongings are being held on the line and would be taken from you if you default on your loan. Additionally, if your credit score isn’t good, you’ll pay a higher interest rate.

A third option is to choose credit counseling services which offer guidance by trained professionals. They’ll walk you through the process and help you with getting lower pay offs or interest rates from collectors, manage all of the payments. You simply need to work with them to give them all of your credit card debt information and then send them a monthly payment. They will do the rest of the work for you. To get on with the process of consolidating your cards, head over to consolidatecreditcardebt.net now and start saving hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars in interest. Don’t put it off until tomorrow or next week, do it now so that you can be living a debt free life even sooner than you ever dreamed possible!

In today’s world, people cannot do without using credit cards. The payment for almost every item that we buy and every service that we use can be made using credit cards. People often use their card to purchase thing which are out of their budget, thinking that they will pay off the card balance in due course. However, such kinds of plans often do not materialize as people often face tough financial situations. In the current economic scenario, many people do not earn enough money to sustain their livings and make credit card payments at the same time. Thus, their debt increases and they often look for effective ways through which they can obtain credit card debt relief.

Getting relief from credit card debt is certainly not an easy task and people need to try their best and consolidate their credit card bills, and pay them off as soon as possible. The best thing to do is to opt for credit card bill consolidation loans which are offered by different financial institutions (lenders). These loans can assist people in effectively clearing their credit card debt in a short span of time. Such loans are offered by most financial institutions and the applicants do not need to own a house or provide any sort of collateral to get these loans.

These loans can be unsecured against the payment of a high rate of interest and no collateral needs to be produced. Some people might think as to why they should opt for a loan with high interest rate for paying off their credit card debt. The reason is that, the interest rate charged for debt consolidation loans (even unsecured loans) is way lower than the interest rates charged on the credit cards. Hence, people can avail of these loans and pay off their credit card dues.

Reaching a settlement agreement is another way through which people can get relief from their credit card debts. There are many professional agencies or companies which can be hired to act as a 3rd party mediator between the borrowers and the banks. These companies will not only help in the settlement process but they can also help the borrowers in applying for loans for debt consolidation. They charge a nominal amount of fee for their services and can assist the borrowers in many ways, in order to help them in getting relief from debt.

In order to achieve credit card debt relief, people will need to make a conscious effort and try their best to pay off the credit card dues in time. They can benefit a lot from hiring the services of these professional agencies which have a lot of experience in this field, have dealt with many such cases, and are aware of all the legal ways through which people can consolidate their debt, make regular payments and improve their credit history. Before choosing any such agency, it is important to do a thorough check about their credibility to make sure that they are genuine.

Job loss:
In today’s economy paying bills and staying afloat may prove to be more difficult than ever before. If you find yourself without a job one day owning a credit card can become your only lifeline until you get back on track. The ability to manage your finances with the help of credits cards can be very useful if done wisely.

Becoming educated about the process is highly recommended and widely practiced by credit card companies and consumers alike. Facing financial adversity has become popular; fortunately there are ways to combat the issue with the assistance of credit card companies.

Consumer and creditor relationship:
Monitoring the expenses is one of the most crucial aspects of financial management. Every credit card comes with its own terms which have to be met in order to keep the interest rate low, monthly payments affordable and credit score as high as possible. Meeting these requirements will assure a positive experience with the credit issuer and will keep additional expenses to a minimum.

Staying in close contact with the creditor will also provide full understanding of the rules and regulations and imperative information on how to effectively manage your finances while taking advantage of credit privileges during financial hardship.

Understanding the responsibility of credit card management:
Remaining financially responsible while facing economic challenges may be demanding but it is fully approachable. It will also help you build a strong credit history and prevent the accumulation of additional expenses. Prioritize your bills, limit your spending habits and accommodate to the current situation until your financial crisis are eliminated and addressed permanently.

Stay within your budget and credit cards can significantly help you to achieve that goal without leading you into more complicated predicament. When the source of income becomes available again you will not be faced with the credit card tab you cannot afford.

FICO score:

Owning several credit cards may be tempting to overextend yourself financially. You may want to consider applying and using just one instead of many as this will ensure keeping further expenses under control. Become familiar with the requirements of the company, annual fees, the ability to increase the credit limit if necessary and the accessibility of the customer service.

Then choose the option that best fits your needs and will guide you through any difficult time you might be facing. Closely supervise your credit limit and pay at least the minimum amount on time as to avoid the interest rate increase and keep the FICO score at the highest level possible as it will provide opportunities for more financial options.

Applying for the credit card:

It is easy to apply for a credit card.  You can send in an application or call a service center.

If you feel more at ease placing a request online most companies make it accessible around the clock and you will be able to receive the answer within a very short period of time.

When you receive the card read the instructions carefully, activate it according to the directions and contact the company directly to confirm their promotions and discounts.

If you suddenly lose your job and have credit cards do not hesitate to contact a credit company directly. Speaking to a representative may prove to meet and exceed your expectations and you might be able to battle your current difficulties with simplicity and comfort. . Most corporations are sympathetic to the current trend of job loss and are willing to incorporate their knowledge and experience to help financially restricted consumers.

Andrew Bennett is a financial consultant and writer who suggests obtaining a poor credit credit card with no fee to help save money and rebuild your blemished credit.

The popularity of retail cards has surely risen over recent years, and not without any good reason. They offer customers with numerous advantages and money-saving options. Store cards are usually considered to be a good way to build your credit history. Since it has low merchant risk, they are much easier to obtain if you do not have a credit history, or if you do not have a particularly good one. Often there are a number of special deals that do the rounds, especially during holiday seasons. Deals such as no-interest and shopping passes can really help in cutting back those costs and yet allowing you to shop freely for gifts for your family and friends!

The advent and rise of store cards has benefited a number of consumers. However, though the benefits sound attractive, there are often hidden cons that customers should be aware of. These cards usually have a much higher interest rate; hence, if you are not careful about paying off your balance on time, this could really cost you. In addition, retailers have the right to remove some privileges or even charge extra penalty fees if you do not meet the terms of the retail card. Hence, your gains can actually turn into huge losses if you are not vigilant about these issues of a retail card.

If you travel abroad regularly, it is far convenient to use credit cards or other forms of plastic for your travel expenses. Carrying cash always has come with the danger of it being stolen or lost, and traveler checks usually incur transaction costs. This is usually the case, however, travelers should be aware of the fact that banks have started targeting these foreign travelers for additional fees and surcharges to make up for the new card rules that are squeezing the banks profit margins. Hence, travelers should keep an eye on such foreign transaction fees before traveling, and hence, choose the best method to meet their travel expenses.

But, let us take a look at card history too

The earliest use of the term ‘Card’ can be found in Edward Bellamy’s utopian novel ‘Looking Backward’ way back in 1887. This forward thinking novelist mentions this term eleven times in his book. In this novel, Bellamy proposes an economic system devoid of paper or any other form of physical money. Although the working of Bellamy’s card is very different from the current form, the concept of maintaining a credit with a central authority and using this credit to buy goods was first introduced by him. And for this, Bellamy takes all the credit for coining the term card.

Bellamy’s Credit card system

In 1887, Utopian novelist Edward Bellamy proposed an economic system that did away with paper money as we know it. In this system, Bellamy proposed that at the beginning of the financial year each citizen be allocated his share of the national annual product. In today’s world, this would mean allocating the per capita income or perhaps a portion of the GDP. This amount would be credited to the person’s card, which the person would use to buy goods as and when required. All services would be offered towards the state or country and would not be charged to individuals. This system promoted equality of all individuals and vocations, while today’s cards divide individuals based on credit limits that are fixed as per the individual’s net worth.