Credit Card Quick

Does it Really Pay to Discover?

Introduction

Discover is a leading competitor among credit card companies. First issued in 1985 by Sears, then the largest retailer worldwide, as an attempt to add financial services to their plethora of offerings, Discover eventually became its own brand; an independent company.

Unlike Visa and MasterCard, the majority of Discover cards are issued directly to the consumer by Discover Bank. While the brand is not yet issued or accepted worldwide, it continues to grow at a steady rate, being accepted by more and more places. Maybe someday, Discover will become a global brand.

Discover Card Acceptance

While Discover is not accepted in all places, it does have a wide merchant network and ATM locations for cash access all over the world. In the U.S., there are some merchants who do not accept Discover and still others who either accept all type of credit cards or are exclusive to the Discover Card Network.

It just depends on where you are shopping.

This does not mean that a Discover Card should be excluded as a credit card of choice. Discover has a fine reputation and is a leader in revolutionizing the credit card industry. If you’re a person who uses your credit cards often and want to be prepared for whatever a merchant might be accepting, it is a good idea to have a Discover Card on hand.

Cash Back, Rewards and Customer Benefits

Discover was the first to offer a cash back program and even to this day, theirs is more generous than that of other credit card networks. Discover also offers miles cards for frequent fliers, a bevy member of benefits and rewards, no annual fee and an APR as low as 11.99% and up to 20.99% (compared to some who charge as much as 23%). They even offer a 0% introductory APR on balance transfers for the first 12 months for customers with excellent credit and 0% APR on purchases for the first six months (w.a.c.) with a low APR to follow.

Discover also has other products, such as student loans, financial services such as savings and bank CDs, complete fraud protection and excellent service that puts the customer first. They guarantee live help on the phone within 60-seconds, a refreshing prospect in this day and age of on-hold technology.

Discover Card rates are pretty well in-line with that of their competitors. They do offer a larger credit line and your credit score needs to be pretty good to get approved. In the end, however, it does,indeed, pay to Discover.

Sure Fire Ways to Pay Down your Credit Card Debt

Credit Card Debt

You’ve made yourself promises, time and time again, that you would pay down your credit cards and be done with them, once and for all! Now, here you are again, with mountains of credit card debt and virtually no plan to get yourself out of this mess.

Perhaps, instead of simply being angry at yourself for not being able to pay down your credit card debt, you should develop a game plan and stick to it.

The following tips will lead you in the right direction so that you can, once and for all, tackle your credit card debt:

• Thoroughly examine your purchases over the last year – Ask the credit card company to send you a comprehensive list detailing your credit card purchases over the last year. Most credit card companies can easily send you this information if you ask for it. Then, pour over the list carefully and determine if there are certain patterns and trends regarding your spending. The first step to curbing your purchases is to recognize how you are racking up the credit card debt in the first place.
• Cut up the card but don’t cancel the account – If the temptation to spend is just too great, you will need to cut up the card – but don’t cancel it! Canceling a credit card can initiate an interest rate hike by your credit card company (something you certainly don’t need when you’re trying to pay down your debt) and it may also negatively impact your credit score.
• Make a new budget and stick to it – Make yourself a detailed, comprehensive budget and be honest! Do you spend $2 every morning on a cup of coffee? How many times do you go out to eat every week? Is your premium cable plan really necessary? Most people are amazed to find that their day-to-day spending habits are preventing them from paying off their credit card debt. Find extra money in your budget and put it towards your credit card balance – no exceptions.
• Consider consolidating onto one, low-interest credit card – If you have several credit cards, consider consolidating them onto one, low-interest credit card. This can often make the task of paying off credit card debt more manageable.
• Take a credit counseling course to learn new ways to manage your finances – If you are still struggling to make good financial choices, consider taking a credit counseling course through your local community college. These courses can provide you with a wealth of information so that you can make better choices regarding your finances.

The Advantages of Online Bill Paying

Introduction

You know the scenario: you’ve had a super-hectic week. The car broke down, the kids had a school play and baseball practice and you had to work late nearly every night. After your week has wound down and the kids are in bed, you finally make it over to your computer only to find the credit card statement that you were supposed to mail last week!

OK, now panic sets in when you find out that the due date on the credit card is no less than two days away!  What do you do next?

If you call the credit card company and plead your case, it will likely fall on deaf ears. Credit card companies expect you to pay your bill on time every month, and your problems and drama are simply unimportant to them. The only other alternative is to mail the payment in late and get socked with a late charge and possibly an interest rate increase.

But is this really the only option you have?

Luckily, you do have another option; one that enables you to pay your bill almost instantaneously, without the need to worry about postage, late fees or inconveniences.

The Benefits of Online Bill Payment

Most credit card companies and banks provide their customers with online bill payment services. Online bill payment systems provide customers with unsurpassed convenience, as they allow customers to quickly and easily pay their credit card bill online.

Imagine: no more stamps, no more envelopes and no more trips to the post office! In addition, online bill payment transactions are usually posted within a day of making the online payment, which therefore allows customers to pay their bills at the last minute, without fear of late fees.

In addition, many credit card companies offer e-bills, which eliminate the need to receive paper statements every month. E-bills provide a practical reminder to pay your bill each month, and they also provide added convenience when managing your monthly finances.

Finally, online bill payment systems are almost always free to use, and are very easy to set up. These secure websites simply require registration, and the use of a user name and password for accessing the account.