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If you have never applied for a credit card before, there are things you will need to know about them. Credit cards can bring you a convenience which is unrivaled by using cash or checks. Despite this, using your credit card improperly and can lead to a financial hardship which is difficult to overcome. Many credit card companies will now allow you to apply for cards online. This has made it easy for people to compare credit card offers.

The first thing you want to do is look for a credit card which interests you. It should be a card which has a low interest rate, and you will also want to get cards which have no annual fees. Some companies offer an introductory rate of 0% APR for the first 6 months. There are a large number of reputable sites online where you can compare credit card offers side by side. Make sure that the site you use is encrypted.

When you apply for the card, you will need to have some basic information on hand. You will need your social security number, driver’s license information and your address. You may also have to submit your date of birth. Once you submit your application, the credit card company or bank will review it. The amount of time it takes for them to approve or reject your application varies. It could take a few weeks, and the better your credit, the faster the process will take.

When you go online, remember that not all websites may be secure. Look for sites which use an SSL encryption system. You don’t want to submit your personal information to sites you’re not sure about. You can apply for one credit card, or multiple credit cards. It is important to remember that having too many accounts could lower your credit score. There are limits to how many cards you can have, and this is usually based on your income. It is also not necessary to have a bank account in order to be approved.

If you have detailed questions, it is best to contact the customer service department. Shopping for credit cards online can allow you to compare the different offers available from the comfort of your home. You can look for the best interest rates and features. While shopping for credit cards online is fast, it is important to remember that some websites are fraudulent. Applying for credit cards has never been easier.

It is a fact that sometimes, money is tight. Everyone will be in this situation at some stage in their life. They are in urgent need of funds to avoid bouncing checks or missing important payments. If you have a steady source of income, and you need money for only a short period of time, a cash loan, or paycheck advance may seem like an attractive option. But take care, as they are often a lot less attractive than they seem.

Cash loans are for relatively small amounts and are very fast and easy to arrange. They are for very short periods but the rates of interest charged can be very hefty indeed. The whole loan can be arranged in minutes and typically involves presenting your paycheck or other security such as a car title. If the loan is approved you can walk out with a check or a transfer can be made instantly to your account.

However, they are extremely expensive forms of credit. While most credit cards offer a grace period during which you can pay your bill and avoid interest charges, cash loans usually start charging interest immediately. There may also be a fee for arranging the loan and other charges. If you add this up, the interest rate will usually be shocking. Indeed, even the high rates of interest charged by credit card companies for taking out a cash advance may turn out to be significantly cheaper than cash loans.

Luckily, there are alternatives to these cash loans. One such option is an overdraft on your current account. This will be provided by your bank and will have associated fees, but it means that you can spend up to an agreed amount more than you have in your account. While the charges and interest rates vary, they should work out cheaper than cash loans.

Another option is to contact your creditors and try to negotiate an extension or rearrange your repayment schedule. Many lenders will be willing to work with you if you are having trouble keeping up with repayments. For example they may be willing to extend the period of the loan so that your monthly repayments are lower.

Finally, if you do need to go for the cash loan, try to take out the bare minimum necessary to tie you over till your next pay check. Then, when you have the money, pay back the loan immediately. It is tempting to extend the cash loan but in the long run, the cost of this is not worth it.

Ultimately keeping you credit card safe is you responsibility. Indeed, in a worst case scenario, if it can be proven you may have been negligent in keeping your credit card safe, you may find yourself liable for the cost of all transactions made fraudulent on your account should you lose the card. To help you avoid this, here are 5 basic credit card safety tips:

Never have more cards than you need

While it is always advisable that you have more than 1 credit card, in case it gets lost, you should never have more credit cards than you actually need to use. The principal reason why this is the case is because it becomes harder to keep a track of which cards you have and where you have kept them with the more cards you have.

Always keep a photocopy of your cards

How many times have you been asked what you card number is only to find yourself looking for your card to get the number? Now, what happens if you have a card stolen and no credit card statement to-hand? You have a problem! For this reason, it is always best practice to take photocopies of you credit cards to so that always know where to find the number should anything unfortunate happen to your card.

Always keep your receipts separate

Among the most important of the basic credit card safety tips you’ll receive is never to keep your credit cards and credit card purchase receipts in the same place – because likely as not if you have lost your card, or if it is stolen, then you’ll have lost or stolen the receipts as well. Now there is no way for you to vouch which transactions were yours and which where not – or, there is no way to tell which was the last genuine transaction you made.

Moreover, never keep a record of your PIN with your card, this is only asking for trouble!

Never give your account number to someone you don’t know

If you are ever asked to give your credit card details to someone you don’t know, or who as initiated a discussion with you (rather than the other way round) over the phone or via email, you should always refuse. Worst come to the worst, phone the card issuer and ask them if it is okay for you to divulge the information or phone the enquirer back. If the enquirer seems reluctant to accept this, you have to ask yourself why!

Never leave your account details open to public viewing

It may sound rather basic to say you should never let ‘Joe public’ see your credit card account details, but ask yourself this question: “How often have you received a publication subscription form in postcard format?” Now, suppose you complete this with your credit card details filled in. Suddenly half the world has access your credit card number, expiry date and signature!

Although the above may sound like 5 basic credit card safety tips you already know, you would be surprised to see how many people fail to follow one or all of them!