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Credit Counseling Services: Some Things You Need To Know
If you are one of the millions of Americans who have tons of credit card debt you may be considering using a credit counseling service. In fact, if you're considering filing for bankruptcy, a new law will make it compulsory to work with one of these...
How to handle small business credit card account
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expenses from personal expenses and makes business transactions
easily by phone, via the Internet or in person. The advantage of
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The Ins And Outs Of Bad Credit Home Loans
Owning a home is part of the American dream. It's also the biggest purchase that most of us will ever make, and because of that, almost everyone will be borrowing money to do it. Unfortunately, for many people that means a bad credit home loan, and...
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Bad Credit Doesn't Rule Out Unsecured Credit Cards
Many people believe that because of their bad credit, unsecured credit cards are not available to them. While it may be more difficult, there are options for people with bad credit who want an unsecured credit card to build their credit or have available for use in an emergency. While a secured credit card is the most commonly recommended option for people with bad credit, unsecured credit cards ARE available - even for those with the worst credit.
Bad Credit: Unsecured Credit Cards vs. Secured Credit Cards
One of the easiest ways to get a credit card when you have bad credit is to opt for a secured credit card. With a secured credit card, you deposit money in a bank designated by the credit card company to serve as a 'security deposit' - an assurance that they'll get their money if you default on payments. Depending on the lender, that deposit might be equal to your desired credit limit, or slightly higher or lower. A security deposit of $300, for instance, might get you a $150 line of credit with one company, a $300 line of credit with another, and a $400 one with yet a third. The interest rate is generally competitive, since the company has a guarantee of getting its money if you don't make payments.
An unsecured credit card requires no security deposit. A bad credit unsecured credit card will often have either a high APR (annual percentage rate), high fees, or both. How do the two stack up against each other? Here's a comparison from two actual credit card offers that are sitting on my desk as I write:
Secured Credit Card
Security Deposit: $250
Annual Fee: $35
Setup Fee: $35
APR: 15.40%
Credit
Limit Increases: $100 increments, each require $100 deposit
Bottom Line: It will cost you $370 to maintain a $250 credit limit for the first year, with at least $250 up front, at an APR of 15.40%. You'll have $170 available credit upon receipt of your card. You'll have to put up an additional $100 every time you want to increase your credit limit.
Bad Credit Unsecured Credit Card
Annual Fee: $48
Setup Fee: $29
Participation Fee: $72 (annual, billed at $6 monthly)
Program Fee: $95 (one time fee)
APR: 9.9%
Credit Limit Increases: $25 (per increase of $100, at their discretion)
Bottom line: It will cost you $244 for the first year, all of it billed to your credit card on your first statement, to maintain a $250 credit limit with an APR of 9.9%. You'll have $72 credit available upon receipt of your card.
In the long run, while a bad credit unsecured credit card may cost you more, you won't be tying up your money up front. Either card will help repair your credit as you make payments on time and regularly, but the unsecured card has an APR that's almost 5% lower. You're the only one who can decide which is the better option for you - but it makes sense to weigh all your options before you decide that your only way to have a credit card is with a security deposit.
@ Copyright 2005 - Bill A Smith
About the Author
Bill A Smith is a credit counselor for http://www.americreditservices.com/ Feel free to visit our bad credit help center at http://www.americreditservices.com/bad-credit/
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