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ACH or Credit Cards
Most businesses accept credit cards and consider the process
fees a cost of doing business. However by implementing an ACH
payment system you can realize dramatic savings and increase
sales.
ACH refers to the Automated Clearing House and...
Bad Credit? Get A Payday Cash Advance Loan With No Credit Check
Do you have bad credit history? Even with a recent bankruptcy or
foreclosure, if you are in need of some emergency cash, you may
want to consider getting a payday loan. The benefits are you get
the cash fast and it is an easy process, compared to...
Cash Back vs. Rewards Credit Cards
Ah, the sweet rewards of using credit! Not only do you get immediate gratification with the buy now-pay later plastic, but now, many credit cards offer rewards and incentives for using their card to make purchases. You can get cash back, or gift...
Credit Cards Bring Festive Cheer
Christmas is almost upon us once again and the worry of meeting
the demands that it has on our finances comes to the fore. Many
will get themselves into a level of debt that they cannot
sustain and if it's paid for with your current credit card...
Do you want to get a new credit card at a great rate?
1)Do your homework. Applying for and getting approved for a credit card is nothing more than legwork. Credit card contracts can sometimes contain onerous terms that might make you sorry that you signed up for the new card that you did. Read the fine...
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Credit Cards – What is the “Universal Default Clause”?
Most people who carry major credit cards are well aware that the interest rates associated with them tend to be higher than for other types of lending, such as home or auto loans. Anyone who has paid their credit card bill late more than once or twice is also aware that doing so may cause the interest rate on their card to go up – sometimes by quite a lot. Many credit cards carry interest rates of as much as 20% or 25% annually, and customers who want to avoid interest rates in that range make an effort to pay their bills on time.
What many people do not realize, however, is that up to one third of all credit card issuers now include what is known as a “universal default clause” in their bills. This information, usually disclosed in the tiny print on the bill that few people bother to read, indicates that the interest rate on your credit card may be increased if you pay bills late to other lenders, even if you pay your credit card bill on time.
This means that paying any bill late that could show up on your credit report, such as an auto payment or a utility bill could cause your credit card interest rate to go up. This, in turn, could hurt your credit score. There is currently nothing in Federal law that prohibits this practice; the law only
requires that lenders disclose it in writing. Credit card companies justify this by saying that customers that make late payments to anyone increase the risk for all lenders. Nevertheless, many, if not most, credit card customers are unaware that such policies exist.
Not all credit card companies have such a policy; in fact, most do not. Customers who are not interested in having the interest rates of their credit card tied to their ability to pay their phone bill on time would be advised to read the fine print in their credit card statement. If such a policy exists, you could either complain to your credit card issuer about it or shop around for another credit card. The lesson to be learned here is a valuable one – when you receive your credit card bill or a notification that your credit card billing terms have changed, take a moment to read the fine print.
About the Author
©Copyright 2005 by Retro Marketing. Charles Essmeier is the owner of Retro Marketing, a firm devoted to informational Websites, including End-Your-Debt.com, a site devoted to debt consolidation and credit counseling, and HomeEquityHelp.net, a site devoted to information regarding home equity loans.
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| Credit - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia |
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| CUNA: The Credit Union National Association |
| News and resource directory about credit unions. |
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| Credit/Debt Management - Tools and Advice for Managing Credit and Debt |
| Drowning in debt? Trying to improve your credit score? This is the place for you. Get real world information and tips, as well as the legal low down, ... |
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