The internet has made obtaining, or at least applying for a credit card much easier than before. Gone are the days when you have to wander in to every high street bank branch and fill in forms, have an interview and then wait several days for a response. Either that or you had to reserve most of a day to making phone calls and making endless notes about interest rates, fees, charges and options.
Today you can sit back and surf the internet, comparing rates and reading up on various cards available. One of the major benefits that is available if you are searching for a credit card online is the many reviews and forums which are available. Here you will be able to find out what experiences other people have had with certain cards or financial institutions, and gain a personal insight into how they fared. This can provide you with a much-needed inside look, helping you to make a more informed judgement.
However, despite the grim world of credit, there are still many credit cards that are easy to get hold of, and if you are looking to apply for one now, the chances are very high that you will be successful. Even if you have no credit history, or very poor credit history, you will probably still find yourself able to obtain a credit card. The question is, what will it take to be able to get hold of such a facility?
Easy to get credit cards are not all alike, and the offer which you will receive may well be tailored to reflect your particular circumstances and background. This means that, regardless of the advertised rates and expected limits, you may find yourself being approved for a credit card very quickly, but with an interest rate above the typical rate promoted, and perhaps a credit limit which is rather lower than the one you would have expected.
Naturally, credit card companies are having to be extra cautious today. This doesn’t mean that caution has given way to a greater level of refusal, but that caution has given way to more variable rates, higher rates, lower limits and extra fees. The more worrying your background, the more the offer of a credit card will be adjusted to reflect this.
The trouble is, that with people constantly worrying about the economic picture across the country, and indeed the globe, and with financial companies increasingly talking about being more cautious, many of those considering applying for a credit card are not bothering, suspecting that they will simply be turned down.
But this isn't true, and it is still very easy to obtain a credit card. The only question you will need to ask is whether the offer you receive represents good value for you. If you are the sort of person who regularly clears the entire balance of your credit card each and every month then you may not have to worry much about the interest rate.
However, if there is a small chance that occasionally you will be unable to clear the debt in full, then you could find that the interest rate charged is high enough to cause you very serious problems. It's also best to look at any fees attached, including ongoing maintenance fees, fees for withdrawing cash, and fees for not paying the balance in full or for any missed or bounced payments.
If you suspect that you will not be able to keep the account in good order then no matter how easy it might be, and how tempting, to open a new credit card, you may find that in the long term it does more harm than good.
However, if you are able to maintain it in good order, clearing the bill regularly and using the credit card for purchases rather than for withdrawing cash, then you could find yourself able to benefit from zero percent interest on balance transfers and perhaps even reward schemes such as cash back offers that could earn you significant extra cash each year. Easy to get credit cards are very much available - but it will be for you to decide whether easy represents what is best for you.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
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