Posts Tagged ‘cardholders’

Purpose of Charity Credit cards

Tuesday, April 26th, 2011

Large numbers of people in different parts of the world are using charity credit cards and you can use them for doing some charity to needy people. This type of card has been launched in the market such that people can lend help to needy without actually visiting and encountering them. Other name that is being used for describing this kind of card is known as affinity cards. It has been around twenty years since when various financial institutions started using this type of cards and they helped non-profit organizations in the best manner possible. Generally, this type of cards have a logo of charity group on their top such that they can be distinguished easily from other types of cards.

Before you take charity credit cards, it is mandatory to understand how these cards work. Whenever the cardholder makes a purchase using the card, a small portion of the purchased amount is transferred to non-profit organizations. The more you use your card for making purchases the more amount of money would be transferred to the nonprofit organizations. It is possible that the portion given to charity varies from one credit card Company to another but the most commonly given share is 0.25 percent.

If you plan to apply for such type of card then you should be aware of the fact that these cards are not similar to other kinds of cards being used by people for purchasing products and services. Firstly, credit cards meant for charity carries annual percentage rate with them as well. The percentage rate varies anywhere between 15 and 22 percent. If you want card with lower percentage rate then it would be possible if you put in some efforts. Second fact of which one would be familiar with is annual fees is charged by cardholders and you should be ready to pay it.

One feature that lures individuals towards credit cards is the reward system and incentives that the cardholders get after using their card. However, you should know that the numbers of incentives offered with affinity credit cards are very less and you would not be availing many benefits with the use of this type of credit cards. Credit cards falling into this category have been divided into different categories and some of the categories include environment, animals, gender, health and a few more. Users can choose the category of cards depending on their own choice and thinking.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/credit-articles/purpose-of-charity-credit-cards-4677135.html

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We teach you what points you must consider while trying for 0 purchase credit cards and what are the Drawbacks of Interest Free Credit Cards

Placing Emphasis in Online Credit Card Services

Sunday, April 24th, 2011

In choosing a credit card, people often use the following factors to come up with a decision: interest rates, fees and charges, introductory offers, reward programmes, and the issuing bank’s reputation. While all these factors are very important, and should indeed be considered carefully when comparing credit cards, the fact remains that another factor, which has become equally important (or even more important than other factors) is often overlooked. The factor being referred to is the online credit card services that comes automatically with each card.

Online credit card services, just like online banking, when it first entered the scene may have been regarded only as an added perk, a convenience that you can really do without. However, due to the magnitude of convenience that online credit card services bring, people are beginning to realise that this “perk” is actually something that they are becoming fast dependent on. And with that increasing dependence, it makes so much sense to treat the online card services that comes with each card to be one of the major deciding factors for choosing a card or not.

To compare the online services available for each card, the best way to do it is obviously to compare each site. Of course you won’t have an account yet, and as such will not be able to do a thorough comparison of the features and the feel of each online credit site. However, a mere glance at the bank’s website would already give you a good idea of the overall feel of their online credit card services. There might be exceptions, such as if a bank’s site is under renovation, but generally the quality of the website will reflect the quality of the online services they provide to their cardholders.

A cursory look at the website will already tell you a lot, but it is important that you do not leave it at that. Go through the site and find out the following information to be able to compare the credit card online facilities better:

1. Possible transactions – Find out the other transactions you can do via the online facility aside from the usual credit card payment and balance inquiry. The best online facilities will allow you to do balance transfers, money transfers, check and change your PIN, ask for a credit limit increase, and so much more.

2. Security – Find out what they have done to ensure the security of their site and the service they provide.

3. Support – Find out if they will provide support for you, as you learn how to navigate the online world, and if you have alternatives to the online facility.

 

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/personal-finance-articles/placing-emphasis-in-online-credit-card-services-4659408.html

About the Author

Peter Carville is a freelance article writer who writes for Financial Facts about the current financial news and the credit crunch.