Credit Card Debt Problems
By Ethan Hunter
What to Do If You Hit the Debt Mire
When debt goes bad, it becomes more than just a financial
problem. It can take over your life. If you have a debt problem
the earlier it is handled and dealt with, the less likely it’ll
turn into a crisis, and the more money you’ll save in the
fullness of time.
The very nature of borrowing means that interest increases over
time and if it isn’t dealt with promptly, it can spiral out of
control and land you into trouble. Particularly with credit
cards, when interest payments are large, and a minimum payment
offers a seemingly manageable solution; what is actually
happening is this: the balance is being eroded like the sea
bites away at the shore. It’ll disappear into the ocean
eventually, but might take many years to do so. What you need is
a more radical approach, where chunks of debt are eaten away
each month.
Being in debt can be a stressful time. Many people are scared
to tell husbands, wives, friends – anyone. There’s a kind of
stigma attached to the problem, but there is always a way out.
Traditional debt advice proscribes borrowing your way out of a
problem. Yet this ignores the reality of most debts. A more
advisable and realistic approach would be to never borrow more
to get out of debt trouble. If it is possible to borrow more
cheaply elsewhere to replace existing borrowing and consolidate
your debt, then this is an eminently sensible approach.
The first step should always be to work out your monthly
outgoings and try and trim down your spending on luxuries and
things you can do without. This doesn’t mean you have to live
the life of a monk and forgo all worldly pleasures! But by
adopting sensible spending patterns you can redirect some of
your monthly income into paying off your outstanding balances.
Always keep at the front of your mind the fact that the longer
the debt smolders away, the more you spend in interest payments.
Those with big debts may save thousands a year in interest by
reconsidering their borrowing commitments. Do this in three
ways:
i) Lower the interest if possible by moving your debts to
reduce the interest cost.
ii) Pay the worst first: prioritize paying off the highest
interest rate debts first
iii) Utilize any free debt advice there is. A non-commercial
agency will give you good advice, focus you on your priorities,
and place any problems in context. Things may not be as bad as
they first seem.
Of course, there’s other basic, practicable things you can do
on your own. It's incredibly important to get on top of credit
card debts as soon as possible. Don't default or miss payments.
Let the credit card company know if you are going to be unable
to pay – it’s always better to talk to them than putting your
head in the sand.
If things aren’t that bad, there’s a variety of easy strategies
you can implement that will help ease things for you. Consider a
credit card balance transfer to a lender offering a lower rate
of APR. This will mean you spend less on interest payments each
month and start to attack the overall balance with real venom.
You could take out an unsecured loan as a way of consolidating
your debt. Personal loans can give you a consistent cheap debt,
and as you must make the repayments each month, it helps provide
structure to your repayments. Those with poorer credit scores
might not always get decent rates, but it’s still often a
cheaper option than paying back credit card debt each month, and
overall a faster method of repayment.
If you have them, use savings: The interest paid on savings is
usually far less than interest charged on borrowing, so paying
off debts with savings makes eminent sense. Even if you think of
your savings as an ‘emergency cash fund’ or money for the
future, better to fall back on it in the short term and pay it
back later, than paying interest to a credit card company so
that money for some far flung eventuality is at your disposal.
It’s worth mentioning that for many people, credit cards
provide sensible short term, flexible lending, that’s both cheap
and convenient. You should always try and proceed cautiously,
but credit card debt woes are not an inevitable consequence of
taking them out. Tens of millions of Americans use credit cards
cheaply and conveniently every year.
For those who feel they are in trouble, don’t feel stigmatized
by your debt woes and don’t pretend they’re not there. Help is
at hand should you seek it, and a solution is never far away.
About the Author: Ethan Hunter is the author of many credit
related articles. If you are looking for help with Home Loans
or any type of credit issue please visit us at
http://www.creditcardunlimited.com
Source: http://www.isnare.com
Tuesday, August 7, 2007
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Credit Card Equipment
Credit Card Debt Problems
By Ethan Hunter
What to Do If You Hit the Debt Mire
When debt goes bad, it becomes more than just a financial
problem. It can take over your life. If you have a debt problem
the earlier it is handled and dealt with, the less likely it’ll
turn into a crisis, and the more money you’ll save in the
fullness of time.
The very nature of borrowing means that interest increases over
time and if it isn’t dealt with promptly, it can spiral out of
control and land you into trouble. Particularly with credit
cards, when interest payments are large, and a minimum payment
offers a seemingly manageable solution; what is actually
happening is this: the balance is being eroded like the sea
bites away at the shore. It’ll disappear into the ocean
eventually, but might take many years to do so. What you need is
a more radical approach, where chunks of debt are eaten away
each month.
Being in debt can be a stressful time. Many people are scared
to tell husbands, wives, friends – anyone. There’s a kind of
stigma attached to the problem, but there is always a way out.
Traditional debt advice proscribes borrowing your way out of a
problem. Yet this ignores the reality of most debts. A more
advisable and realistic approach would be to never borrow more
to get out of debt trouble. If it is possible to borrow more
cheaply elsewhere to replace existing borrowing and consolidate
your debt, then this is an eminently sensible approach.
The first step should always be to work out your monthly
outgoings and try and trim down your spending on luxuries and
things you can do without. This doesn’t mean you have to live
the life of a monk and forgo all worldly pleasures! But by
adopting sensible spending patterns you can redirect some of
your monthly income into paying off your outstanding balances.
Always keep at the front of your mind the fact that the longer
the debt smolders away, the more you spend in interest payments.
Those with big debts may save thousands a year in interest by
reconsidering their borrowing commitments. Do this in three
ways:
i) Lower the interest if possible by moving your debts to
reduce the interest cost.
ii) Pay the worst first: prioritize paying off the highest
interest rate debts first
iii) Utilize any free debt advice there is. A non-commercial
agency will give you good advice, focus you on your priorities,
and place any problems in context. Things may not be as bad as
they first seem.
Of course, there’s other basic, practicable things you can do
on your own. It's incredibly important to get on top of credit
card debts as soon as possible. Don't default or miss payments.
Let the credit card company know if you are going to be unable
to pay – it’s always better to talk to them than putting your
head in the sand.
If things aren’t that bad, there’s a variety of easy strategies
you can implement that will help ease things for you. Consider a
credit card balance transfer to a lender offering a lower rate
of APR. This will mean you spend less on interest payments each
month and start to attack the overall balance with real venom.
You could take out an unsecured loan as a way of consolidating
your debt. Personal loans can give you a consistent cheap debt,
and as you must make the repayments each month, it helps provide
structure to your repayments. Those with poorer credit scores
might not always get decent rates, but it’s still often a
cheaper option than paying back credit card debt each month, and
overall a faster method of repayment.
If you have them, use savings: The interest paid on savings is
usually far less than interest charged on borrowing, so paying
off debts with savings makes eminent sense. Even if you think of
your savings as an ‘emergency cash fund’ or money for the
future, better to fall back on it in the short term and pay it
back later, than paying interest to a credit card company so
that money for some far flung eventuality is at your disposal.
It’s worth mentioning that for many people, credit cards
provide sensible short term, flexible lending, that’s both cheap
and convenient. You should always try and proceed cautiously,
but credit card debt woes are not an inevitable consequence of
taking them out. Tens of millions of Americans use credit cards
cheaply and conveniently every year.
For those who feel they are in trouble, don’t feel stigmatized
by your debt woes and don’t pretend they’re not there. Help is
at hand should you seek it, and a solution is never far away.
About the Author: Ethan Hunter is the author of many credit
related articles. If you are looking for help with Home Loans
or any type of credit issue please visit us at
http://www.creditcardunlimited.com
Source: http://www.isnare.com
By Ethan Hunter
What to Do If You Hit the Debt Mire
When debt goes bad, it becomes more than just a financial
problem. It can take over your life. If you have a debt problem
the earlier it is handled and dealt with, the less likely it’ll
turn into a crisis, and the more money you’ll save in the
fullness of time.
The very nature of borrowing means that interest increases over
time and if it isn’t dealt with promptly, it can spiral out of
control and land you into trouble. Particularly with credit
cards, when interest payments are large, and a minimum payment
offers a seemingly manageable solution; what is actually
happening is this: the balance is being eroded like the sea
bites away at the shore. It’ll disappear into the ocean
eventually, but might take many years to do so. What you need is
a more radical approach, where chunks of debt are eaten away
each month.
Being in debt can be a stressful time. Many people are scared
to tell husbands, wives, friends – anyone. There’s a kind of
stigma attached to the problem, but there is always a way out.
Traditional debt advice proscribes borrowing your way out of a
problem. Yet this ignores the reality of most debts. A more
advisable and realistic approach would be to never borrow more
to get out of debt trouble. If it is possible to borrow more
cheaply elsewhere to replace existing borrowing and consolidate
your debt, then this is an eminently sensible approach.
The first step should always be to work out your monthly
outgoings and try and trim down your spending on luxuries and
things you can do without. This doesn’t mean you have to live
the life of a monk and forgo all worldly pleasures! But by
adopting sensible spending patterns you can redirect some of
your monthly income into paying off your outstanding balances.
Always keep at the front of your mind the fact that the longer
the debt smolders away, the more you spend in interest payments.
Those with big debts may save thousands a year in interest by
reconsidering their borrowing commitments. Do this in three
ways:
i) Lower the interest if possible by moving your debts to
reduce the interest cost.
ii) Pay the worst first: prioritize paying off the highest
interest rate debts first
iii) Utilize any free debt advice there is. A non-commercial
agency will give you good advice, focus you on your priorities,
and place any problems in context. Things may not be as bad as
they first seem.
Of course, there’s other basic, practicable things you can do
on your own. It's incredibly important to get on top of credit
card debts as soon as possible. Don't default or miss payments.
Let the credit card company know if you are going to be unable
to pay – it’s always better to talk to them than putting your
head in the sand.
If things aren’t that bad, there’s a variety of easy strategies
you can implement that will help ease things for you. Consider a
credit card balance transfer to a lender offering a lower rate
of APR. This will mean you spend less on interest payments each
month and start to attack the overall balance with real venom.
You could take out an unsecured loan as a way of consolidating
your debt. Personal loans can give you a consistent cheap debt,
and as you must make the repayments each month, it helps provide
structure to your repayments. Those with poorer credit scores
might not always get decent rates, but it’s still often a
cheaper option than paying back credit card debt each month, and
overall a faster method of repayment.
If you have them, use savings: The interest paid on savings is
usually far less than interest charged on borrowing, so paying
off debts with savings makes eminent sense. Even if you think of
your savings as an ‘emergency cash fund’ or money for the
future, better to fall back on it in the short term and pay it
back later, than paying interest to a credit card company so
that money for some far flung eventuality is at your disposal.
It’s worth mentioning that for many people, credit cards
provide sensible short term, flexible lending, that’s both cheap
and convenient. You should always try and proceed cautiously,
but credit card debt woes are not an inevitable consequence of
taking them out. Tens of millions of Americans use credit cards
cheaply and conveniently every year.
For those who feel they are in trouble, don’t feel stigmatized
by your debt woes and don’t pretend they’re not there. Help is
at hand should you seek it, and a solution is never far away.
About the Author: Ethan Hunter is the author of many credit
related articles. If you are looking for help with Home Loans
or any type of credit issue please visit us at
http://www.creditcardunlimited.com
Source: http://www.isnare.com
Friday, July 27, 2007
Credit Card Equipment
Credit Card Basics
By Mansi Aggarwal
“Which bank’s credit card do you have?”, “what is its credit
limit”, “what type of card is it”…such questions are on
everybody’s lips today. The world seems to have been squeezed
and wrapped into a credit card. Nowadays everybody speaks and
grasps the language of credit cards. The credit card syndrome
seems to have gripped all of us.
But are credit cards only beneficial? Let us analyze the pros
and cons of this pocket plastic and see what outweighs the
other.
The Benefits of a Credit Card:
• Keep heavy cash in abeyance—money is the most coveted thing
in this world. Carrying lot of cash wherever you go is always a
bone of contention. A credit card facilitates you to travel
without heavy cash and have a carefree and happy trip or
shopping.
• Imagine yourself out for shopping in a wonderful mall. While
you shop, you remember to take boots for your son, spectacles
for mother, necklace for your beloved wife…but falling short of
money! The credit card is your best friend in such a situation.
• Even if you lose your credit card, you need not be
apprehensive and scared the way you get when you lose your
cash. This is because you can get the card freezed or blocked
from the bank and relax.
• Credit card works anywhere and everywhere nowadays. You just
need to bag your card and make a move to any destination
without bothering for money.
• Loan facility can also be availed via credit cards.
The Negative Aspect of Surge in Credit Card usage
• Generally everybody does not meet the eligibility criterion
to hold a credit card. yet in order to enhance their sales and
as part of marketing strategies, companies, private banks etc.
do away with giving these cards to who so ever caters even to
the minimum terms and conditions.
• The loan factor-the cards provide you with huge credit
limits. The consumer ignorant of the forthcoming trouble, keeps
on drawing money from his card and most often when he realizes
his mistake, it is too late. He not only comes in the debt of
the money he withdrew but also the massive interest that is
charged by these companies and banks.
• Many credit card companies provide lucrative offers almost
every month in the form of incentives. These incentives are
basically meant to boost the sale of their product. Incentives
like travel programs, gas purchases etc. are a very common
phenomenon these days. But one should not get lured by these
for it is well said that everything that glitters is not gold.
Initially the cards might be promising for some cheerful
moments but once you become habitual of them they can land you
in soup.
• The addictiveness- it is most often the addictiveness of
these cards that is a source of trouble. People, who keep on
drawing from the bank’s or company’s credit, suffer largely.
• Debit cards are believed to be different from the credit
cards. But actually the difference is minute. A debit card can
also be used as a credit card at times and there are some
eminent banks that charge fee with the debit cards too. So more
or less the situation remains to be the same.
When you make up your mind to go for a debit card, consult some
advisor. Know the details of the interest rate, the tenure to
repay the amount and other such things. Do not be carried away
by brand names. Just make a survey first and then decide which
one to go for.
About the Author: Mansi aggarwal writes about credit card.
Learn more at http://www.wisecreditcarduse.com .
Source: http://www.isnare.com
By Mansi Aggarwal
“Which bank’s credit card do you have?”, “what is its credit
limit”, “what type of card is it”…such questions are on
everybody’s lips today. The world seems to have been squeezed
and wrapped into a credit card. Nowadays everybody speaks and
grasps the language of credit cards. The credit card syndrome
seems to have gripped all of us.
But are credit cards only beneficial? Let us analyze the pros
and cons of this pocket plastic and see what outweighs the
other.
The Benefits of a Credit Card:
• Keep heavy cash in abeyance—money is the most coveted thing
in this world. Carrying lot of cash wherever you go is always a
bone of contention. A credit card facilitates you to travel
without heavy cash and have a carefree and happy trip or
shopping.
• Imagine yourself out for shopping in a wonderful mall. While
you shop, you remember to take boots for your son, spectacles
for mother, necklace for your beloved wife…but falling short of
money! The credit card is your best friend in such a situation.
• Even if you lose your credit card, you need not be
apprehensive and scared the way you get when you lose your
cash. This is because you can get the card freezed or blocked
from the bank and relax.
• Credit card works anywhere and everywhere nowadays. You just
need to bag your card and make a move to any destination
without bothering for money.
• Loan facility can also be availed via credit cards.
The Negative Aspect of Surge in Credit Card usage
• Generally everybody does not meet the eligibility criterion
to hold a credit card. yet in order to enhance their sales and
as part of marketing strategies, companies, private banks etc.
do away with giving these cards to who so ever caters even to
the minimum terms and conditions.
• The loan factor-the cards provide you with huge credit
limits. The consumer ignorant of the forthcoming trouble, keeps
on drawing money from his card and most often when he realizes
his mistake, it is too late. He not only comes in the debt of
the money he withdrew but also the massive interest that is
charged by these companies and banks.
• Many credit card companies provide lucrative offers almost
every month in the form of incentives. These incentives are
basically meant to boost the sale of their product. Incentives
like travel programs, gas purchases etc. are a very common
phenomenon these days. But one should not get lured by these
for it is well said that everything that glitters is not gold.
Initially the cards might be promising for some cheerful
moments but once you become habitual of them they can land you
in soup.
• The addictiveness- it is most often the addictiveness of
these cards that is a source of trouble. People, who keep on
drawing from the bank’s or company’s credit, suffer largely.
• Debit cards are believed to be different from the credit
cards. But actually the difference is minute. A debit card can
also be used as a credit card at times and there are some
eminent banks that charge fee with the debit cards too. So more
or less the situation remains to be the same.
When you make up your mind to go for a debit card, consult some
advisor. Know the details of the interest rate, the tenure to
repay the amount and other such things. Do not be carried away
by brand names. Just make a survey first and then decide which
one to go for.
About the Author: Mansi aggarwal writes about credit card.
Learn more at http://www.wisecreditcarduse.com .
Source: http://www.isnare.com
Monday, July 23, 2007
Credit Card Equipment
Mobile Credit Card Processing Equipment
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Thomas_Morva]Thomas Morva
In today's business environment, credit card processing equipment is an essential tool for completing an online transaction. Compared to traditional credit card processing services, mobile credit card processing ensures faster payment, increases overall sales and credibility, and saves a lot of money. A well maintained mobile credit card processing equipment is a must for such transactions. Mobile credit card machines are useful for those merchants who like to take their business to the customers. The functioning of a mobile credit card machine is simple. By swiping the customer's credit card through the mobile credit card processing equipment, all the transaction processes are done automatically in real time. When the merchant gets the authorization, a printed receipt is given to the customer.
Mobile credit card processing equipment helps in accepting payments through online credit cards as well as by telephone. With its state-of-the-art technology, mobile credit card processing equipment provides a secure payment gateway that enables fraud screening and also real time reporting of every transaction. For an online transaction, only a virtual terminal is needed. This enables you to get all the services through the Internet.
Mobile credit card processing equipment has certain added advantages when compared to traditional wireless merchant accounts. They include low monthly charges, low processing fee and no monthly minimum processing charge. Today, the wireless mobile credit card processing equipment is the latest in convenience and portability.
Many business concerns sign a contract with mobile credit card processing equipment companies for their services. These contracts might be for 2 to 5 years, a fact which is often unknown to the firm. Consequently, if a firm needs to terminate a contract, a cancellation fee is charged by these companies. So care should be while choosing the services of such companies. [http://www.i-CreditCardProcessing.com]Credit Card Processing provides detailed information on Credit Card Processing, Online Credit Card Processing, Credit Card Processing Software, Wireless Credit Card Processing and more. Credit Card Processing is affiliated with [http://www.e-CreditCardTerminals.com]Wireless Credit Card Terminals.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Thomas_Morva http://EzineArticles.com/?Mobile-Credit-Card-Processing-Equipment&id=353158
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Thomas_Morva]Thomas Morva
In today's business environment, credit card processing equipment is an essential tool for completing an online transaction. Compared to traditional credit card processing services, mobile credit card processing ensures faster payment, increases overall sales and credibility, and saves a lot of money. A well maintained mobile credit card processing equipment is a must for such transactions. Mobile credit card machines are useful for those merchants who like to take their business to the customers. The functioning of a mobile credit card machine is simple. By swiping the customer's credit card through the mobile credit card processing equipment, all the transaction processes are done automatically in real time. When the merchant gets the authorization, a printed receipt is given to the customer.
Mobile credit card processing equipment helps in accepting payments through online credit cards as well as by telephone. With its state-of-the-art technology, mobile credit card processing equipment provides a secure payment gateway that enables fraud screening and also real time reporting of every transaction. For an online transaction, only a virtual terminal is needed. This enables you to get all the services through the Internet.
Mobile credit card processing equipment has certain added advantages when compared to traditional wireless merchant accounts. They include low monthly charges, low processing fee and no monthly minimum processing charge. Today, the wireless mobile credit card processing equipment is the latest in convenience and portability.
Many business concerns sign a contract with mobile credit card processing equipment companies for their services. These contracts might be for 2 to 5 years, a fact which is often unknown to the firm. Consequently, if a firm needs to terminate a contract, a cancellation fee is charged by these companies. So care should be while choosing the services of such companies. [http://www.i-CreditCardProcessing.com]Credit Card Processing provides detailed information on Credit Card Processing, Online Credit Card Processing, Credit Card Processing Software, Wireless Credit Card Processing and more. Credit Card Processing is affiliated with [http://www.e-CreditCardTerminals.com]Wireless Credit Card Terminals.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Thomas_Morva http://EzineArticles.com/?Mobile-Credit-Card-Processing-Equipment&id=353158
Friday, July 20, 2007
Credit Card Equipment
Credit Card Processing Services: Easy, Cheap And Necessary
By Joel Walsh
Your online business needs to accept credit cards. That’s true
whether your business is the next ebay or you’re just selling
your old collectibles on ebay. You’re simply holding your
business back if you don’t accept the payment method of choice
of the internet. Sadly, many people think they won’t qualify
for a new merchant account to accept credit cards, or that it
will be too expensive or complicated. That might have been true
a few years ago, but not anymore.
Why Anyone Can Accept Credit Cards
* Low cost. In the US, the cost of accepting credit cards is
around $10-$20/month in flat fees, plus a small percentage of
your sales, called a discount rate. For an offline business,
the discount rate is as low as 1.69% (lower for debit cards).
For an online business, discount rates are as low as 2.19%.
Yes, online businesses are considered riskier and therefore are
charged more. Still, 2.19% is much less than even many offline
businesses were paying just five years ago. Non-US business
will likely pay significantly more, but likely not more than a
few hundred dollars a month and maybe a 6% discount rate.
That's still a small price to pay to build a thriving online
business.
* No upfront fees. There are now merchant account providers
that charge nothing upfront–no application fee, no deposit.
(For US businesses only.)
* No minimum number of sales. If you sell nothing in a given
month, that's fine. Your account won't be cancelled so long as
you pay a small minimum fee in lieu of transactions (usually
around $25-$35/month).
* Low credit threshold. Believe it or not, qualifying for a
merchant account to accept credit card payments is easier than
qualifying for a credit card account. Even people who have a
bankruptcy on their credit report may qualify for a merchant
account (though they'll be in a more expensive higher-risk
category). The credit check only takes a few minutes. Just give
the representative your Social Security number or EIN and you're
done. For non-US businesses, the credit check might be a little
more in-depth, but not impossibly so.
Why You Need to Accept Credit Cards
1. Prestige. Admit it: you can't be a real business if you
don't take credit cards. At least, that's how the average
consumer or entrepreneur sees it.
2. Trust. Accepting credit cards means your name, address, and
social security numbers are on file somewhere with a bank, so
you're a lot less likely to be a crook. It also means that your
customers can dispute the transaction if you don't put out the
goods.
3. Sales. Online customers make the vast majority of their
purchases with a credit card. They are not going to change
their ways for you.
4. Western Union isn't enough. Bank wires offer very little
consumer protection, so no one trusts them for paying online.
Besides, most people have never used it before, and again,
they're not going to change their ways for you.
5. PayPal isn't enough. Some people simply don't trust it.
There are entire websites devoted to horror stories with
PayPal. Other prospective customers worry about having to set
up a PayPal account to make payment. Even a slight doubt is
enough to send many visitors to the "back" button. Don't leave
room for doubt.
Why Accepting Payments Online Is Easy
* Easy-to-use gateway websites. With most merchant accounts,
you get a login on a website of a "gateway" which lets you
manage your entire account with up-to-the-minute information.
It's very similar to online banking.
* Technical support. Most merchant account providers offer
telephone and email technical support to help you figure out
how to use your account, including how to integrate it with
your website. Tip: choose a provider with 24/7/365 technical
support over the phone–and that doesn't charge an additional
fee.
* Preconfigured shopping carts and web payment forms. You won't
have to do anything to your website if you opt to use a shopping
cart of payment form that's already been set up by your payment
processor. Just link to it from your website and you're done.
Why Applying to Accept Credit Cards Is Easy
* Online and telephone applications. You don't have to mail
anything.
* Fast. You can apply for a merchant account to accept credit
cards in the morning and be taking payments in the afternoon.
* No contract. Some credit card merchant account providers do
not require an annual contract (for US businesses). The
arrangement is strictly month-to-month. Of course, there are
still companies that will try to lock you into a year-long
contract, so be careful.
See how easy it is to take credit card payments? Don't wait any
longer. Apply for a credit card merchant gateway today. It's
easy to do, and your business needs it. Once you're taking
credit card payments, you won't be be just like a real
business–you will be a real business.
About the Author: Joel Walsh is owner of the website
http://UpMarketMerchant.com. Get more information about credit
card processing services: http://www.UpMarketMerchant.com
[Publish this article on your website! Requirements: 1. Live
link for above URL/web address. 2. Link anchor text: "credit
card processing services"]
Source: http://www.isnare.com
By Joel Walsh
Your online business needs to accept credit cards. That’s true
whether your business is the next ebay or you’re just selling
your old collectibles on ebay. You’re simply holding your
business back if you don’t accept the payment method of choice
of the internet. Sadly, many people think they won’t qualify
for a new merchant account to accept credit cards, or that it
will be too expensive or complicated. That might have been true
a few years ago, but not anymore.
Why Anyone Can Accept Credit Cards
* Low cost. In the US, the cost of accepting credit cards is
around $10-$20/month in flat fees, plus a small percentage of
your sales, called a discount rate. For an offline business,
the discount rate is as low as 1.69% (lower for debit cards).
For an online business, discount rates are as low as 2.19%.
Yes, online businesses are considered riskier and therefore are
charged more. Still, 2.19% is much less than even many offline
businesses were paying just five years ago. Non-US business
will likely pay significantly more, but likely not more than a
few hundred dollars a month and maybe a 6% discount rate.
That's still a small price to pay to build a thriving online
business.
* No upfront fees. There are now merchant account providers
that charge nothing upfront–no application fee, no deposit.
(For US businesses only.)
* No minimum number of sales. If you sell nothing in a given
month, that's fine. Your account won't be cancelled so long as
you pay a small minimum fee in lieu of transactions (usually
around $25-$35/month).
* Low credit threshold. Believe it or not, qualifying for a
merchant account to accept credit card payments is easier than
qualifying for a credit card account. Even people who have a
bankruptcy on their credit report may qualify for a merchant
account (though they'll be in a more expensive higher-risk
category). The credit check only takes a few minutes. Just give
the representative your Social Security number or EIN and you're
done. For non-US businesses, the credit check might be a little
more in-depth, but not impossibly so.
Why You Need to Accept Credit Cards
1. Prestige. Admit it: you can't be a real business if you
don't take credit cards. At least, that's how the average
consumer or entrepreneur sees it.
2. Trust. Accepting credit cards means your name, address, and
social security numbers are on file somewhere with a bank, so
you're a lot less likely to be a crook. It also means that your
customers can dispute the transaction if you don't put out the
goods.
3. Sales. Online customers make the vast majority of their
purchases with a credit card. They are not going to change
their ways for you.
4. Western Union isn't enough. Bank wires offer very little
consumer protection, so no one trusts them for paying online.
Besides, most people have never used it before, and again,
they're not going to change their ways for you.
5. PayPal isn't enough. Some people simply don't trust it.
There are entire websites devoted to horror stories with
PayPal. Other prospective customers worry about having to set
up a PayPal account to make payment. Even a slight doubt is
enough to send many visitors to the "back" button. Don't leave
room for doubt.
Why Accepting Payments Online Is Easy
* Easy-to-use gateway websites. With most merchant accounts,
you get a login on a website of a "gateway" which lets you
manage your entire account with up-to-the-minute information.
It's very similar to online banking.
* Technical support. Most merchant account providers offer
telephone and email technical support to help you figure out
how to use your account, including how to integrate it with
your website. Tip: choose a provider with 24/7/365 technical
support over the phone–and that doesn't charge an additional
fee.
* Preconfigured shopping carts and web payment forms. You won't
have to do anything to your website if you opt to use a shopping
cart of payment form that's already been set up by your payment
processor. Just link to it from your website and you're done.
Why Applying to Accept Credit Cards Is Easy
* Online and telephone applications. You don't have to mail
anything.
* Fast. You can apply for a merchant account to accept credit
cards in the morning and be taking payments in the afternoon.
* No contract. Some credit card merchant account providers do
not require an annual contract (for US businesses). The
arrangement is strictly month-to-month. Of course, there are
still companies that will try to lock you into a year-long
contract, so be careful.
See how easy it is to take credit card payments? Don't wait any
longer. Apply for a credit card merchant gateway today. It's
easy to do, and your business needs it. Once you're taking
credit card payments, you won't be be just like a real
business–you will be a real business.
About the Author: Joel Walsh is owner of the website
http://UpMarketMerchant.com. Get more information about credit
card processing services: http://www.UpMarketMerchant.com
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link for above URL/web address. 2. Link anchor text: "credit
card processing services"]
Source: http://www.isnare.com
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Credit Card Equipment
Credit Card Processing Terminals
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Thomas_Morva]Thomas Morva
Today, about 80% of customers choose credit cards to pay for online products and services. If an online firm doesn?t possess credit card payment facilities, certainly it loses consumers and sales. Credit card payments are safe and secure, and they guarantee the best customer service. Besides, these payments give a more professional look to any business.
Several different types of credit card processing terminals are available in today's market. These terminals are also referred to as point of sale (POS) terminals. Their type and style depend on the kind of business and style of credit card processing. Prices also vary according to their functions and the technology they use.
Card readers with a small keypad and display are the most basic form of the POS. These are the most economical type of terminals. A credit card processing terminal first checks the customer?s card information. After that, it withdraws money for the purchase from his account and places it directly into the merchant account.
Most merchants prefer a terminal without an attached printer, while retail merchants usually go for a terminal with an integrated printer. There are also wireless machines that are more costly, but the processing volume supports their cost. Wireless credit card processing terminals are mainly used for businesses that continually change their location. Door-to-door salesmen, taxi cab drivers, and seasonal shop owners are the main other consumers of wireless terminals.
Manual credit card processing is a difficult task and it is more time consuming too. The finest choice is to automate your manual credit card processing machine, if possible. Credit card processing machines use different software packages that provide for instant processing, and encrypted SSL (secure socket layer) for safe deals. Of course, any leaks or losses of personal information immediately break the credibility of a business.
Some latest credit card processing terminals can handle multiple merchant accounts. Examples include Nurit 2085, Omni 3750, Nurit 3020, Omni 3740, and Verifone Tranz 380x2. All these terminals provide retailers a fast, low-cost way to approve and process credit card sales. [http://www.i-CreditCardProcessing.com]Credit Card Processing provides detailed information on Credit Card Processing, Online Credit Card Processing, Credit Card Processing Software, Wireless Credit Card Processing and more. Credit Card Processing is affiliated with [http://www.e-CreditCardTerminals.com]Wireless Credit Card Terminals.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Thomas_Morva http://EzineArticles.com/?Credit-Card-Processing-Terminals&id=353153
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Thomas_Morva]Thomas Morva
Today, about 80% of customers choose credit cards to pay for online products and services. If an online firm doesn?t possess credit card payment facilities, certainly it loses consumers and sales. Credit card payments are safe and secure, and they guarantee the best customer service. Besides, these payments give a more professional look to any business.
Several different types of credit card processing terminals are available in today's market. These terminals are also referred to as point of sale (POS) terminals. Their type and style depend on the kind of business and style of credit card processing. Prices also vary according to their functions and the technology they use.
Card readers with a small keypad and display are the most basic form of the POS. These are the most economical type of terminals. A credit card processing terminal first checks the customer?s card information. After that, it withdraws money for the purchase from his account and places it directly into the merchant account.
Most merchants prefer a terminal without an attached printer, while retail merchants usually go for a terminal with an integrated printer. There are also wireless machines that are more costly, but the processing volume supports their cost. Wireless credit card processing terminals are mainly used for businesses that continually change their location. Door-to-door salesmen, taxi cab drivers, and seasonal shop owners are the main other consumers of wireless terminals.
Manual credit card processing is a difficult task and it is more time consuming too. The finest choice is to automate your manual credit card processing machine, if possible. Credit card processing machines use different software packages that provide for instant processing, and encrypted SSL (secure socket layer) for safe deals. Of course, any leaks or losses of personal information immediately break the credibility of a business.
Some latest credit card processing terminals can handle multiple merchant accounts. Examples include Nurit 2085, Omni 3750, Nurit 3020, Omni 3740, and Verifone Tranz 380x2. All these terminals provide retailers a fast, low-cost way to approve and process credit card sales. [http://www.i-CreditCardProcessing.com]Credit Card Processing provides detailed information on Credit Card Processing, Online Credit Card Processing, Credit Card Processing Software, Wireless Credit Card Processing and more. Credit Card Processing is affiliated with [http://www.e-CreditCardTerminals.com]Wireless Credit Card Terminals.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Thomas_Morva http://EzineArticles.com/?Credit-Card-Processing-Terminals&id=353153
Saturday, July 14, 2007
Credit Card Equipment
Minimum Credit Card Payments To Rise
By Charles Essmeier
For years, major credit card companies have allowed cardholders
to make minimum payments of 2% of the outstanding balances on
their credit cards. Having customers pay the minimum doesn’t
reduce the balance by very much, but when the 18-30% interest
rates that many credit cards charge is applied, the result is a
profitable ones for the banks that issue credit cards. A balance
of $1000 can take nine years to pay off at 20% interest if the
borrower only pays the minimum due each month.
Clearly, it is not in the best interests of consumers to pay
the minimum every month. But tens of thousands of Americans do
just that, carrying huge balances and paying the minimum every
month. The average household now carries $10,000 in credit card
debt; for many people, paying the minimum is all they can
manage. Due to changes in Federal law, several major credit
card issuing banks will soon raise the minimum amount due to
4%. This might seem like a small increase, but if you are
already deep in debt and paying the minimum amount, this could
cause your payments to double. If you have a $10,000 balance
and you are paying $200 per month, you will soon need to come
up with $400 instead. Many people will find this impossible to
do, as they are already paying as much as they can. What
solutions are available?
The usual common sense rules of credit card use apply here.
Stop using your credit cards. See if you can consolidate your
debt on another credit card with lower interest. See if you can
cut out some unnecessary expenses in order to free up some more
money to pay your balance. Consider a home equity loan to
consolidate your debt. Call your card issuing bank and see if
they can work out repayment plan or lower your interest rate.
There are numerous solutions available, but card holders need
to be aware that the minimum payment is rising, and it isn’t
going to come back down. By charging a 4% minimum, the credit
card issuing banks are hoping that consumers will pay off their
debt a bit sooner and that fewer consumers will find themselves
in a situation where filing for bankruptcy is the only
solution. And once October comes around, even filing for
bankruptcy will be more difficult. Credit card holders with
large balances on their accounts should give considerable
thought to reducing their debt now, as payment options and
requirements are going to be more strict from now on.
About the Author: ©Copyright 2005 by Retro Marketing. Charles
Essmeier is the owner of Retro Marketing, a firm devoted to
informational Websites, including http://www.End-Your-Debt.com,
a site devoted to debt consolidation and credit counseling, and
http://www.StructuredSettlementHelp.com, a site devoted to
information regarding structured settlements.
Source: http://www.isnare.com
By Charles Essmeier
For years, major credit card companies have allowed cardholders
to make minimum payments of 2% of the outstanding balances on
their credit cards. Having customers pay the minimum doesn’t
reduce the balance by very much, but when the 18-30% interest
rates that many credit cards charge is applied, the result is a
profitable ones for the banks that issue credit cards. A balance
of $1000 can take nine years to pay off at 20% interest if the
borrower only pays the minimum due each month.
Clearly, it is not in the best interests of consumers to pay
the minimum every month. But tens of thousands of Americans do
just that, carrying huge balances and paying the minimum every
month. The average household now carries $10,000 in credit card
debt; for many people, paying the minimum is all they can
manage. Due to changes in Federal law, several major credit
card issuing banks will soon raise the minimum amount due to
4%. This might seem like a small increase, but if you are
already deep in debt and paying the minimum amount, this could
cause your payments to double. If you have a $10,000 balance
and you are paying $200 per month, you will soon need to come
up with $400 instead. Many people will find this impossible to
do, as they are already paying as much as they can. What
solutions are available?
The usual common sense rules of credit card use apply here.
Stop using your credit cards. See if you can consolidate your
debt on another credit card with lower interest. See if you can
cut out some unnecessary expenses in order to free up some more
money to pay your balance. Consider a home equity loan to
consolidate your debt. Call your card issuing bank and see if
they can work out repayment plan or lower your interest rate.
There are numerous solutions available, but card holders need
to be aware that the minimum payment is rising, and it isn’t
going to come back down. By charging a 4% minimum, the credit
card issuing banks are hoping that consumers will pay off their
debt a bit sooner and that fewer consumers will find themselves
in a situation where filing for bankruptcy is the only
solution. And once October comes around, even filing for
bankruptcy will be more difficult. Credit card holders with
large balances on their accounts should give considerable
thought to reducing their debt now, as payment options and
requirements are going to be more strict from now on.
About the Author: ©Copyright 2005 by Retro Marketing. Charles
Essmeier is the owner of Retro Marketing, a firm devoted to
informational Websites, including http://www.End-Your-Debt.com,
a site devoted to debt consolidation and credit counseling, and
http://www.StructuredSettlementHelp.com, a site devoted to
information regarding structured settlements.
Source: http://www.isnare.com
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