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Increasing Your Chances for Employment with Good Credit Scores

admin — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 11:13:44 +0000

The days of finding a job you’re interested in, filling out an application, meeting with the owner to answer a few questions, and being hired are gone. Today, the job hunt involves much more, particularly one aspect that has made many people very nervous, not to mention feel as if the practice is completely unfair and harmful. We are talking about employees that now use a job candidate’s credit score to decide whether to hire or not.

As you can imagine, for people with poor credit this is an alarming trend. Although highly controversial, using credit scores for pre-employment screening is 100% legal, and employees are offered protection under the Fair Credit Reporting Act. As a part of this federal law it states that companies looking to hire can use a person’s credit history as part of the decision-making process and that to pull a copy of the individual’s credit report, whether from one or all three credit bureaus can be done without the applicant’s knowledge or approval.

Now, in favor of employees, we understand that they want to hire the very best person possible and that the way in which a person handles his or her finances would be a direct reflection of the dedication and attention to detail for the job being hired to do. To employees, having this opportunity helps them weed out candidates that simply do not share the same level of professionalism, integrity, and purpose as the company. Obviously, the better the employees a company has, the higher the production, the better the product and/or service, the happier the customers, and the higher the revenues being generated.

However, if you look now at the other side of the equation being the candidate for the job, an entirely different light is cast upon this law. As an example, let us say a person had graduated from college with a bachelor’s degree in science and education. In addition, this person had worked in the educational sector for years, having received high marks for outstanding service. This person was loved by the students and parents alike, and well respected among peers.

However, after being diagnosed with cancer, this individual had to leave his/her position in teaching where for a full year stayed home fighting for life. Unfortunately, during that time hard decisions had to be made regarding the way in which finances would be handled. Although many of this individual’s creditors were more than happy to work out some type of plan, some were not. Therefore, while being treated and recovering, his or her payments were made late, credit card spending was higher than normal, and ultimately, the credit score that was at one time at 750 was now at 550.

If that person were to walk into a job interview for teaching and unbeknownst to him/her the credit report were pulled, the potential employee would think this person had been irresponsible and therefore, pass him/her by for someone else to fill the open position. Because this individual had no clue the credit report was being pulled, an opportunity for rebuttal was never offered. Unfortunately, this person would go from one job interview to another, facing the same outcome while having no understanding why.

Again, employees have the right to use whatever tools and resources wanted to hire the best people for the company. However, for someone with bad credit not being given the chance to tell his or her side of the story, this law creates serious imbalance. Because using a person’s credit score for pre-employment screening is building into a mess, government officials are looking at the situation closer and trying to determine if some other option would prove beneficial and fair to both parties. In the meantime, if you are ever turned down for a job, be sure to ask if the reason was your credit report. That way, explaining would increase your chance of being hired.

Basics of Free Credit Cards

admin — Mon, 23 May 2011 06:10:11 +0000

You have noticed that most people you know have any number of credit cards but you do not know where to look to apply for one for yourself. You have received offers in the mail but they seem so wordy and downright confusing. What are you supposed to do to educate yourself?

When it comes to free credit card info: information on how to get free cards you need to learn all you can about how credit cards work before you decide to go ahead and apply for one of your own. A lack of information in this area is your worst enemy. If credit is not used properly it can hurt your financial present and haunt you well into your financial future. That is why a good credit card education is so essential for every prospective credit consumer.

Once you know what you are dealing with in terms of credit then you should start by evaluating the prequalified offers that come your way in the mail. The offers that are free in that they come with no annual fees should be very easy to spot. In fact the words “No annual fees!” should jump right out at you from the paper you are reading! Use this to your advantage. Take a look at each offer side by side. How to get free cards can be simplified if you look at what offers are out there. Compare what the annual percentage rate (APR) is for all of the no fee credit cards.

Free credit card info should be easy to obtain through the financial institution you bank with. Inquire of the representative you speak with about what no annual fee cards they offer to their customers. Most banks are affiliated with the big name credit card companies such as MasterCard or Visa and offer any number of financial products in the company’s name. It never hurts to discuss your options with someone at the bank.

If you are a loyal customer of the bank and your account is in good standing then they are more likely to be accommodating to your need to find information on how to get free cards. They might also be willing to work closely with you to find you the lowest interest rates around.

Finding a card that does not charge a yearly fee sounds good but some also come with higher interest rates attached. You are better off with a credit card that charges an annual fee but has a lower APR then one that does not charge a yearly fee but comes with a much higher APR.

Reality of Interest Free Credit Cards

admin — Mon, 23 May 2011 06:08:29 +0000

An interest free credit card sounds like a dream come true doesn’t it? After all it is interest that is the killer for those who carry a balance on their credit cards month after month. Paying off the principal is not the problem but it is instead high interest that can lead to a huge debt load for the average consumer.

When you hear the term interest free credit card it is somewhat misleading. The reality of the matter is that all credit card companies charge interest on their cards. If they did not then they would not remain in business for very long.

On the other hand, it is possible to obtain a credit card that will not charge you any interest for a certain time period. The terms for such differ from one credit card issuer to another. Always check with more than one company and then compare what each has to offer you. Do not settle for anything but the best deal possible.

There are some credit card companies that offer interest free credit cards as an introductory offer to entice new customers to come their way. What happens is that no interest is charged on purchases made on the card for a three month period, a six month period or if you are lucky enough to find it- a 12 month period.

This introductory offer may have its own type of stipulations attached to it. It often is connected to how much money gets charged to the credit card. In other words, you are given a limit. If you charge over that amount then you will be required to pay interest charges.

Many companies find this an effective means to drum up new business. However for the consumer you must be on the look out for an interest free credit card that is a good deal and not one that will lead you down the path of debt once the interest fee period is up. Always find out how much interest you will be subject to pay once the period of interest free spending has come to an end.

If you presently have a credit card at your disposal but then discover an interest free credit card that appeals to you because it offers better rates find out if you can transfer the balance to the new card. Doing this will make it possible for you to enjoy the zero percent introductory rate that the credit card company has to offer. It is imperative however that you find out ahead of time if you will be charged a fee by the new company to transfer the balance or not. If you can find it then seek out a company that does not charge a fee whatsoever to transfer an outstanding balance.

Truth about Free Credit Cards

admin — Mon, 23 May 2011 06:06:46 +0000

With all of the deals and offers about credit cards that are out there, what do you need to do in terms of figuring out how to get a free credit card? It is important to first define what such a credit card is. A free credit card is such that the cardholder is not required to pay any type of application fee nor any annual fee. Another name for these cards is no fee credit cards. Credit cards that are free in this respect are used to attract new customers. However the only people who qualify for such cards are those who have an excellent credit card rating and those who have a good credit history.

If you decide that you want to know more about how to get a free credit card then don’t get carried away by the “free” aspect. Just because the card is free does not mean that the only amount you must pay back is the amount you borrowed. Interest will still be charged at the close of each month if you carry a balance on your card.

A free credit card comes with some features that are worth knowing about. Bear these in mind as you search the various credit card companies that offer these deals. The basic features for free cards include, as previously mentioned, no annual fees and also low renewal fees. There are some companies that offer their customers an introductory zero percent annual percentage rate (APR) for a limited time period. What this means for you is that if you carry a balance forward each month the interest rates you pay will be low. That is good news indeed when it comes to the business of how to get a free credit card!

The benefits of free cards are not always the same for every credit card issuer but in general these benefits include:

·    no late charges
·    no fees on cash advances
·    no balance transfer fees
·    no advance payments are required to obtain a card
·    a good option for small businesses or start-up businesses

Many establishments including banks, credit unions and an assortment of stores offer free credit cards. What you must find out before you apply for a free card offer is what happens after the introductory period is over. For example, some companies will not impose late charges for payments for a specified span of time but then their rates could jump quite high afterwards. Another down side to these credit cards is that most of them do not offer any extras such as travel points, gift certificates or cash credits.

Pros and Cons of Free Credit Card Accounts

admin — Mon, 23 May 2011 06:02:30 +0000

When it comes to a free credit card offer you need to research the pros and cons of each offer. There is a very basic reason for this- there are a tremendous amount of offers out there and it can become confusing to even the most credit savvy person. To evaluate the financial viability of a credit card forget how pretty the card looks. Instead look much deeper at such things as the interest charges and the fees involved. Read on for some hints.

A free credit card offer could very well point to an interest free credit card. Take a look around and do a comparison of all of the cards that are touted as interest free. Look closely to find the one that offers the lowest interest rate. There are selections of credit cards that offer would-be customers a zero percent introductory rate but it is important for you to find out when that period ends and when interest begins to accumulate. Some companies offer a three month period while for others it is closer to six months.

A free credit card offer that includes an interest free introductory period can be wonderful but the longer it lasts the better it is for you. If you are patient enough to look at what enough companies have to offer you might find a couple that offer such an interest free period for a year. Some even offer it for more than a year.

You need to look beyond the interest free period however when you evaluate a free credit card that looks very attractive at the onset. What happens in some instances is that once the introductory period is over the interest rate could suddenly shoot up as high as 29 percent. Another piece of bad news to add to this is that if you are carrying a balance on your card at the time then the amount for repayment on a monthly basis could double. That is why knowing what the rate will be following the interest free period is so vital.

As you look at what different companies have to offer you here is a free credit card offer that can save you money in the future. It is a credit card with no annual fee. A card that charges an annual fee will add money onto your outstanding balance. This is not what you want when you are working hard to pay off your credit card.

Not all credit cards on the market charge you a yearly fee to have credit with them.
Look to those kind of cards. Some examples of these include the Discover More Card http://discovercard.com/, Chase Freedom https://www.chase.com/, Citi Forward Card https://www.citicards.com/, Upromise World MasterCard and IBERIABANK Visa Select Card http://www.iberiabank.com/ .

Testing Free Credit Card Numbers for Legitimacy

admin — Mon, 23 May 2011 05:43:33 +0000

People have often asked us for information about the actual credit card numbers issuers use to provide an individual a unique number, or grouping of numbers associated with the owner/user of the credit card. This information, as it is intended here, is for educational purposes only and should not be used in conjunction with credit cards where you are not the Legal/Legitimate owner of the card. There are other safeguards in place and associated with each card grouping and to actually use a free credit card number would require the provision of additional information that only the card owner would know. Free credit card numbers are used legitimately in conjunction with E-Commerce and other software applications within a software-testing environment.

A credit card is a mysterious combination of randomly generated numbers along with certain identifier numbers associated with the particular bank or issuer. This method is the same test banks use to ensure credit cards are not fraudulent or fake. A credit card number must pass this test in order to be valid, anything that does not meet the test would be characteristic of an invalid or potentially fraudulent card.

Hans Peter Luhn joined IBM as a senior research engineer in 1941 and soon became manager of the information retrieval research division where he obtained patents for a wide range of technological inventions. In the early 1950’s Luhn developed an algorithm, a simple checksum formula used as validity criterion with a variety of identification numbers, credit card numbers, passport and other identification numbers. There are currently many governmental agencies around the world generating and verifying identification numbers using the “Luhn” or “Mod 10” algorithm. Many credit card issuers also use the algorithm as a simple method to distinguish valid and legitimate number sets from collections of random digits providing a deterrent against fraud and theft.

To test a card for legitimacy, reading the card from right to left starting at the 16th digit you would double the value of every second digit moving to the left (i.e. 15, 13, 11, 9…etc). Where the sum produces a double digit number, add the two together (digit is “8” doubled would be “16”; you would add 1+6 for “7” as the result). Now, replace the original numbers in the card with the new 8 digits created and this will give you a new 16 digit number. Add all 16 numbers together and divide by 10. If your total is perfectly divisible by 10, the number is valid and the Luhn check is satisfied. Credit card companies follow the same process to generate credit card numbers, less the unique identifier and associated relative account number.

Information on Fraud and Credit Card Generators

admin — Mon, 23 May 2011 05:41:14 +0000

Credit card fraud is reaching epidemic proportions. The economic collapse worldwide is certainly a factor. It is said that economics will dictate your actions, and many people who are otherwise law-abiding citizens, have begun experimenting with free credit card generators. While credit card generators have legitimate use for validating credit card processing equipment, a vast number of people are focusing on the legitimate use of card generators. Credit card fraud is possible through a number of methods, and is most common when associated with identity theft.

What is a credit card generator? Essentially a credit card generator is a software computer program used to produce a sequence of credit card numbers. Those numbers are then compared and tested to see if they are associated with valid accounts. Assuming a valid credit card number is generated, the thief then visits a website to use a credit card number. Specific items purchased are irrelevant. Normally a charitable donation or a website subscription is used to make a small monetary purchase. This in fact avoids using the credit cards limit and also does not attract the card issuer’s attention. These websites are known as “cardable websites”. The process continues over and over with it the software.

Another process in which credit card generators were used in the past was to take fake credit cards and false credit card numbers to locations that do not immediately process card numbers. Trade shows are special events are prime locations for ‘credit card fraud entrepreneurs”. This particular method is not as viable as it once was, as credit card processing systems have change demands and now require additional data for credit card approval. This would include a correct billing address or a three-digit security code, commonly printed on the back of the credit card.

One of the main concerns of consumers is how much exposure or liability the legitimate credit cardholder has in regards to credit card fraud. Most credit card companies limit liability in fraud situations to $50. It is important that a cardholder report a lost or stolen credit card immediately. Federal law in the United States prohibits liability to the consumer if the card number was used and the card itself was not lost or stolen.

EconomyWatch.com does not endorse, support, or condone free credit card generators. This article was for informational purposes only. Free credit card generators are a serious problem for credit card issuers. You should monitor your own credit cards and protect your credit card numbers as much as possible. Thieves will not stop trying to commit credit card fraud nor stop the use of free credit card generators.

Information on Insecure Credit Cards

admin — Mon, 23 May 2011 05:39:10 +0000

An instant approval unsecured credit card is a fantastic thing to have. First you get instant approval so the waiting time is next to none and then you get an unsecured card which means that the company is willing to extend you credit. Having a good credit history with no serious blemishes such as late payments, missed payments or bankruptcy is more likely to get you approved then if you have suffered financial difficulties in the past that have impacted your credit rating and current credit score.

The internet has a lot to do with the rise of the instant approval unsecured credit card. In the pre-internet days one had to wait for days and often weeks after sending an application through the mail to find out if they were approved for the card. For those who were not approved having had time to build up expectations only to have them dashed is very discouraging to say the least. However all of that is over with because of the rate at which an online instant approval application can come back with a yes or no answer.

These type of cards are also sometimes called instant decision unsecured cards or simply, instant decision cards. Once you click a key on your computer to send the application through it goes directly to the customer service department of the company. Based on the information you have provided to them they can let you know through e-mail whether or not you qualify for the credit card in question. This can be done in a matter of a few short minutes.

It is important to bear in mind however that the response you receive tells you that you can proceed with the application process but is not a guarantee that you have been approved for the instant approval unsecured credit card. The distinction is very small but it works like this- there are two approvals. The first one is the approval that the initial information you have provided looks good and that you are free to finish the application process. The second approval is that everything is as required for your bank to give the okay for you to be accepted for the credit card. From there your credit limit will be determined.

A person who has credit that is excellent or that falls into the good category is likely to receive the quickest response regarding the instant approval unsecured credit card. On the other hand a person who has fair credit or below may have to wait even longer to find out if they qualify. The lender may need a little more time in this case to determine if the applicant meets the necessary requirements.

Student Credit Cards For Your Financial Future

admin — Mon, 23 May 2011 05:35:41 +0000

A student credit card application is exactly what it states- it is a credit card that is geared towards college students who have yet to blaze a trail in the credit world. For those who are presently enrolled in school and eager to establish credit history and a credit rating this is an excellent way to do it. In some instances these student cards are suitable for students who are preparing to graduate from high school and then continue on to an institute of higher learning.

In order to use credit you need to learn how to use it responsibly. You cannot learn how to do this until you have obtained a credit card and started to discover how credit works. If you do not learn the proper way to use credit then you will quickly discover that debt will be fast on your heels. This is not how you want to start your life after your schooling has come to an end!

A student credit card is a step in the right direction for your financial future. Bear in mind that credit is borrowed money. It is much the same as taking out a personal loan at the bank. In other words, the money has to be paid back, with interest! For this reason do not use your card all of the time and do not think for once that it is extra money. It is not! Having a credit card is a privilege but it can be a costly way to buy things if you allow your spending habits to spiral out of control.

A student credit card application can be obtained at many different locations. Check on campus for the offers to be found there. A selection of companies make credit cards available to students. Some examples of these include Bank of America, Capital One, Citibank Chase and Discover. Take the time to do your research and you will find plenty of others.

Before applying, always look at the cost of the interest rates, balance transfers, cash advances, credit limits, annual fees, credit lines and so on. Take into consideration the amount of money that you are earning and also what it is you are looking for in a credit card. Keep your head about you when it comes to filling out the student credit application. Always read the fine print! If there is something that needs further clarification then contact the company and inquire before you continue any further.

Fast Track Credit Card Processing for Online Businesses

admin — Mon, 23 May 2011 05:30:00 +0000

If you have just started a business online then you need a way to accept credit card orders from your customers. If you are looking for the simplest and the most cost effective way to find free credit card processing then look to third party credit card processing companies for what you need. These companies can help you to sell your products and/or services on the net with ease. What these companies do is they accept credit card orders for you so that you do not have to start your own merchant account. Free credit card processing is a very good idea for those who are new to the online business world and still navigating the terrain.

If you opt for a third party credit card processing company then you do not have to pay out money to purchase pricey processing software. You also do not have to pay for a secure server, monthly gateway fees, minimum transactions costs and customer service fees. What you do instead when you choose free credit card processing through a third party company is you pay the company a percentage of the sale price you make every time you sell a service or product. Another thing that some of these companies can offer you is an affiliate program which will assist you in marketing your website.

If this option sounds attractive for your website then you are presented with plenty of options. Here we provide you with the third party credit card processing companies that are well established and have built a solid reputation for themselves. When it comes to free credit card processing, here are two companies you should look into before any other ones.

PayPal

For free processing of credit cards, PayPal is one of the first companies to offer a variety of services to online entrepreneurs. If your business is connected to Ebay in any way then this is the logical choice for you as PayPal is a sister company to Ebay. There are approximately 100 million active PayPal buyers throughout the world. PayPal offers low transaction fees and makes a shopping cart available to business owners. The company also has a 60 to 70 percent lower rate in fraud loss than other companies do. The setup for PayPal is free.

ClickBank

You can become a customer of ClickBank if you sell a product entirely by way of the internet. The setup for this company is $49.95. Your products or services will be promoted by way of their network which contains more than 100,000 online affiliates. The way it works is that you choose an affiliate percentage in advance and then work from there.

Free credit card processing can also be done by way of other companies including CCBill http://www.ccbill.com/, ShareIt! and CC Now.