c) Now lets’ not confuse Advance Fee Load Scam artists with legitimate lenders and institutions. I can attest that there are real companies out there, trying to help you to get credit, loans, and consumer debt services that you need. I believe in many of these services, and I believe in convenience and power of internet. However, use your common sense in all your business transactions in life, and that includes credit. Never give someone money without getting anything back in return. Never trust someone that you don’t know. Never get enticed into a deal that’s too good to be true.

Use your common sense, and don’t fall prey to con artists slight of hand, such as Advance Fee Load Scam...

4.ANNUAL FEES, INTEREST RATES, ETC.:

Credit Card Scams come in all different shapes and sizes. Many of them are, arguably, not scams at all, but let’s just call them credit card offers involving consumer unfriendly terms.

a)Read fine-line. Every Credit Card Offer must provide Consumer with written documentation on terms of offer.

b)Check Annual Fee, Interest Rates, Cash Advance Fees, Late Fees, and all other terms of offer.

c) Make sure you know what you are getting. Some offers are for secured cards, some are for unsecured cards, and some offers are for shopping portals online and offline (Like a department store card). So, while none of these are scams, by definition, it is important that you fully understand terms of credit card offer that you are agreeing to.

Be a responsible consumer, and read terms and conditions of your credit card offer...

5.THE UNITED STATES FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION::

The best place to go for direct consumer information, protection, and remedy, is United States Federal Trade Commission...

a)The FTC website is: http://www.ftc.gov

b)The FTC can provide you with TONS of free information about Credit Cards, and other consumer related concerns. They can help you learn more about what to avoid, how to be a smarter consumer, and what to do if you believe that you are a victim of fraud, and what your remedies may be.

The FTC is there to help...

SUMMARY:

Use No-Call Registry to cut down telephone solicitations in your home and places of business. While many legitimate lenders utilize telemarketing, be careful. Don’t give out personal information to people you don’t know, don’t pay up-front processing fees over phone, and get everything in writing. Consider yourself an advised consumer on “Advanced Fee Load” Scams, and look out for signs, when these scams regrettably make their way to you. Read terms of offers that you are considering, and utilize FTC website for trusted information, resources, and all related materials on consumer credit card issues.

We’ve enjoyed providing this information to you, and we wish you best of luck in your pursuits. Remember to always seek out good advice from those you trust, and never turn your back on your own common sense.

Publisher’s Directions: This article may be freely distributed so long as copyright, author’s information, disclaimer, and an active link (where possible) are included.

Disclaimer: Statements and opinions expressed in articles, reviews and other materials herein are those of authors. While every care has been taken in compilation of this information and every attempt made to present up-to-date and accurate information, we cannot guarantee that inaccuracies will not occur. The author will not be held responsible for any claim, loss, damage or inconvenience caused as a result of any information within these pages or any information accessed through this site.

Only shop with merchants that scratch your back.

With me?

6)Now, where do you find these merchants?

Well, in real brick and mortar world, it’s not that hard.

You can start with department stores, gas cards, furniture outlets, electronics stores, jewelers, and a variety of other stores that you may do business with.

I can’t guarantee, of course, that they’ll approve you. But many of these merchants run their credit departments in-house, and like our bartender, they’re interested in moving inventory.

So, I wouldn’t take one “no” to mean that everyone will say “no”. Not true.

Many of larger corporate chains do not offer low to no interest rates. But almost ALL of them offer huge discounts on initial purchases as incentives to get started.

As of writing of this article, for example, JCPenney® and Target® both offer 10% discounts on “new accounts”. In addition, most of them do offer zero interest when balances are paid off each month, and some of them offer different plans to meet different customer’s credit situations.

Also, look to no-interest incentive specials that are going on for many larger-ticket items. Televisions, Furniture, etc.

You’ll also find many deferred-payment incentives that you can use to your advantage, or that you can utilize as a no-interest situation.

You just have to shop around. They are out there.

7)Now, what about cyber-space? Is there a place to take advantage of this back-scratching secret in Silicon? Actually, YES! There is. Check this out:

Many shopping portals online have realized advantage of working with “poor” credit customers, and tailor-making a shopping experience that fits these specialized needs. We’ve listed several at our website, but of course, you can find them at any search-engine or at other reputable websites around internet.

In a nutshell, shopping website offers a membership card for making purchases on credit. You go to online mall, make your purchases for things you would already buy anyway, and build or rebuild your credit score. The shopping portal helps you out by reporting your credit activity to major credit reporting bureaus, which in turn, improves your credit history.

In addition, membership benefits often times include such things as travel discounts, rental car discounts, and FREE credit reports.

They almost always advertise guaranteed credit lines of up to $7500, and incentives for joining can include free merchandise (such as a free DVD player), or a merchandise voucher.

Look for 30 day money-back guarantees, and look for no annual fees, and yes, look for “NO INTEREST” on credit.

Most of these sites will require an upfront membership fee, but then they immediately turn around and provide a merchandise voucher. For example, one portal charges $150 for upfront membership fee, but then immediately provides a voucher of $200 for merchandise at their site.

Because their customers generally have a history of poor credit, they do sometimes require an initial payment, or “down payment” on purchases until a relationship is established, but hey listen. So what? If you have credit issues, then you have to start rebuilding credit relationships somewhere. It sure beats Layaway!

What a creative way to solve this problem. Everybody wins.

You scratch my back, and I’ll buy some more beer!

Meanwhile, you’re moving closer and closer to pearly gates of Credit Card Utopia!

We’ve enjoyed providing this information to you, and we wish you best of luck in your pursuits. Remember to always seek out good advice from those you trust, and never turn your back on your own common sense.

Publisher’s Directions: This article may be freely distributed so long as copyright, author’s information, disclaimer, and an active link (where possible) are included.

Disclaimer: Statements and opinions expressed in articles, reviews and other materials herein are those of authors. While every care has been taken in compilation of this information and every attempt made to present up-to-date and accurate information, we cannot guarantee that inaccuracies will not occur. The author will not be held responsible for any claim, loss, damage or inconvenience caused as a result of any information within these pages or any information accessed through this site.