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How to avoid paying too much in Credit Card Processing Fees

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I’m sure as a business owner you have enough to do without having to figure out how Credit Card Interchange Fees work. The good new is it’s not that complicated. There are hundreds of different interchange fees, what is important is to understand that interchange is essentially the wholesale rate that banks charge each other in order to process a credit card or debit card transaction. It is the cost of doing business, usually around two percent of the transaction amount.

Although the card companies set interchange rates there are things you can do to help avoid paying too much.

Review Your Charges Annually

At least twice a year (generally every April and October), Visa and MasterCard re-assess their processes, regulations and fees then announce rate changes and new fees. Many times your existing provider will layer on additional rate increases above the Interchange adjustments. Call another provider, fax in your merchant statement and have your account analyzed to “catch” these hidden rate increases.

Use an Interchange Pass Through Program

In order to pay the lowest fees when processing credit cards, a merchant’s goal is to pay as close to interchange as possible. A merchant account that uses an Interchange Pass Through pricing method applies processing fees by adding a small percentage to the actual Interchange Rate for every transaction and all dues and assessments are passed through directly at cost. This ensures that you only pay the true interchange rate in addition to a small mark-up that goes to their merchant service provider. Many times your existing provider will layer on additional rate increases above the Interchange adjustments. Call another provider, fax in your merchant statement and have your account analyzed to “catch” these hidden rate increases.

Avoid Downgrades Whenever Possible

A downgrade occurs when a transaction falls to a higher rate then what your business may qualify for. Whenever possible swipe the card at the point of sale device in order to reduce fraud and qualify for your lowest rate. For those of you that own some sort of on-site service or repair business, invest in either a wireless credit card processing terminal or look at some of the newer solutions such as RoamPay or PayWare mobile which allow you to use your mobile phone as a point of sale device.

Obtain the Correct Billing Information

In order to avoid downgrades for Card Not Present Transactions always obtain the correct billing information for the card being used. Credit Card Companies use an Address Verification Service (AVS) for Domestic Cards to determine if the billing information you enter matches the Card you are keying in. Always collect the Billing Address of the Card including the Postal Code as well as the Card Verification Code. The Card Code is the 3 Digit Number at the end of the Signature Panel on the back of the card for Visa, MasterCard and Discover. For American Express it is the 4 digit number on the front right hand side of the card above the last 5 digits of the card number.

Make Sure your Point of Sale Device is Programmed Properly

If your Point of Sale Device is not prompting you for Billing Address information as well as the Card Code, contact your Merchant Service Provider right away to get your device updated in order to pass that information to the Credit Card Companies. Another way transactions can downgrade is if you do not Settle or Batch your transactions within 24 Hours of obtaining an Authorization. Virtually all point of sale devices have the ability to Auto-Settle or Auto-Close at a specified time on a daily basis. If your device does not have that option enabled, contact your Merchant Service Provider right away to get your program updated.

Train Your Staff

If you are not the person directly responsible for processing credit cards at your company it is important that you properly train your staff to avoid downgrades. Routinely observe your cashiers, monitor transactions and carefully review your month end processing statements.

Questions to Ask When Applying for a Credit Card for Bad Credit

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No matter how you look at it, a credit card application can be intimidating. For the folks who have bad credit, applying for a credit card can spring up even more anxiety, simply because many are not 100% sure that they will be approved. Fortunately, signing up for a credit card for bad credit can ease all of that tension and stress, since the approval process is much more forgiving than a traditional card.

Like anything else, however, bad credit credit cards have their fair share of things that you need to look out for. That doesnt mean all cards are bad, but just because you are nearly guaranteed approval does not mean that you should jump at the first offer you see. Youve got to do your due diligence by shopping around and asking questions questions that need answered before you sign on the dotted line.

Not sure what type of questions you should be asking? Dont worry. Instead, just take a look below to see 5 of the most common things you should ask any subprime credit card provider before you decide to make the leap!

#1 Will There Be Other Fees in Addition to the Annual Fee?

When youre credit is in the dumps, getting away from an annual fee is going to be tough to do. Thats why many of the bad credit credit cards out there come loaded with one. So while you wont be able to get away from that, make sure you check to see if there are any other fees that you might have to pay (per month or per year).

For example, some credit cards will charge you one-time administrative or program fees. Others will charge you a monthly maintenance fee, whereas others will only charge you a flat annual fee. Once you sign on the dotted line, youre essentially locked into these fees, so always make sure youre checking for the fees you are expected to pay (usually found deep within the terms and conditions of the card youre applying for).

#2 What Would Your Minimum Credit Line Be?

Most subprime credit card companies will offer a minimum and maximum line of credit, all of which is based on your current credit score. On the other hand, there are companies that will cap the opening limit to a specific amount. If youre shopping around for a number of different cards, this is something that you want to pay attention to, especially if youre looking for the largest limit possible right out of the gate.

#3 How Often Can You Request a Credit Limit Increase?

Credit limit increases are great for one good reason they expand the amount of credit you have available, which lowers your utilization ratio and raises your credit score. Because of this, its essential that the card you choose comes with the opportunity to apply for periodic credit limit increases.

As a general rule of thumb, a company that will review your credit for an increase every 6 months is ideal. Companies who dont perform any reviews and keep your limit the same for as long as you hold the card are not worth the trouble.
Remember more credit limit reviews = more opportunities to boost your credit score.

#4 If You Qualify for a Credit Limit Increase, Will You Have to Pay for it?

Sometimes, getting your credit limit increased will come at a price. Some bad credit credit card lenders will be more than happy to do a review of your credit for a potential limit increase as long as youre willing to pay for it, of course.

When faced with a situation like this, your decision will ultimately boil down to what the credit limit increase can do for you. If the amount is significant enough to lower your utilization and explode your available credit, it may be a small price to pay for a dramatic boost in your credit score.

Not every credit card out there will charge for a credit limit increase, but its good to be aware of it many lenders still actively practice it. The last thing you want to do is get an increase in your limit, only to be shocked by a fee on your next statement.

#5 Are There Any Special Perks Associated with the Card?

In the world of credit cards for bad credit, finding a card with a variety of different perks is going to be hard, but they do exist. Some cards may offer you points or cash back on various purchases, helping you earn a little something in exchange for your loyalty as a customer. Others might offer discounts on travel, dining, car rentals and more.

Its not a huge deal breaker, but a card that offers certain perks over another may be worth looking into.

The Lowdown on Discover Miles Card

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If you are looking for a Discover credit card, then you would be spoilt for choice. With the many variations of Discover credit cards, each with its own reward program, you will need to get the lowdown of each in order to make the right choice.

The Miles Card from Discover is a travel rewards card that awards cardholders with one Mile for every dollar charged to the Discover Miles card. In fact, you will be awarded 5000 Bonus Miles instantly upon the first purchase made with your Discover Miles card.

These Miles can then be redeemed for free flight tickets on any major U.S. airline, gift certificates, cash returns or even branded merchandise. Additionally, redemption for vacation cruise packages as well as certificates for dining privileges, hotels and car rental services is also part of their paraphernalia of rewards.

The downside to this is that only a maximum of 60,000 Miles can be earned for each card account within a year. However, just like other travel reward cards, miles accumulated will not expire as long as the account is kept active for three years running.

Whats more, customers can now view their total collected Miles in their monthly billing statements or for faster updates, through their online account. The only drawback about the Discover Miles Card is that airline miles are non-transferable even between Discover Card holders. However, anyone who is listed in the account as a fellow card member are eligible to redeem miles collected as long as the airline miles are only deducted from that account.

Finally, airline tickets must be booked at least three weeks (21 days) in advance and customers can fly at any time of the year as there are no blackout dates. Furthermore, if the customer has 10,000 Miles at hand, they can always ask for a reduced price on their ticket. In the event that a customer wishes to close an account, they are given the option to exchange the remaining Miles they have for cash, as long as there is at least 5000 Miles in the account. There is no time to waste; it is time to discover the world with your own Discover Miles Card.

AARP Credit Card – The Perfect Card For Retirement

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When I first saw the name Aarp (exactly in this format) I thought it was a typing error, I’ve since learnt that it is an acronym for the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP). I guess because I am not retired the name was unfamiliar to me but since completing the research for this article, I have been educated.

There are many fascinating aspects to the association, and yes I know you are interested mainly in the AARP credit card, so I’ll get on with what I found.

About the AARP Credit Card

The cards are issued by Chase in association with the AARP and what I like about them is that you have two options to use and enjoy the AARP services. You also have the option to choose your own credit card design to make the card more personal.

The choice of cards and the benefits are as follows:

AARP Travel Plus Visa Signature card

Features: Annual fee of $59 0% introductory APR reverting to 14.24% 0% Balance transfer for 12 months Earn 1 point for every $1 in card purchases. Earn up to 100,000 points annually with no monthly minimum.

This is just a taster of the benefits available with this AARP credit card. This is an airline rewards card and would suit the retired jet setters best. The rewards program is quite good compared to other offers on the market, so it is definitely work looking into.

If flying is not your preference but you still want to enjoy great rewards, the next AARP credit card would interest you.

AARP Rewards Platinum Visa card

Features No Annual fee 0% introductory APR reverting to 14.24% 0% Balance transfer for 12 months Earn 1 reward point for every $1 spent on card purchases Redeem points for cash or gift certificates

There are numerous vendors at which you can redeem your points, so no matter what your taste or preferences, you would be sure to find uses for the points you accumulate.

This AARP card has extra bonuses such as the ability to pick your own payment due date, and access to the 24 hour members-only helpline. In addition you won’t receive any telemarketing calls regarding your account, so that is one less disturbance to deal with.

To add to your convenience you can manage your account online and even use your AARP credit card to pay your federal taxes. Take a look at the “preferred services” available from AARP to find out more. There are so many offers that can help you save money ranging form road side assistance to shopper’s advantage.

The AARP credit cards are packed with benefits too numerous to cover in this short article.

You can review other rewards credit cards and airline rewards credit cards on the market to compare the rates and benefits that are available and choose the card that best suits your circumstances.

Why is it hard to eliminate credit card debt

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The problem with credit card debt is that it is very easy to get into but hard to get out. (some people associate it with a bad marriage, and it is really similar to it). To get into a credit card debt is even easier than any other debt, because the plastic is just there in out wallet all the time, as an easy solution, and we tend to use it as a “quick fix. Credit card debt reduction is although a different story, to get out of credit card debt you need discipline and planning to reduce your outgoings and change your attitude towards your spendings.

Getting to a stage when you realize that you must eliminate your credit card debt before it gets out of control is kind of scary experience. When you realize that you need to find a solution because there is no other way out, and you cannot carry on piling up interest on your debt. How do you start to reduce credit card debt? You can start with preventing it from increasing and paying off the capital or getting a lower interest credit scheme, therefore reducing your total credit card debt (credit plus monthly interest). Sound simple, doesn’t it?

Not really. The truth is that it is not at all simple and people easily get confused by the number of offers thrown at them, and we still have so many people with credit card debt related issues. If it was that simple, all those people would have already gone ahead and finally eliminated them or at least reduced them significantly. You an find loads of information on how to reduce credit card debt, but still nothing much seems to provide you with the “easy” button you are really looking for. Your problem still seems to persist or just gets worse with time. Once you can overcome the confusion and can dig to the bottom of the problems, credit card debt can be resolved easily. As mentioned, there is plenty of advice available on how to reduce credit card debt and some of these resources are originated by professionals who are experts on the credit card debt consolidation field. All you have to do is follow the advice and put them in practice. In the end of the day the only person who will benefit from eliminating credit card debt is you alone.

Other than following the step by step instructions of your credit card debt consolidation plan, there are more methods to eliminate credit card debt. You can always seek assistance either at your own credit card company or an independent credit card debt specialist. Remember: Your credit card company wants their money back, so most of the times they are ready to compromise, give you a lower APR or freeze the interest if you agree a credit card debt consolidation plan.

Remember: if you are not confident enough to negotiate a deal with your credit card company, there are many companies who are willing to support you and also offer free credit card debt consolidation consultation.