Smart Credit Card Habits when taking a Vacation

Using a credit card to pay for the primary amount of your vacation expense could be the best and safest way to pay for your travel needs. However, there must be precautions taken before setting off to your foreign destination. At Customer Credit Cards we encourage our customers to use and take advantage of all the benefits credit card companies offer consumers. Continue reading to learn tips regarding smart credit card practices when planning a vacation.

Tips

• This may sound obvious, but just as a reminder make sure the credit card you plan on using when vacationing at your chosen foreign destination is widely accepted. You do not want to get to your vacation destination to find out the card you chose to bring isn'tof any value.

• Depending on the card, you may end up paying tons in fees. Some credit companies charge card holders 2% of every ATM transaction they make while abroad. The best way to avoid paying foreign fees for using your card is to apply for a credit card that waives those fees.

• Always call your credit company to let them know you will be leaving the country. This is necessary because if you use your card abroad it could be flagged as a fraud charge and your card will not be active until you get in touch with a representative so they can reactivate your card.

• Keep your card with you at all times and in a safe place. A zipper pocket on your person would be the best way to avoid losing or having your card stolen. It is always important to take extra precaution when traveling in areas you are not familiar with.

Credit Cards with Rewards

Taking advantage of credit cards with rewards programs enables consumers to receive cash back, earn points for merchandise, and earn travel benefits! Credit card companies offer a wide range of reward programs designed to fit every type of consumer's lifestyle. To find the perfect rewards program for you, you must do the research to determine which credit card will provide you with the most value.

Cash Back Rewards

Credit card companies that offer cash back rewards pay their customers is cash or rebate form a percentage of their total charges. Cash back reward programs are more straightforward than other reward programs. The Discover More card allows customers to receive up to 5% in cash back and Discover does not require an annual fee.  Discover customers may use their cards to earn their cash back rewards at places such as gas stations, restaurants, travel expenses etc.

Points Rewards

Points Reward programs, like the one offered by various American Express credit cards, including their Gold card, allow customers to earn points with each purchase. Once a customer has racked up enough reward points hey may redeem those points for merchandise gift cards, groceries, events etc. The American Express Gold card lets customers earn points redeemable for select gift cards, exclusive access to events such as concerts, and offers protection against loss, and theft.

Travel Rewards

For frequent travelers, earning air miles may be a very desirable feature when deciding on the best credit cards with rewards. The American Express Blue Sky rewards card has no limits, no expiration date, and no annual fees. Rated the best airline credit card, Blue Sky from American Express has no travel restrictions, blackout dates, and customers may redeem their travel points with any airline, car rental company, or hotel!

At Customer Credit Cards we offer these cards and programs right on our website! Browse through all of the credit cards and programs we offer and determine which rewards program you can benefit most from today!

Protect yourself from Credit Card Identity Theft

Each year, millions of people fall victim to credit card identity theft. Criminals use an individual’s personal information to commit credit card fraud, and rack up thousands of dollars in charges leaving the victim to deal with the consequences. Learn more about how these criminals obtain your personal information and what steps you may take decrease your risk of becoming a victim of credit card fraud.

How do these criminals obtain an individual’s credit information?

Identity theft criminals acquire an individual’s personal information by stealing their wallet, purse, stealing their credit or debit card numbers, stealing bank statements, stealing personal employee files, conducting scams by posing as government officials, and even by going as far as rummaging through a victims trash. Most victims don’t become aware that their identity has been stolen until several months later. In fact, some victims go years without knowing their identity has been violated.

How can you prevent becoming a victim of credit identity theft?

Always be careful when making online purchases. Make sure the website is legit and security protected. At Customer Credit Cards, we take the steps to ensure our customers’ information is guarded and well-secured. The credit companies we work with also go to extreme lengths to ensure the protection of their customers’ identity.

In addition to improving how well you regulate your online purchasing, you should destroy all documents that include your phone number, social security number, and address. Such documents include: personal checks, expired drivers licenses, bank statements, credit card statements, and paystubs. These documents are often lost or misplaced, and if found in the wrong hands, it could lead you to serious credit trouble in the future.

Browse through the Customer Credit Cards website and view our available credit cards to find out more about our great deals!

What's the Deal with Pre-paid Credit Cards?

Have you ever applied for a credit card and been rejected? This isn’t terribly uncommon. Many consumers experience rejection from credit agencies. Unfortunately for those consumers, acquiring a credit card is vital for transactions such as reserving a hotel room or renting a car. The best solution for these consumers with bad credit is to look into obtaining a pre-paid credit card. Pre-paid credit cards are credit cards where consumers apply a selected amount of money towards the card. The card may be used exactly like a normal credit card except the consumer will not be authorized to spend more than the amount they applied towards their card.

Who uses pre-paid credit cards?

Those who have poor credit score and teens benefit the most from pre-paid credit cards. They’re great for consumers who have bad credit because they prevent consumers from continuing to fall into debt. They also get reported to credit agencies so holders may begin improving their score.

Most teens do not have a credit card, but some parents like knowing their teen has emergency funds. Pre-paid credit cards allow parents to provide their teens with financial security when they are not around and teach them financial responsibility.

How do they benefit from pre-paid credit cards?

Using a pre-paid credit card allows consumers to set their own spending limit, so they can have more control over their finances. Setting a limit enables consumers to avoid falling into debt and damaging their credit score. Pre-paid credit cards also offer consumers better security. There is no need for you to carry around a ton of cash with a credit card, and if lost or stolen, the card may be canceled over the phone. Some pre-paid credit card companies even offer fraud services, like regular credit cards, that will cover any fraudulent charges if the card was stolen. One of the best benefits of pre-paid credit card is no late fees, and they are zero interest credit cards! Browse the Customer Credit Cards website to find the best deals on pre-paid credit cards

Why you need a Small Business Credit Card

Would you manage your personal finances without using a credit card? For most of us, the answer is no, so why wouldn't you use a credit card for your business finances? Using a separate small business credit card can help you build your credit and develop your brand. Using a credit card to make all of your business purchases can help nurture your growing sales and support your business so it may thrive.

Acquiring a business credit card will help you stay organized by separating your personal and business finances. You will have the ability to keep accurate and easy-to-understand records. Many of the credit card companies we work with offer services that track and organize all of your expenses into convenient categories. Keeping your personal and business finances separate will not only make your life easier, but you will also make it easier for your accountant!

Owning and running a successful business often requires number of unavoidable expenses. For example, if you have to make a business trip then you have to pay for travel expenses such as hotel stays and transportation services. You cannot reserve a hotel room, rent a car, or purchase a plane ticket without a credit card. Obtaining a business credit card will make paying and managing these expenses much more simple.

Most business credit cards offer great rewards programs. Every time you make a purchase using your business credit card you rack up points to redeem as cash at a variety of retail stores. Use those rewards to buy office supplies, pay for gas, or for any other of your business needs and cut your expenses!

Just like you need to build personal credit, you should also be working on building your business credit. Building credit will not only give your company credibility, but it will also increase your chances of getting approved for any future loans you may want to take out for your business. Whether you use that loan to expand your office, make repairs to your store, or extend your product line, you will not regret taking the time to strengthen your financial standing.

Browse our website to find the perfect business credit card for building your small business!

Consolidate your Student Loans with Credit Cards!

You spent four years cramming for tests, writing countless numbers of papers, and sitting through hundreds of lectures. Now you're entering the real world, and in six months you will be greeted with a stack of bills from your student loan agencies. Before college grads can secure a job, they are already trapped under a pile of debt. Choosing to consolidate your student loans can be a huge stepping stone to help you climb out of debt.

When you consolidate your student loans, you take out on big loan to pay off multiple loans. This is done to secure lower interest rates or fixed rates. It is also more convenient to pay one monthly payment to one loan agency, compared to keeping track of several different payments to several different loan agencies.

The easiest way to consolidate your student loans is to transfer all your debt to balance transfer credit cards. Balance transfer credit cards have the ability to save you money while you pay off your loans. Balance transfer credit cards can help you pay more off your loan balance because most card companies offer 0 interest credit cards.

Here at Customer Credit Cards, we encourage our customers to browse through our available credit card offers, and use them as tools to reduce debt and improve their credit score. Applying for a credit card may not sound like the get-out-of-debt solution you were looking for, but with low interest rates like these, you will be allowed to pay off your loans years before you would if you chose not to consolidate.