Tear Up Those Snail-Mail Offers - Apply For A Credit Card
Online.
Monday through Saturday your mailbox is flooded with ads and
sales pitches that are simply overwhelming. And where do they
end up? Ripped in half and in the trash. Why leave the choice of
your new credit card to some random mailing list with some over
hyped hooks and misleading offers... Go after exactly what you
want and need - apply for a credit card online.
The advantages of applying online will quickly become visible.
It's easier to make head-to-head comparisons and normally the
application consists of checking boxes and providing address
information. Don't worry about correctly fitting your name in
those little boxes and writing longhand - just have your mouse
and keyboard ready.
Here are a few tips for hunting down the credit card that is
right for you on the Internet:
1. Reflect and consider what do you need to use the card for?
How many credit cards do you already own? Where are you going to
use it? When are you going to use it? Will you pay it off every
month, or carry a balance?
2. Be computer and Internet savvy. There are some websites that
do all of the work for you by providing side-by-side comparisons
of available credit cards. But be weary that the source is
impartial and not simply trying to lure you in with clever
mudslinging. To avoid this, simply take the information right
from each individual source. Open two Internet browsers or three
or four... bring each credit card's website up and compare.
3. Be careful. Fine print is very, very important. This is the
most important step in choosing the best credit card and
ultimately will be the deciding factor. Think back and consult
with whether or not you will pay off the card every month or
carry a balance. If you are going to pay off the balance every
month go with a rewards card. Since interest won't matter
rewards may be cash back, air miles, hotel nights or
merchandise. If you plan on carrying a balance make sure that
the APR is low. 0% introductory rates are nice, but make sure
they don't jump up too high after the introductory period is
over. Good credit card deals usually carry annual percentage
rates under 10%. Also make sure if the card requires an annual
fee.
4. Once you have found the right credit card, before you fill
out the online application make sure that the information you
are giving is secure and private. If secure and private, the
website you have chosen will let you know by providing the
details of their encryption methods and even the companies that
provide that service for them.
The competition among credit card companies to gain you as a
cardholder may sometimes seem overbearing, and often this why
you rip those letters up when they arrive in the mail. Put the
power in your hands. Pull up a chair and open your favorite web
browser, the right credit card for you is waiting.