Is the Chase PerfectCard MasterCard for You?

Is the Chase PerfectCard MasterCard for You?

by Samantha Asher

Every time you go to buy gas it seems to cost more and more. That's probably because it is costing more and more. Gas is becoming more expensive for many reason beyond our control. If everyone stopped buying gas, it would probably be a lot cheaper because there would be no demand for it, but what's the point of that?

To combat the price of gas we can drive less, drive slower, check our tire pressure, car pool, buy hybrids, or use a credit card. How does using a credit card save us gas, you say? Simple, with a gas card such as the Chase PerfectCard MasterCard, you can save 3 to 6% on all your gas purchases.

With the PerfectCard you get 6% cash back for the first 90 days you own the card and 3% thereafter. Plus, you still get 1% cash back on everyday purchases. This is huge for anyone who spends money on gas. If you're spending $200 on gas, you can be saving $6 to $12 a month. It might not seem like much, but it really adds up over time.

Which Chase there is 0% APR, a 20 day grace period, and no annual fee. It has all the great advantages of all their cards plus extra cash back when you buy gas. We could all use cash back on our gas purchases. It's like you are getting 3 to 6% off your gas every time you buy it.

With this card, you don't have to worry about losing benefits of regular rewards cards because you still get 1% cash back on regular everyday purchases. It's kind of like you get a regular rewards card, but you also get an extra couple of dollars every time you purchase gas. Another bonus with Chase is their load of safety features. Security is a big deal today with identity theft and other credit card crimes.

If you are still unsure, answer one question. Would you give up $100? Even if it was just in one year, I'm sure you would not tell someone who offered you $100 that you didn't want it. You might as well take the rewards you deserve. As long as you pay off the balance of your card every month, you will get money back. If you are worried about paying off the balance, just use it for gas and it will still be worth it.

Vacationing? Try getting a Prepaid or a Visa Travel Card

Vacationing? Try getting a Prepaid or a Visa Travel Card

by Debra Thomson

Are you planning to take a vacation this year? Taking a break is a good way of unwinding and taking it easy. Lots of families go on vacation for a summer break meaning they will spend a substantial amount of money on travelling. Whether you travel abroad or within your home country you can end up spending a small fortune before you actually realize it.

How will decide to carry your cash when travelling? It is not always a wise decision to travel with large amounts of cash. Car Hire, Flights and Hotel bookings can be easily handled by obtaining a visa or a prepaid travel card. Although, most people exclusively use their cards for larger purchases you will find that carrying a credit card or a prepaid visa travel card a lot more convenient and acceptable whilst travelling abroad.

Unlike the alternative methods of payment, carrying a credit card makes it easier for you to concentrate on organising your other Travel Documents, and your receipts from your purchases. You will also receive a running total of your expenditure when you get home, so you have a record of all your purchases in case of any queries. And if you lose cash there will be no compensation, whereas, a card can be cancelled immediately with no further loss to your finances. Also, you can keep track of your spending by preloading the card with the amount of cash that you have budgeted for spending money.

Taking a visa card or a prepaid travel card would be a lot easier than managing foreign currency. If you decide to dine in a restaurant or stay in a hotel resort, cash can be a more inconvenient way to pay. Large amounts of cash can be lost easily or hard to manage particularly when you need purchase an item and you are not familiar with the currency. Use a credit card and the process is automatic.

If you dont have a visa travel card it is a good idea to invest in one for vacation purposes. There a wide range of prepaid and visa cards and lots of incentives from having one. Many entice customers by offering benefits not given by other companies.

Some credit cards or prepaid visa travel cards offer incentives such as rewards and membership points when you make a purchase using one. These points can be used to purchase items offered by many different stores. You can also obtain a card preloaded with incentive points for airmiles,and you can also obtain membership priviledges such as free accomodation or even free flights with some merchants. You can now have a relaxing holiday buy your presents and meals, petrol and food on your card and save points which you can use to buy other items when your vacation is over.

In conclusion, your visa card can make vacationing stress free. Earn reward points and obtain cash back at your leisure. One of the main advantages of carrying a card is that they are the preferred method of payment with most stores and establishments worldwide, and you dont have to worry about changing your cash into the local currency, or changing back when you arrive home. They are easier to carry and handle, some are easy to obtain regardless of your credit rating, and they are a good way to budget whilst travelling so you keep on top of your expenditure, leaving you feeling in control of your finances.

If you don't have a visa card or a prepaid travel card you should get one before you next vacation. Apply online and you can receive a response almost immediately.

6 Factors Why Wireless Credit Card Processing Is Best For Your Business

6 Factors Why Wireless Credit Card Processing Is Best For Your Business

by Michael Rupkalvis

In today's competition , it's increasingly vital to be able to process credit card payments from clientele.

Buyers of goods and services enjoy the convenience and protection got by utilizing their credit or debit card to buy goods and services - so most people avoid lugging that much cash on them. Additionally, surveys have shown receiving payments by credit card in your business will accelerate your turnover.

Don't get baffled , therefore, that debit and credit cards are rising in popularity among merchants and consumers alike. To further popularize payment by card in retail environments, merchants need to use credit card processing machines to carry out the payment process.

Wireless processors are a recent technological phenomenon . Similar to all technology, when wireless processors first broke into the market they were very expensive; and, wireless coverage stayed limited because of limited popularity.

The cost of wireless credit card terminals as well as costs of service have plummeted in the last two years, because of more manufacturers and products entering the market owing to increased acceptance. Wireless credit card machines have emerged as a cost effective processing device-just as much for weekends-only type of merchants selling vending their wares at trade shows. With their increasing popularity, wireless processors network coverage has developed a lot.

Consider these 6 primary reasons why businesses need wireless processors :

1. Faster To Swipe Than Key A Transaction:

Whereas keyed processing machines are relatively slow, Wireless credit card machines are much faster. Buyers are likely to smile, when you don't keep them waiting before you give them a receipt. Time saved while checking out affords you more time to close further deals.

2. Ease Of Use:

Wireless credit card machines are easy to use. The devices involve swiping a credit card through the wireless terminal swiper, following that, it ptints a recipt for the real time transaction, for you to hand over to your client. The complete process takes approx about three seconds; keying in can take one or more minutes and the customers are given written receipts.

3. Real Time Approvals :

Wireless credit card machines can employ technology of cellular phones to okay 'live' trades. It minimizes risk associated with processing bad credit cards, only to repent once you have time to process it.

4. Lower Discount Rate: MasterCard gives merchants an inexpensive discount rate for swiping card rather than keying. You save time while swiping debit and credit cards through a wireless payment processing terminal but you save money in the form of processing fees as well.

5. Tools For Reporting Online: Doubt if you charged a customer's card the correct amount? Do you need to investigate a trade nevertheless, you don't want to wait till you get a monthly statement generated by the processor? Most wireless processors accounts are accompanied by a live reporting device that let's you check the wireless processor's transaction history.

6. Proactive Retailing Catalyzed: In a retailer's shoes, you want to go to the customer in your trading. That implies that you don't wait for your customer to come to you. In dog-eat-dog competition, the less you wait for the buyer to come to you , the more likely you are to close a deal. Wireless credit card machines let you sell aggressively, as they are mobile, letting you take them to your point of sale.

Thus, wireless processors allow 'mobile' businesses to receive credit card payments (e.g. trade shows, taxis, flea markets, service industry, sales people etc). Wireless credit card machines are extremely importantfor sellers who like to take their business to their customers.

The Student's Guide to Credit Card Use

The Student's Guide to Credit Card Use

by financeglobe

College is an eye-opening world for many students. While their biggest expense is directly tied to tuition, books, and room and board, they will, no doubt, have quite a few expenses that may not have been figured into the higher education budget. Electronics and gadgets, fashion, parties, and spring break trips will require additional funding. How can they pay for all these extras that are a normal part of college life? credit card issuers have the answer with a student credit card.

Credit card issuers set up booths around campus, offering freebies to anyone who applies for a student card. Student cards are targeted to young adults who don't have much credit and debt experience. Unfortunately, many college students are quick to apply for credit card after credit card, without a sound debt management plan. Six years of pizza, beer, and minimum payments often leave a young adult with a substantial debt before they've even secured the job that they've received their education for.

It may be difficult for an inexperienced credit card user to fully grasp the consequences of over-using a credit card. Everywhere they go, credit cards are an accepted form of payment. Their friends may pay for all their purchases with the swipe of a credit card. The minimum payment is so affordable; they may believe they can pay the minimum and continue their lifestyle until they start making the big money after graduation.

The problem is, that many don't realize just how hard it will be to pay off the debt once they do graduate. Life doesn't become much easier once college is finished; it's often even more complicated. Rent, utilities, groceries, student loans, and other debts are a few of the expenses that will take a big bite out of the graduate's paycheck. And they will still have many of the same additional expenses that they had in college; you don't lose the desire to own up-to-date electronics, wear nice clothing, and go on vacation just because you're finished with school.

To top off the additional expenses, many students don't enter the workforce making what they may have anticipated. The job market may be tougher than when they enrolled, and they may have to take entry-level positions with lower pay. When that lower income is further reduced by income taxes, they could end up bringing home way less than they thought. They may have thought out their after-college debt repayment plan, but it can't happen if the income's not there to support that plan.

So should a student by-pass all the credit card booths on campus and vow to spend on a strict cash-only basis? No, it's important for a student to add Debt Management to their list of required studies. Credit cards are practically a necessity in our modern world; I am not suggesting that a student cut up all their credit cards. Responsible use of credit will build a credit history and increase the student's credit score. A healthy credit score is necessary for the best rates and terms for all types of loans in every stage of life.

The student should get some practice in managing their debts during their college years; college is all about learning. Right? The student is smart to start off with one, maybe two credit cards. More than two is over-kill, and only provides the student with more payment due dates to remember and more balances to keep track of; more opportunities to miss a payment and more chances to exceed a credit limit. Even one late payment or over-limit for one day is reason enough for many credit card issuers to apply the default rate; the default rate is commonly as much as 28% APR!

There are plenty of cards with no annual fee; look for these to save money. Be aware that if the card has an annual fee, they will not send you a separate bill for it. It will simply be charged to your credit card account, which will immediately reduce your available credit. Also, this annual fee will be assessed every year, whether you use your card or not. You may be able to have the fee waived if you have never exceeded your balance and you've made all your payments on time for a year or more; check with your card issuer's customer service department.

With every swipe of the credit card, the student should be very aware of their credit card balance and their available credit. Student credit cards may have a credit limit of only several hundred dollars, which makes the limit even easier to accidentally exceed. Don't count on the card issuer to cut you off when you have reached your credit limit; they will probably approve a charge if it exceeds your limit by just a small amount and then they'll charge you for it. Forgetting that the annual fee payment is due when your card is maxed out is all it takes to get hit with over-limit fees and default rates.

Read the entire credit card statement every month. Don't make the mistake of only checking on the available credit and the minimum payment due; that will pave the way for poor debt management. Check that your APR is still what you thought it was; a credit card rate can change to the default rate if you fail to adhere to all the credit card's terms and conditions. Some credit card issuers will increase your APR if you have other delinquent accounts, even if you're still in good standing with them. This common practice is known as "universal default", and can punish you for mishandling any of your debts.

Pay the balance in full every month before the end of the grace period to avoid any finance charges. The minimum payment is designed to keep a credit card user in debt for literally decades, and the higher the balance, the worse it is. If you can't pay off the balance every month, at least pay as much as you can afford. It's a hard habit to break, if a credit card user get accustomed to paying only the minimum payment. Be sure that your debt management experience teaches you how to handle debt wisely, and don't fall into the same trap that many other credit card users have fallen into.

Be sure to pay your credit card bill in plenty of time to avoid late fees and default rates. On-line bill paying is a fast, secure way to ensure on-time payments. If you bank on-line, you can set up payments in advance with a pre-determined pay date. Be aware that it may take several days to a week to post to the credit card issuer; your bank will probably give you an expected post date when you set up the payment. Also, many credit card issuers allow you to make secure payments directly through their website. They will require your bank account info, and they'll withdraw the payment directly from your checking account. These types of payments typically post to your account the minute you pay on-line, and is a quick way to pay when you "almost" forgot the payment was due.

If you want to be sure to never miss a payment and be charged late fees, listen up. This will be the one time I recommend paying the minimum payment. Set up a recurring on-line payment to your credit card with your bank. Set the payment date for a week before the credit card payment due date, and set the payment amount as your typical minimum payment. Read the credit card's term and conditions and cardholder agreement to find out how they compute the minimum payment. The minimum payment is normally 2% of the current balance, with a minimum of $10 or $25, depending on the card issuer. If you want to be totally safe, compute the minimum payment by figuring your balance as your credit limit, so even if your card is maxed out, you will have paid enough. With your recurring payment in place, you will have never missed a payment.

In addition to your automated recurring payment, you should still make a larger payment every month. Subtract the amount of the automated payment from that month's balance, and pay the whole thing off before the end of the grace period. If you remember to do this before the payment due date, you will avoid all finance charges. If you forget to pay until after the credit card bill was due, at least you won't be paying late fees, but you'll pay a month's worth of interest. Get in the habit of only charging what you can afford to pay back each month. Doing this will ensure you develop sound debt management skills, prevent you from living beyond your means, and provide you with free use of somebody else's money every month.

Why Get a Student Secured Credit Card?

Why Get a Student Secured Credit Card?

by Tom Tessin

A student credit card means financial freedom for students. Even though, it is just a piece of plastic, it helps you in managing all your college expenses. It is often linked to a credit line backed by a creditor. The creditor or a credit card institution makes a pre-determined credit limit for using the card.

You can spend this credit line using this credit card directly at online stores or at offline stores. In return, the card providers charge certain interest rates on the amount that you spend using this card.

Generally, by paying the balance amount of your card fully every month, you secure yourself from any interest fee. However, this varies based on the terms of credit card that you use.

Why Secured Student Credit Card?

At times, when you badly need credit cards, but do not have a strong credit status. At such times, you may go for a secured student credit card. This type of credit card is often guaranteed, when you open an account with a creditor's bank. To avail this type of credit card, you need to deposit anything between 100% and 200% of the total credit amount you need.

For instance, if you want a credit limit of $5000, then you have to deposit a sum of $5000 or $10000 in your account. This deposit is further transferred into a specially deigned savings account and act as a safety net for the provider.

Even, credit card fees and rate of interest is applied on these cards like other standard credit cards. Such type of credit card is an ideal way to build your credit standing. This also helps to avail those non-secured credit cards in near future.

Student secured credit cards have a wide range of terms and rewards. If you consider applying for any of these cards, check for the availability of any other reward plans or offers with your local bank on this card. This is because banks on a regular basis introduce new offers on this credit card. Even, the Internet acts as a useful source to find and apply for such type of credit card, which fits best with your personal needs.

Things to Keep in Mind:

When you apply for such type of credit card, ensure to check the fees associated with it. Some credit card companies literally charge more than hundreds of dollars that may eat up your deposit amount, whereas some may deceive with hidden charges in the name of set up or registration fees.

In fact, an ideal card of this type never comes with these charges at all, so ignore such multiple fee demanding cards. Likewise, the rate of interest also needs to be less, if not move ahead to a reasonable priced card.

It is not so difficult to get such a credit card, but it is a bit difficult to control the spending limit. That is why secured student card is an ideal option for students like you, since it limits your spending capacity leading to a debt free life.

How to Make Money Online by Accepting Credit Card Payments from Home

How to Make Money Online by Accepting Credit Card Payments from Home

by Hugh Walter

To make money from home from your own home-based online business, you should provide customers with the opportunity to make their purchase with a credit card, as well as provide the opportunity to pay for the purchase with a money order. By making more options for your customers, you will make more sales for your online business.

Learning how to make money online requires learning how to make more money online. Once you make the decision of which online business opportunity you want to pursue so you can make money from home, you need to learn how to give every website visitor the opportunity to purchase your business product or service. The first and easiest method of making an opportunity for more online sales is to expand the options for the customer's method of online payment.

When you get started in your home online business, accepting money orders is the easiest option for you, but not the easiest option for your online website visitors. Most visitors to your online website will know how to use a money order to make an online purchase from your business, and money orders are certainly a payment option you should provide to make more money from your home online business. However, money orders give the online website visitor the opportunity to leave your website - which is akin to a customer leaving a store or business without making a purchase. Opportunity then exists for the customer to debate their intent to make a purchase from your online business. Additionally, the events in the individual's home or work life are likely to lead them to forget how to return to your online business for information, and will likely interrupt their opportunity to finalize the sale from your online business.

The convenience of credit cards, their ability to satisfy instant gratification, and their ability to provide the convenience of shopping from home, have led credit cards to become the most popular method of making online purchases. 60% of purchases from online business were made with credit cards according to a Nielsen Global Online Survey. The online survey also reported that 85% of online users from around the world have made an online business purchase over the Internet. Books (traditional books and ebooks) were the most popular purchase, and accounted for over 41% of the online sales.

Security will always be an issue with credit cards, whether they are used online or at a local business. However, technology continues to develop making the security of online credit card transactions more secure. The newest trend, temporary one-time use credit cards (such as the new Paypal plugin provides), makes online credit card purchases easier - and available to those who don't have a credit card.

To learn how to make money online by accepting credit cards, become familiar with the terminology used in e-commerce business. This will help you quickly learn how to make more money online from home. You will need a "merchant account" to make the opportunity for a credit card purchase available at your online business. The caveat to accepting credit cards is that it does cost money. However, the increased sales more than make up for the cost, and you can easily adjust your online sales price to include the cost of the credit card transaction. Reevaluate your costs and expenses and adjust your profit margins accordingly.

Learning how to make money online by accepting credit cards is one of the best investment opportunities you can make for your online business. Without credit cards, you would have to put in a substantial amount of time to learn how to promote your website and make money from home by merely accepting money orders. The easiest way to make money from home that can double the income from your online business is to accept credit cards. Take the time to research how to make money online. Start researching online business opportunities and merchant businesses available. You'll be able to increase your sales and continue to learn how to make more money from home than you had originally imagined.

How to Make Money Online with Online Credit Card Sales

How to Make Money Online with Online Credit Card Sales

by Hugh Walters

Online business opportunities that allow you to make money from home by selling a product or service online often require you to accept credit cards in order for your home business to make a profit. You can set up a "merchant account" to make money from home from your online sales, but be sure to evaluate your costs before you do.

How to make money online is obviously the first topic to research when you have decided to make the transition to make money from home instead of dragging yourself to work every day. If you have decided to pursue an online business opportunity that allows you to make money from home by selling a product or service online, such as the highly profitable opportunity of selling ebooks, then a significant part of your continuing research will be to select a merchant account. A merchant account allows you to accept credit card payments on your website. You are the merchant. You will open an "account" with a provider. That account is a contract - your "merchant account."

Statistics confirm that online customers prefer to make their purchases with credit cards over cash, check or money orders. Nielsen Online Survey reported that the majority of online purchases from businesses were made with credit cards (61%). Books, traditional books and ebooks, had the highest volume of sales. Since 85% of internet users have made a purchase online, (most likely from home), not offering the opportunity to make a purchase with a credit card at your website would be like closing the door on the majority of your customers and letting them take their money to another online business that does accept credit cards. Website customers don't stay long. You need to learn how to take every opportunity you can for an online sale. You also need to learn how to make a profit to make money online.

First, you need to learn how to evaluate businesses providing merchant accounts so that you can determine which one will be the most profitable for your online business to make money from home. The money involved in providing the opportunity for online credit card purchases at your online business will be considered part of your expenses. Your expenses will determine how much you should charge for your product or service, and your total revenue minus your total expenses is your profit.

When evaluating merchant account opportunities, make sure you learn how to look for expenses such as transaction charges, or a monthly minimum charge if your sales from your online business don't meet the company's minimum standards. Other charges that will affect how much money you make online are a statement fee and money for an application fee. Learn how to look for money requested as a "batch fee." At the end of the day, a business will typically run a "batch report" - which is a report of all the transactions that are rung up on credit cards for the day. Some businesses will charge you every time you run a batch report, even if you don't have any expenses. A "discount fee," despite the literary implications of the word "discount," is an expense (fee) to your business, not a discount. Different companies will charge your online business a combination of different fees. They may also charge you money for monthly, quarterly or annual fees, and you should learn how to evaluate charge back fees. List each potential company and the amount of money the company will charge, then make your comparisons.

How to make money online using credit cards so you can make money online with your own home-based business takes time to research, but it is well worth the investment to learn everything you can about all aspects of online business opportunities. Every piece of information you learn how to apply to your home business is another avenue to increase your profit. Evaluating merchant account opportunities is an important part of your online business so you can make money from home knowing you made your most profitable business decision. Your online business from home will increase sales, and you'll keep the profit, not a billion dollar bank. Invest in some reading and research, and the profit will be yours for as long as you want to make money from home, and you'll keep making more money as long as you keep up with the trends on how to make money online.

Online Credit Card Application - Tips For a Safe Transaction

Online Credit Card Application - Tips For a Safe Transaction

by David Parton

They are few things on the Internet that are marketed more aggressively than financial products. Credit card companies and their partner web sites are making it impossible to ignore the ease of making an online credit card application.

The speed of online approval combined with the convenience of shopping at home has made online credit application a very popular choice.

However, it is prudent to protect your online data and personal information from hackers and identity thieves. Here a few tips to ensure that your online credit card application is secure.

Update your web browser

The current generation of web browsers such as Internet Explorer and Firefox has built in security features. They will warn you if you have arrived at a site that does not have a valid security certificate. This is no guarantee that the site is illegitimate, but it allows you to decide if you think it is safe to proceed.

Phishing

Spoofed web sites made to look like legitimate sites are called "phishing" sites. Their sole purpose is to fool you into giving up your valuable personal information. Some web browsers will warn you of possible phishing sites. It's best to steer clear of any site that is flagged in this manner. Why take unnecessary chances when you have so many secure alternatives?

Spyware, Malware and Down-right-spooky-ware

Most of the best-paid software for anti-virus protection has spyware and adware protection as well. There are some free choices available that can help you limit your vulnerability during online transactions.

Free Security Software

AVG is probably the best free antivirus software available.

AdAware and SpyBot are the top 2 free anti-spyware applications.

ZoneAlarm provides very good firewall software you can download for free.

It's quite surprising how much free software is available if you just spend the time searching. I use all of these on my old PC and they still work fine. However, I opted for a paid all-in-one solution, System Mechanic, because it has greater versatility.

Online credit card application is a very easy and no-nonsense procedure. It is quite safe, too if you are connected to the card issuer's website via a secure server. To get a credit card online all you have to do is:

Open a new browser window,

Follow the instructions you see on the screen and you can have a decision within minutes or the day after.

The most important thing is to make sure that you have taken all the necessary precautions to keep your personal data safe and you can ensure a secure online credit card application.

Credit Card Mistakes and Students

Credit Card Mistakes and Students

by Tom Tessin

When it comes to getting a credit card for the first time, I would highly advise that students do their research on the credit card market before they actually apply. When I say research, you should also look into how people generally make mistakes and how you can avoid them. If you're aware of the mistakes, you'll be better off with that card in your wallet.

Maximizing the Limit - Just because you get a $10,000 credit limit, it doesn't mean you have to go out there and spend it all. A lot of people get the mindset that they think their credit card is just a piece of plastic and they just spend and spend. When they get that credit card bill in the mail, they forget all about the spending they have made in the past. This is why it's important to keep track of your expenses and not spend your limit because you have it.

Taking out cash - One of the worst things you can do when you apply for a credit card is take out cash via the ATM. The bad thing about a cash advance is that the credit card companies charge you a very high rate. This rate is generally around thirty percent. If you need cash, I highly advise you stay away from this route. You'll only be hurting yourself In the long run.

Paying late - As you probably know by now, a credit card is filled with a lot of fees. If you pay your credit card bill late, you're going to be hit with a fee. This fee can generally be anywhere from a few bucks and on. It will all depend on what company you have a card with and what kind of card you have. The important thing here is to make sure you pay your card off in full.

Just paying the bill - Believe it or not, a lot of people just pay their bill when it comes in the mail without looking at it. When you get your bill in the mail, make sure that you look over your bill before you pay for it. The reason you want to do this is because if someone gets a hold of your card, they can make some unauthorized purchases. Remember, you're not reliable for the purchases you don't make on your card.

Overlooking the terms - Before you apply for a card, make sure you know exactly what your card is and how it works. Some people apply for a card, get it and realize it's not what they wanted. One of the biggest mistakes comes with a cash back card. For example, a card might put a limit on the card saying you have to pay x amount of dollars before you get cash back. This is a term and condition that most people pass up.

There are so many mistakes that all of us make but if you can see these mistakes before you apply, you can save yourself from making them. As long as you use your head and follow these tips, you will be on the right path to a great credit future.

The Differences With Gas Credit Cards

The Differences With Gas Credit Cards

by Tom Tessin

If you're looking to save on gas and you haven't heard of a gas card yet, you may want to do a little research into them. In the meantime, I will give you a quick summary on how they function so that you can better understand this article. A gas card is simply a credit card that will allow you to get rebates on the pump. Every card is different and that is why I'm writing this little article today. I'm going to show you what the differences are with all the cards on the market.

The rebates at the pump - All credit cards are not created equal and when it comes to saving on gas, the rebate is probably the most important part of the card. The rebate is what you're going to get back per gallon. This number generally ranges anywhere from one to ten percent. A lot of the times, the rate may be an introductory rate; you will have to keep your eye open for these types of things.

How you get credit - When it comes to getting your rebate, you probably won't get the rebate right away the pump or on your bill. Instead you're going to have to wait until you get your statement in the mail. Now, the question is, "how do I get my rebate back?" This once again will depend on the card carrier. In most cases, you'll get it back as a statement credit but some companies will give you back rebates in the form of "points". These points can then buy statement credit, gift cards, etc.

Usability - This part is usually the most important part when it comes to applying. Where is your card going to be accepted? Some cards on the market will only allow you to use them at particular gas stations while the rest will let you use them at any gas station in the United States. Generally, you will find that the cards that can only be used at one gas station have a high rebate rate. This once again varies, so make sure that you do your research.

Annual fees, etc - Like any card out there, you have to read the terms and conditions to make sure that you're aware of all the fees. You will find that some cards have an annual fee while others don't. The same goes with the APR, etc. When you apply for your card, make sure that you look for all the fees and if there are any hidden fees associate with them, you won't be surprised once you start using your card.

By now, you probably have noticed that every gas card will vary. It's up to you to do your research online. I highly suggest you find a website that offers a list of cards that will help you save on gas. You'll be surprised on what's out there. As long as you don't abuse your card, you will be set to save money on gas.

Protect Your Identity and Credit Card Details When Shopping Online!

Protect Your Identity and Credit Card Details When Shopping Online!

by William Wakowski

Shopping online is convenient and fun too! It is undoubtedly the rage of this generation and will continue to be so for many years to come. We love to shop online but are 24/7 concerned about someone stealing our identity and credit card details. This is also one of the reasons why lot of people all over the world are restricting themselves from shopping online. We always keep wondering if someone might actually find out our names and other personal information like social security numbers and open up new credit card accounts.

Identity theft occurs when someone uses our personal information to commit fraud. This online fraud can happen when people give out their personal information like credit card details, social security numbers, birthdates and other personal details.

The thieves who steal our identities could not only use our credit cards or even open another credit card account in our names but also open cell phone accounts, get loans on our names or get employed using our names.

There are certain methods that will help online shoppers protect their identity and credit card details from being utilized by online criminals.

Protect your identity and credit card details by following these crucial guidelines:

Encryption: It is important to know the merchant you intend to do business with. It is equally important to check if their website is secure. This means that when you send your credit card details to an online merchant over the web, the information should be encrypted. It has to be turned into a secret code when it is sent over.

This encryption is an icon of either a padlock or a key at the bottom of the browser window. If these symbols are found, then be sure the site is secure enough to consider.

Safe web browser: Another way to protect your identify and credit card details from being misused would be by having a secure web browser. Simply run a browser check and find websites that will help detect and fix security problems. A hacker should be prevented from detecting cookies otherwise they can easily learn off the various online activities you are usually involved in and these websites help fix such security problems and give no chance to hackers.

Keep proofs, always! Always print out a record of the purchase you are making. Take a print out of their complete contact address including telephone numbers and emails addresses. This will be of immense use in case of any future problem!

Strong password: If your online merchant requires you to provide PIN, then never use common names or dates. Create your own strong password always!

Get suspicious: Nobody in the online world will lend any help to you. Be your own fighter! Make sure you never provide personal information more than you have to. Also never encourage unnecessary emails. Sense the fishy attitude of fraud websites!

Contact Credit Bureaus: If you think you were made a victim of identity stolen case just moments back then all you have to do is contact the chief credit bureaus, the very moment!

Conclusion: Prevention is anytime better than cure! An old saying but 100% true especially in the case of the internet. Such precautions will save years of problems and prevent your accounts from being misused! Following them will take little time but its results will leave your hard-earned money being valued for life!