Why Compare Credit Cards?

There are many financial institutions offering credit cards- but they are not all alike. Company A and Company B can both offer pre-approved credit cards to consumers with acceptable credit, but the terms can be very, very different. It is important to compare credit cards to ensure you are using your money and credit wisely.

Secured Credit Cards

If you are applying for a line of credit against a paid balance, it is important to compare credit cards. Many banks offer secured cards to people with a less than favorable credit rating, at very high interest rates. Secured credit cards often require an initial deposit equal to the amount of the credit limit, many require yearly and or monthly fees, and almost all have fees for late payments, missed payments, and other situations.

Unsecured Credit Cards

Credit cards are issued with varying amounts of credit limits and fees. If your credit is good, it is important to compare credit cards to be sure you are receiving the best return on your investment. Start with credit cards that require full payment at the end of the month, such as American Express. If you can maintain a favorable credit rating with an American Express card, it is generally the only credit card you need.

Visa or MasterCard?

Both cards are usually accepted everywhere but there are still places where some credit cards are not accepted. In these cases, it's probably best to use cash or a debit card. No card is universally accepted everywhere and travelers should inquire prior to traveling overseas. If all other factors are equal, it probably wouldn't be advantageous to compare credit cards between Visa and MasterCard, because one or the other is usually accepted.

Watch for Hidden Fees

Many solicitations, especially through the mail, promise universal acceptance, pre-approval and high credit limits. Always read the fine print for fees and hidden charges. Deals that sound too good usually are. If the responsible and savvy consumer can successfully compare credit cards and their interest rates and charges, it is possible to move balances to more favorable cards by combining balances and juggling finances. These options are best used for those with higher credit lines, and with the advice of a tax accountant or bookkeeper.

Some companies, for instance, issue cards that can only be used at their store or when buying from their catalog. Others offer a higher credit line, but only after you pay weekly, monthly, and activation fees, and require those fees to be paid out of the original credit limit. A credit line of $200 can cost as much as $180 to activate and the balance may need to be paid off prior to using the card.

To summarize, it is possible and highly advisable to compare credit cards, including their charges and terms because they are not all the same.

ESCANABA — People who own property in Delta County will soon be able to use credit cards to pay their property taxes. The service is available, without fees charged to the county, through Government Payment Service Inc. (GPS), said Delta County Treasurer Sandy Buckland.

A woman's car is broken into, her wallet is stolen and the crooks rack up $1,000 on her credit cards in just two hours. Their crime is all caught on tape.

"I tell you Doris , he was making $150,000 a year and had been working at the same place for a decade and they wouldn't approve his loan! They told him straight up that no credit history means no loan - all because he didn't have a credit card ."

Wayne County commissioners have voted to accept payments from residents in the form of credit or debit cards. Plastic can now be used for the payment of court costs, fines, real estate taxes, personal property taxes, recording fees, auto title fees, vehicle registration fees, and any other fee, cost, assessment, fine, penalty or other expense owed to a county office. The only exceptions are dog ...

Police in Huntington are on the lookout for two men who they say broke into a car and stole credit cards and then used them at Wal-Mart.

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