Credit Card Professor

This time of year credit card collection agencies are in full swing, making constant calls and sending out the best account closure offers ever. Those that have been fighting to keep their head above water or have completely drowned altogether can use tax refund time as a life preserver. So save those notices and erase your debt for a fraction of what you owe using these simple steps:

1. Look for your overdue credit card collection notices in the mail and save them.

2. Sort through the offers given for this time of year and find any that have one time settlement payments which can be less than half of the actual balance.

3. Use your tax refund wisely to pay off whichever settlement offers give you the most bang for your buck.

4. Once you have eliminated the debts associated with the best settlement offers and you still have some of your refund left, move on to the remaining collection notices.

5. Call the numbers on the remaining numbers and tell them you would like to settle the debt and offer to pay 50% of the account balance to close the account. Negotiate from there using that method to stretch your refund out as much as possible.

This can be the only time of year for many individuals and families to redeem themselves and begin the road to repairing damaged credit. Don’t let this chance to make things right slip away. Take advantage of these limited time settlement offers and get yourself back above water once again!

As always please stay tuned to CreditCardsProfessor.com for more of the latest credit card news, special promotional offers and important cardholder updates!

Perkstreet Financial is one of the world’s fastest growing credit card alternatives for so many reasons. They offer up to 5% cash back on all purchases without going into debt and with no hidden fees.

Perkstreet Cardholders typically enjoy $600 in cash back annually just for making the purchases they already make! That’s 2% cash back on pin purchases with a balance of $5,000 or more, 1% cash back for those that have less than $5,000 and 5% cash back on purchases made through the monthly special PowerPerks monthly retailers and categories.

You will quite literally be getting paid to buy the things you need! How cool is that?

If you’re not completely convinced that PerkStreet is an excellent option for you, simply check out the PerkStreet website where you will find answers to all your questions. The card is free to use, free to get and best of all, there is no credit check when you apply!

In addition to having incredible perks, this debit card comes with the ultimate customer service with friendly and knowledgeable representatives available to help you around the clock.

Still not convinced? Add free online banking, free bill pay, 42,000 free ATMS, free paper check, free electronic money transfers and FDIC insured deposits up to $250,000 and you really cannot go wrong.

Click here to visit the PerkStreet Application Page and apply now. You’ll be truly glad you did!

There is a whole lot to love about the Mango Prepaid Card. It offers an alternative to the traditional credit card or debit card without the hidden fees or overdraft charges and doesn’t require a credit check for approval.

Those who choose the Mango Prepaid Card enjoy a wide range of exclusive benefits including the option to open a high yield savings account up to 6%, no purchase fees and no activation fee. Those that wish to sign up for direct deposit will get $20 free.

The card also offers customers a very special mobile app which is free to use and allows cardholders to receive wireless alerts and send money with a text message!

In addition cardholders of the Mango Prepaid Card are eligible to receive a special renters insurance which covers your belongings from loss or damage due to theft, fire or vandalism. There are two extremely affordable plans to choose from which can cover your belongings up to $10,000 a month for a low monthly premium. If a claim is ever filed, the money is deposited directly to your Mango Card!

To learn more about all this incredible prepaid card has to offer or to apply now using the secure online application, click here.

As always, please stay tuned to CreditCardsProfessor.com for more of the latest credit card news, special credit card offers and important cardholder updates.

Geoff Williams of CardRatings.com wrote a very helpful article offering credit card tips for the Super Bowl. This enormous event will take place on February 5^th as the New York Giants and the New England Patriots battle it out for the final victory!

Those of you that are going to attend the Super Bowl will probably be carrying some type of credit card and here are a few things Williams mentioned when it comes to using them to your advantage at the game:

Purchase Your Tickets From a Reliable Source – Even though it may be tempting to take advantage of those Craigslist Super Bowl tickets or to go with a scalper, it’s probably best to go the sager route when using a credit card. The Better Business Bureau recommends using Ticketmaster.com or StubHub where tickets are guaranteed authentic. The last thing you want is to spend thousands of dollars on a fake ticket!

Use Airline Miles Credit Cards – If you’re going to travel to get to the Super Bowl, you’ll definitely want to take advantage of you airline rewards credit cards. Now is the perfect time to use those free VIP lounge points and other great perks.

Book Dining Reservations Days in Advance – If you are going to be visiting a restaurant to have a bite to eat when you get in town for the Super Bowl, chances are you’ll have a really hard time walking right in anywhere. It’s a good idea to use your credit card to reserve a table days in advance to avoid ruined plans.

Be Careful Where You Shop for Official Super Bowl Memorabilia – Unless you don’t really care whether or not you buy official Super Bowl clothing, hats, mugs and other memorabilia, it’s best to stick to stadium stores or official websites to avoid getting ripped off. Many websites claiming to offer sweet deals on “official merchandise” are sprouting up all over the place and sticking with the official vendors will save you a lot of worry.

Carry Credit Cards Over Large Amounts of Cash – With a credit card, you’re protected in the case of fraudulent purchases but with cash, if it’s gone, it’s gone. That’s why it is highly recommended to keep the cash you carry at a minimum and save big purchases for a credit card instead.

When it comes to the number of credit cards you have, more is not necessarily better. Any factors should be considered when you decide how many credit cards are best for you and your situation.

Many credit card holders are suffering due to having too many credit cards with high balances and an inability to pay more than the minimum payment. This causes the cardholder to spend way more than necessary on interest charges and can lead to overwhelming debt. That’s why we here at CreditCardsProfessor.com are going to share a few tips and tricks for knowing your limits and how to determine the correct amount of credit cards for you.

Many cardholders simply need one credit card but for certain situations, more than one card may be required. This is true of business owners, those with children, or someone that wants to maximize rewards by utilizing multiple rewards card categories. The problem with the latter is that you’ll want to be absolutely sure you can easily manage and pay off balances in a short time.

So how do you know which category you fall into? Well the answer is quite simple really. If you are only able to pay the minimum payment on one card, you definitely should just stick with the one card. Anything more will only get you into more debt which could get you into a serious hole. Those that can easily maintain a balance of less than 30% of their available credit and those that can pay significantly more or all of their balance off each month can opt for more than one credit card.

If you fall into this category, than the next step is to determine why you want additional cards and how you will manage them once they are there. Parents and spouses may want to opt for additional credit cards to track spending for each member of their family while business owners can benefit from an additional business credit card to keep those expenses separate from personal card balances.

Then there are the rewards credit card enthusiasts who want to use one card for shopping online, another for travel expenses and one for grocery shopping to maximize rewards from their expenses. This is all fine and dandy as long as the revolving balance can be kept below 30% or are completely paid off each month.

Four credit cards are more than enough for the average person with an average income. It is not recommended to exceed this amount because things can get out of hand very quickly. Start out with one card and see how things go, adding one card at a time to test how much you can handle.

Remember, as long as you stick to the under 30% rule and pay significantly more than the minimum payments, it should be safe for you to have an additional card or two.

As always, please stay tuned to CreditCardsProfessor.com for more of the latest credit card news, special credit card offers and important cardholder updates.

So you’re looking for a credit card and have an idea of what you want in mind. Now what?

Trying to find the credit or debit card that’s right for you can be like looking for a needle in a haystack. But with CreditCardsProfessor.com you won’t have to search endlessly to find what you’re looking for.

That’s because we’ve conveniently sorted through all of the offers for you and then showcased them for you in a simple format based on specific criteria including cards by issuer, cards based on your credit rating, cards by rewards types, balance transfer offers and more!

Check out the options below and you’ll surely find exactly what you’re looking for without spending hours combing the web!

Credit Cards by Credit Rating

Bad Credit - For those with a bad credit history

No Credit - For those that have never used credit in the past

Good Credit - For those with an average credit rating

Excellent Credit - For those with an outstanding credit score

Credit Cards by Type

Low Interest Credit Cards - Pay less on revolving balances over time

Balance Transfer Credit Cards - Transfer debt to a 0% Intro APR Credit Card

Cash Back Rewards Cards - Get cash back on everyday purchases

Secured Credit Cards - Use to Repair Your Credit

Airline Miles Credit Cards - Purchases earn you free miles to fly and exclusive travel perks

Prepaid Credit Cards - Great for travel, children, teens, gifts or when on a budget

Credit Cards for Students/Young Adults - Begin building credit early for a good head start in life

Business Credit Cards - Grow your business and be prepared for big expenses

Credit Cards by Bank

American Express

Discover

Mastercard

Visa

As of today, January 17, 2012 UPside Visa Prepaid Cardholders are able to load cash on their cards by simply visiting one of 6,500 7-eleven stores throughout the US. The new cash loading option allows you to swipe your card at the register inside any participating 7-eleven store.

This new swipe and load technology simplifies the way cardholders add money to their cards making is faster and easier than ever before. UPside cardholders can now hand their card and desired amount of cash to the cashier, they swipe the card and the money is added immediately to the balance.

This feature has been made possible thanks to the partnership between Plastyc and Green Dot Corp.

"Green Dot's network simplifies the process of adding cash to prepaid card accounts, and anything that makes life easier for our cardholders is a good thing. We're pleased to be the first Green Dot partner to offer this new service to our cardholders," said the CEO of Plastyc, Patrice Peyret.

Those interested in obtaining an UPside Visa Prepaid Card are welcome to fill out the secure online application here.

As always, please stay tuned to CreditCardsProfessor.com for more of the latest credit card related news, special card offers and important cardholder updates.

Imagine earning between 1 and 5 dollars every time you spend $100 of your own money, without going into debt and making the same purchases you already make? For the average family these saving can add up to hundreds of dollars in cash back annually and with no strings attached, it’s a no brainer!

The Perkstreet Debit Card actually gives you cash back just for using their debit card and there is no need to switch banks to become a cardholder. The Perkstreet account is a free checking account with free online bill-pay, free paper checks, free electronic money transfers and 24/7 customer service. Deposits are FDIC insured up to $250,000 and when you use your debit card for non-pin purchases, you’ll receive 1%, 2% or 5% cash back.

This debit card is a must have for any saver and offers three different types of perks- cups of coffee, music downloads or cash back.

One of the very best parts it that Perkstreet does not run a credit check for approval so even if you are just starting out you can save with them. They do run a ChexSystems report that looks at your past banking history though which shouldn’t affect someone that has not opened an account yet.

To learn more about this amazing debit card, click here to visit the Perkstreet website. There you will find answers to all your questions before you make any decisions.

We here at CreditCardsProfessor.com know from personal experience what this card can do for those who wield it and fully welcome you to join the growing number of people that are benefitting from Perkstreet.

As always, stay tuned for more of the latest online credit card news, special credit card offers and important cardholder updates.

Do you love to try different restaurants, always looking for somewhere that’s unique and new? Then you’ll love the $150 Restaurant.com Gift Certificate that is yours when you apply for the Discover Open Road Rewards credit card!

Those that apply and make their first purchase with the card will receive the Gift Certificate worth $150 for Restaurant.com.

This card also offers you a 2% Cashback Bonus automatically at any restaurant or gas station and 1% cash back on all other purchases.

This is an amazing card to have in your wallet and can save the frequent diner or traveler a ton of money annually. In addition to this you can also receive a 20% Cashback Bonus by shopping at popular retailers through ShopDiscover.com.

Discover has ranked #1 in customer loyalty for the fifteenth year in a row meaning you can count on this card issuer to be one you’ll want to stick with.

There is absolutely no annual fee or rewards redemption fee of any kind so you can rest assured that you’ll be getting all of your rewards back when it comes time to redeem.

To review the complete terms of this offer or to apply now, click here to visit the secure application page.

As always, stay tuned to CreditCardsProfessor.com for more of the latest Credit Card news, card offers, and important cardholder updates.

It has become increasingly common for identity thieves to target minors and we here at Credit Cards Professor thought it would be a good idea to share with our readers what to do if this happens to you.

Most young adults find out about the identity theft when they turn 18 or when they go to apply for their first credit card, open a bank account or rent an apartment. Even before you become an adult, a collection agency may try to contact you to collect a debt. If something like this happened to you, read on to learn how to begin the process of removing the fraudulent credit charges.

There are two ways to go about fixing your credit but the easiest way to do it is to contact an attorney. They will be able to help you clear your credit records of any fraudulent charges that occurred and will let you know if you can sue the collector. If you are unable to get an attorney or would rather handle the situation on your own, follow the steps below:

1. Contact the credit reporting agencies and place a fraud alert on your reports. They will send you a free copy of your reports for you to review for signs of fraud.

Submit a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission ("FTC") by calling 1-877-ID-THEFT    (1-877- 438-4338) or online at https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/

Contact the three U.S. credit reporting agencies: Equifax http://www.equifax.com/ or (800) 685-1111), Experian http://www.experian.com/ or (888) 397-3742), and TransUnion http://www.transunion.com/ or  (800) 888-4213), to obtain a free credit report from each.

2. Close any fraudulent accounts that have been opened fraudulently or have been tampered with.

3. Print, fill out and file a police report or credit agency report found here.

4. One you have completed these steps follow up with all those involved until the fraudulent accounts have been removed from your reports. You will also need to contact the creditors and collection agencies to inform them that the accounts are fraudulent. They may require you to prove that the charges are fraudulent so be sure to follow up with that proof if requested.

5. Once the fraudulent charges and/or inquiries have been removed, continue to regularly monitor your credit reports for any suspicious activity and report fraudulent activity as soon as possible.

To learn more about what to do if you are a victim of childhood identity theft, visit idTheftCenter.org.

As always, stay tuned to CreditCardsProfessor.com for more of the latest credit card news, special card offers and cardholder updates.