Finding the Best Credit Cards

By Matthew Mitchell

Credit card companies are competing for your business. They are using big incentives to get your attention. Even those with bad credit are being targeted. With all these credit card offers how do you find the best cards? These tips will guide you pass the pitfalls and into the ideal credit card.

Tip One – Compare multiple offers at once

If you’re like me you get hundreds of credit card offers in the mail every year. Each of the envelopes is designed to make you want to open them. They splash their offering on the outside or invite you too look deeper into what they have for you. At first glance some of the offerings sound really good. They offer free interest, bonus points, gift certificates, and cash back. No matter how good the offer sounds you don’t know how good it is until you’ve compared multiple offers against each other. There are multiple items that need to be considered at the same time to get the whole picture. So as a general rule of thumb: don’t sign up for the first offer that comes your way.

Tip Two – Look for hidden fees and penalties

One trick credit card companies have started doing is revoking benefits if you are late with a payment with ANY creditor. Even though you have a perfect record with them they can still take away the free interest and other perks if your credit score changes. A dirty trick? Yes, so look for that in the fine print.

The other little trick is asking if you want extra protection for your credit cards. They’ve really ramped up the efforts to get you to spent and extra dollar or two for every hundred you have on your balance. They get an extra 1-2% every month without lending any more money. In some cases it might make sense to get extra protection but just realize that your APR is going to be much higher as a result.

Tip Three – Look beyond the offering

Some cards offer the best benefits and look like the clear winner compared to everything else. Carefully examine the whole offer before signing up because there might be a catch. First, look to see if there’s a yearly fee. Second, if there isn’t a yearly fee look at the APR for purchases and balance transfers. If everything checks out there look at how the rewards are given back to you. Sometimes using the rewards has so many restrictions that it’s impossible to get the use out of them.

Tip Four – Compare cards using a rating system

A way to compare multiple cards quickly is by using a rating system. A rating system will give you the gist of what people with the cards have experienced. While rating systems aren’t perfect they do give a snapshot of what’s good and what’s not.

Tip Five – Get a business credit card when you can

If you can applying for a business credit card will give you the best perks. Even if your business is very small or not yet formed business credit are worth pursuing. They often combine to of the best perks, zero percent interest and rewards, where other cards will only do one or the other.

Additional Resources: Compare Credit Card Offers Online

Small Claims Courts and How They Work

By Chuck Lunsford

So you’ve decided to go down to the courthouse and go to the Small Claims Division. What now you ask. Let’s take a look at the how and why regarding small claims courts. How did they come about and why are they used so extensively.

The first small claims court was created in Cleveland in 1913. Within a few years every state had such a court of limited jurisdiction. Small claims courts are attractive for consumers who want to collect a small debt or recover damages for a faulty product or for shoddy service. However, small claims courts are used heavily by businesses and public utilities that want to collect payments from customers for unpaid bills. In a single court session, a department store, utility company, or hospital may obtain judgments against a long list of debtors, making the process very economical.

We do not need an attorney to represent us. When you do go to courtroom, you will perhaps be surprised to see this group of people, wearing official badges and sitting in the jury box. Relax; you didn’t accidentally stumble into some major hearing about to take place. Read on.

These folks are called mediators. They have been handpicked by the court and are highly qualified to act on most cases. They have years of knowledge and experience that effectively works for both parties. When the clerk of the court calls your name and the name of the other party, you will both stand up. When the clerk of the court recognizes both parties are present, he or she will hand a mediator your file at which point your little group goes off into a private room.

The mediators do not get to see the file beforehand. The mediator looks at the file, read the statement of claim and asks if there is any conciliatory manner in which the problem can be solved, short of a trial before a judge. During the discussion that follows both parties soon realize the additional costs, time and chances of losing might be. The mediator’s efforts are to settle this out of court. If there is no chance for settlement, you are then instructed to go back into the courtroom and wait for the judge. It’s unlikely you will have a trial that day. The clerk of the court has to schedule it for another day. Sometimes the judge will hear trials that day but you have no idea at what time. If you do decide to stick around that make sure you are ready when your name is called. If you or the other party is not present then the absent party loses by default.

The small claims courts work very efficiently and you can receive rewards up to $7500 depending on the state in which you reside. How to collect is another matter entirely.

Chuck Lunsford is the owner and developer of EasyFloridaHomeLoans.com. He offers advice on how to get your credit in order and working for you. Visit his website and learn more about florida mortgage rates.