| A lot of credit card companies want you to | | | | |
| think that their offer is a good one - | | | | Another reason why you should not accept just |
| without really offering you good features. | | | | any credit card offer is because it may not |
| For instance, this morning, a credit card | | | | give you the greatest opportunity to benefit |
| offer came in the mail. After looking it | | | | from the rewards. Applications sent to you, |
| over, it was rejected - because it lacked the | | | | or ads on the Internet may not cater to your |
| "right features." It would have been unwise | | | | particular needs. Find a card that offers |
| to sign up for that card. If you are thinking | | | | rebates and rewards on the products and |
| about getting a credit card - or maybe | | | | services that you use the most. Things like |
| another one, there are some reasons why you | | | | gasoline, air miles if you travel a lot, |
| may not want to fill out the next application | | | | groceries, discounts on hotels, etc., will |
| that comes to you in the mail. Here are some | | | | benefit you much more if you use these things |
| things you need to look for to see if it | | | | on a regular basis. Things like air miles can |
| really is such a good deal. | | | | actually help you to get enough air miles to |
| | | | make that trip that you have always wanted - |
| The Interest Rate | | | | just remember to find out how long they are |
| | | | good for - there is usually an expiration |
| The first reason that this credit card was | | | | date after a couple of years. |
| not a good one was because there were no | | | | |
| introductory interest rates on the card at | | | | Other Fees |
| all. It was just for one rate - 9.9%. All | | | | |
| purchases came into that interest bracket. | | | | This is one area where some credit cards can |
| Many cards will give you a 0% interest rate | | | | really take away a lot of your benefits. Look |
| as their introductory offer for up to 15 | | | | for things like processing fees, yearly fees, |
| months. That means that you pay no interest | | | | balance transfer fees, and fees for cash |
| on your purchases for up to one whole year, | | | | advances. The best cards, if you can get one, |
| unless your payments are late, or if you | | | | often will not have extra fees - or, possibly |
| allow a balance to be carried over to the | | | | a minimal one. |
| next month. | | | | |
| | | | In addition to the above, you need to know |
| This particular interest rate, while not bad, | | | | that things like only one late payment can |
| is certainly not the best, either. Some | | | | remove your desired benefits and put you into |
| credit cards go as low as 6.9% interest, and | | | | the regular interest rate for the card. |
| others may go as high as 17.9%. After the | | | | Othercards may require you to have a minimum |
| first year, though, your interest level | | | | balance in order to get their benefits. |
| becomes the regular amount of the card. | | | | |
| Interest rates can change for many reasons - | | | | Every credit card offer will always have some |
| one of them being late payments. One of the | | | | nice feature in bold print that will get your |
| things that will effect what interest rate | | | | attention. That's not where you should look, |
| you are able to get is your current credit | | | | though. Instead, focus on what is in the |
| rating. | | | | small print - that's where the nitty-gritty |
| | | | details really are, and you will want to read |
| Reward Options | | | | these first. |