Robert Weber asked:




Every major U.S. credit card company with the exception of one charges a two to three percent foreign transaction fee when you use your credit card abroad. Until recently, many credit card companies did not clearly disclose these fees in their terms and conditions. Consequently, many people received a notice of a class action lawsuit settlement in regards to these fees earlier this year. Now that the lawsuit has been settled, credit card companies are required to clearly state foreign and international transaction charges on credit card applications. Here, we will look at ways to minimize and avoid these fees.

First, if you do not know how much your current credit card company charges for international transactions, contact customer service to find out. The vast majority will inform you that this fee is three percent. With the US dollar sagging, paying an extra three percent on every purchase can really hurt the wallet. Fortunately, there are a few ways to avoid these charges.

If you have cash available, using a debit card eliminates this fee. Most banks do not tack on a transaction fee for ATM withdrawals. Plus, the foreign currency rate you’ll get from your bank is often significantly better than what you would get at a foreign currency exchange booth. Again, exchange rates and potential fees vary from bank to bank, so it is important to call ahead.

While ATM withdrawals are generally free of foreign transaction charges, using your debit card as a credit card comes with some risks. First, a credit card provides much better fraud protection than a debit card. If, for example, an unscrupulous merchant overcharged or fraudulently used your credit card, you can easily contest the charges and get a refund. If, on the other hand, you debit card was fraudulently used, you will not only be faced with a depleted bank account, but it often takes a great deal longer to get your money returned. For this reason, using a debit card to make purchases abroad can prove risky.

Ultimately, the only way to pay no international transaction fees is to use a credit card doesn’t charge these fees. By using a no fee credit card, you get the security a credit card provides without the annoying added expenses.

Jerry

College Credit Builder asked:


The official team logo from your favorite NFL football team can now be proudly displayed on the NFL Extra Points™ Platinum Plus® Visa® Credit Card from Bank of America.  (www.collegecreditbuilder.com/nflcards.htm ).   This rewards credit card has proven to be a touchdown with fans across the country and has made huge strides in the rewards credit card industry.  Like many retailers, colleges and airlines have done for decades, NFL football teams, in association with Bank of America, now offer credit card consumers valuable rewards above and beyond the cool factor of having their favorite team printed on their credit cards.  These football-oriented credit cards are scoring big with sports fans in every state.

The NFL Extra Points™ Platinum Plus® Visa®™ Credit Card from Bank of America has important features, which include:

•           No Annual Fee.

•           0% Introductory Annual Percentage Rate (APR) on balance transfers and cash advance checks for your first 12 billing cycles.

•           A $50 NFLshop.com gift card after your first qualifying transaction(s) using your NFL Extra Points™ Visa® Credit Card.

•           100% fraud protection

•           Earn 1 Point for every dollar you spend in net retail purchases. Points are redeemable for NFL merchandise, tickets, and VIP passes to NFL experiences.

•           Online account access and Points management.

At a time when consumers are nervous about the uncertainty in the stock market, illiquidity in the credit market and the softening real estate market, one thing remains constant – sports fans love NFL football.  Historically, football has given its fans something to believe in and something to hope for, particularly during difficult economic times.   With the NFL Extra Points™ Platinum Plus® Visa®™ credit card, football fans can be reminded of their favorite team every time they open their wallets.  Real fans carry the card with pride.  Visit www.collegecreditbuilder.com/nflcards.htm  to complete the credit card application online in just a few short minutes.



ROLAND

C.R. Hayes asked:


Many times when you choose to fill out an application on the internet, online credit card approval can be done instantly. You are asked to give the same information as you would on a paper application that comes in your postal mail box. But rather than wait for the mail delivery and processing time, some people are more anxious to receive notification instantly.

Card issuers use the latest high-tech secure programming and fraud protection to protect the data you enter. So there is no need to worry about just where your financial information will end up. Make sure though, that the web address in your browser bar begins with ‘https’, which signifies a secure internet connection.

One of the biggest advantages of searching and applying online is that you can do side by side comparisons for different bankcards offered by different providers. You can also narrow them by the category you need, such as:



0 interest

bad credit

travel rewards

those for college students

cash back cards

and more



When you get your choices narrowed down, you need to compare all of the fees associated, like:



annual fee

APR

interest rate

late fees

any other cost that may apply



You will want to know how long any promotional rates will last too, if applicable. It’s not uncommon to find that 0 interest rates can apply up to the first 6 to 18 months of your account.

If you are more inclined to opt for travel rewards or cash back features, make sure you get the most benefits and perks you can while still keeping your fees and interest rate as low as possible.

Before you apply, it would be a good idea to get a copy of your latest credit report and know your credit rating. After all, issuers base your acceptance according to your credit score. The higher your score, the better deal you will be offered and approved for.

Everyone in the U.S. is allowed one free copy of their credit report every 12 months. The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) requires this of each of the nationwide consumer reporting companies — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. You can order yours by phone by calling 1-877-322-8228, or by visiting annualcreditreport.com.

Online credit card approval can be both instant and convenient for the application and approval process, but you will usually have to wait for the actual card to arrive in your mailbox before you can use it. Nevertheless, you will still receive it sooner than if the entire process was done through the mail.



ISRAEL