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In the United States, there are at least 3 million people who own the Union Plus Credit Card as their primary spending card. The only Union-endorsed credit card around, any U.S. resident above 18 years of age are eligible to apply for this card, in addition to being automatically entitled for an 8.99% introductory APR for balance transfers.

Even better, the APR will be temporarily fixed as the balance transfer APR for as long as the credit amount is yet to be paid in full. Therefore, this card works great as a balance transfer card. Apart from that, families and members of Union Plus who desire to start or pursue a secondary education will also be able to receive annual rewards to help make studies affordable. In addition, members will also be able to save on their phone bills by using the Union Plus broadband phone service and enrolling themselves in the various calling plans available with Union Plus. Thus, card holders are able obtain unlimited free calls for $199 per year.

Additionally, the Union Plus Credit Card does not require any annual or registration fees. Yet, card holders are entitled to travel accident insurance worth up to $100,000 and protection against unauthorized use of their cards. One of the most unique features of this card is a Strike Payment Protection. In the event that union members are involved in a strike prolonging over a several months, Union Plus credit card holders may opt to skip payments for up to a total of three months. Finance charges, however, will still continue to accumulate. Both conditions also apply to lockouts that last for over a month, whereby salaries maybe with-held and thus, card owners may not be able to settle payments in due time. Besides that, there is also a member advocacy program which indirectly assists members in resolving disagreements, and also helps in managing any Union privilege programs.

If you run a business or have just started one, you can avail of the benefits of a business credit card. These cards help you manage your finance and take care of the expenses for your office. There is a lot of competition among different credit companies all vying to sell business credit cards. How do you pick the one that appeal to you from the lot?

Here are 5 tips to help you find the right kind of business credit card for you:

1. Your business needs: If you have just started with a business, the kind of expenses that you incur differs as against the kind of expenses you incur when you are already established. If you have just started, then you will have to spend on supplies and machinery whereas if you are established, you have to spend on the current inventory and daily needs. Also if you have a business that needs to constantly buy things, then you will have to go for a business credit card that has no upper credit limit or a high credit limit. If you have an established business, then you are expected to pay the balance in full every month. If not, then you will have to apply for a business credit card which allows you to make part payments.

2. The perks: Buy a business credit card which has a rewards programs, cash back offers or such other incentives. If your business involves traveling a lot, then choose a business credit card that allows you to amass frequent flier points or air-miles that can be redeemed for flight tickets. You can also choose a business credit card with a cash back through out the year or discounts with different retailers and whole-sellers throughout a financial year.

3. Flexibility: Choose the business credit card that can adapt to your business dynamics. Find out if you can use your credit card for cash advances and make payments through credit card checks. You should know what the repercussions are when your card goes over limit or there is a late payment. Choose a card wherein it is clear that you are not responsible for any expenses incurred in case your credit card is stolen. You should be able to replace the credit card immediately so that you do not lose on your business.

4. Tracking: There are expense reports generated for the usage of business credit cards. When this happens, you get to know the record of your business expenses vis–vis personal expenses. Insist on the business credit card company to give spending reports because these spending reports also help the employers evaluate and keep a track of employee spending too. There are many companies which give group discounts on the business credit cards, the benefits of which can be transferred to the employees.

5. Travel and entertainment: When you are abroad, it is not suitable to get a lot of cash or deal in foreign currency for hotel expenses and travel. You can use the business credit card which also has a lot of status value too. You can use the business credit card for pleasurable activities like entertainment and corporate dining and payments for corporate retreats.

Make sure that you get all the general benefits that come along with the business credit cards like zero percent or low APR, and no annual fee. Compare the APR rates and choose the best business credit card.

Keep Your Credit History Clean - Remove A Negative Credit Record From Your Credit Report

It can make a difference of up to 18% in loan repayment costs. For example, on a 30-year, $150,000 fixed rate mortgage, a borrower with the best credit score, 760-850, will pay 5.59%, or $860 per month, while someone in the worst score range will pay 7.18%, or $1,016 per month. This can make a big different to the household budget, so it’s to your advantage to keep your credit score as low as possible.

The 3 major credit bureaus, Experian, Equifax and Trans Union are similar and feature a “Credit Score”, which is derived from credit report information submitted to them about you.

Under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, a credit scoring system may not use characteristics such as race, sex, marital status, national origin or religion as factors, though they are allowed to use age.

Credit scores are determined by your bill-paying history, the number and type type of accounts you have, late payments, collection actions, and outstanding debt. The total number of points reflects how likely you are, statistically-speaking, to pay back a loan.

If you are denied credit, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act forces the creditor to tell you the specific reasons your loan application was denied if you ask within 60 days. Acceptable reasons include high balances on charge cards, or bad employment history. Unacceptable reasons include vague excuses such as “You didn’t meet our minimum standards”. Sometimes you can be denied credit because of information on a credit report. The Fair Credit Reporting Act requires the creditor to give you the contact information of the credit report agency supplying the information. The credit reporting agency can give you the information on your report, but only the lender can tell you why this led to your application being refused.

However your credit report may include inaccurate or incomplete information (credit records). Identity theft is a growing problem, and can take up to a year to resolve. Nearly 10 million people fall victim to identity theft each year, costing consumers $5 billion and businesses $48 billion, according to the Federal Trade Commission.

In this situation you have to send letters to every one of the credit bureaus. Also learn your credit rights by familiarizing yourself with the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FRCA).

The FCRA gives you the right to dispute inaccuracies and omissions, and it requires credit bureaus to investigate your complaint (generally in thirty days), send you a prompt response and correct any errors. The law as well requires the source of inaccurate information (such as a bank) to correct the record at the credit bureaus to which it initially provided the erroneous information.

Consumers working on their credit reports say many times their letters are ignored by credit bureaus. Consumers say even with proof a credit record isn’t theirs, its removal from their credit report can take 3 or even 4 challenge letters, because the credit bureaus will have only corrected the facts in their own files and not updated the credit report.

Send your dispute letter by REGISTED MAIL. Credit companies will respond faster if they know you can prove you filed a complaint on a certain date. Keep a record of when you sent the dispute letters and what date you should expect a response. If you have received no defense to your claim after thirty to thirty seven days, send another registered letter requesting an updated credit report and demanding the disputed credit record be deleted.

If the bureaus don’t reply in the thirty days, it must be that the information they had on file was either inaccurate or unverifiable. In either case, based on data from the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the credit record must be immediately deleted from your credit report.

A few consumers have eliminated negative marks on credit reports just by going through this process of disputing credit records many times. Since some creditors will not take the time to respond, you can sometimes win by default. Usually a bit of progress will be made with each challenge.Remember, the credit bureau would like you to quit bothering them because if you are not disputing the credit report, they can legally carry on selling it as profitable information.

To obtain your credit score, correct your credit rating, or even avoid becoming a Victim of Identity Theft visit our website at www.credit-score-now.info
J Shipper

Using credit wisely is a good habit that, with only a little financial education, you can learn quickly. Using credit cards wisely will enable you to save money by avoiding late fees or penalties for exceeding credit card limits. You can even learn how to pay NO interest and have your credit score reflect the fact that you are using credit cards wisely! Credit cards are not evil, nor are they a problem provided you learn to use credit cards wisely.

Wise credit card use means making payments on time and avoiding having too many credit card accounts. Condense your credit cards in to one or, at the most, two credit card accounts to help you focus your financial decisions. By using credit cards wisely, you will not find yourself juggling credit card payments.

Using your credit cards wisely begins with a few credit basics. Keep in mind that credit cards are not a problem unless you use them incorrectly. Unwise credit card use means, for the average consumer, letting the balance continue to build from month to month. Credit card companies request payment every month, so take the hint and use credit wisely by paying your credit cards completely every month, just like your electric bill, or your mortgage payment.

Using credit cards wisely also means taking advantage of the convenience of credit cards by using them like cash, spending only if you will have the funds for payment that month. Let the credit card company keep your records for you by itemizing each purchase and managing your account. Then, in order to avoid finance charges, pay the credit card balance in full every month.

Use credit cards wisely to allow you the freedom you need in today’s society without the hassle of carrying cash or writing checks. Don’t allow the credit card balance to grow unless you have a real emergency. If you do have an emergency, you’ll have the credit line open for use. By paying off the credit card balance every month you maintain a good credit line and enjoy a good credit score. And, using your credit cards wisely ensures your credit rating will only go higher.

Copyright (c) Greg Aldrich

Greg Aldrich helps match consumers to the appropriate credit cards. His site, http://www.FindYourCard.com, allows anyone to compare cards sorted by features and apply online.