.: Cash Advances And Credit Card Checks - A Closer Look
Category:Home / Business / Financing / Loans
Chances are you own numerous credit cards but you may not have realized that they offer other methods of extending you credit. One such alternative is the credit card check. Not commonly used but it does have its place in certain circumstances. Another commonly used method of extending credit offered by the credit card companies is the cash advance.
Cash advances are simply industry speak for withdrawing cash directly from your credit card, either to your bank account or from a cash machine. However, both alternatives - credit card checks and cash advances should only be used as a last resort. The reasons are many and it's not feasible to delve into all the details here but I have outlined a few of the most compelling reasons below.
Much Higher Interest
Most credit cards will charge you a much higher interest rate on the money you borrow (the credit they extend you) when you utilize either the credit card check or cash advance options. Not only is the interest much higher but it starts to accrue or be charged against from day one. In other words, you often give up any interest-free period (which can be up to two months), meaning that you start paying interest on the money literally from the minute you spend the money. In addition, most cards will also charge a fee each time you use cash advances or credit card check and using an ATM may increase the fee even further.
Signals A Need
When selecting either option you are shouting to all - especially the issuing credit card company that you are no longer using your credit card for convenience but that you are using the credit card checks or the cash advance out of necessity. This sends a clear signal to them that you there's really no reason to give their best deal or even a good deal but that they can give you their worst deal because let's fact it… the likelihood of you going anywhere in the near future is nil.
A Simple Idea
Rather than using cash to pay for small things and finding you have to take advances or use the credit card checks to pay for bigger purchases, it's better to do it the other way around. If you're in a situation where you're relying on advances, you should start using your credit card to pay for all of your everyday smaller purchases like groceries and gas and then you'll be in position at the end of each month to put that money to pay off the larger purchases and be in a better position not to have to use cash advances and the checks in the first place. Try being more strategic in how you spend.
Remember that there are very few bills now that must be paid for by credit card check, so there are few reasons to ever use them and if you're willing to call them up and wait in their queue for a while, chances are that you can get them to accept a credit card payment just by having the clerk read them number.
Beware of Cash Advance Limits
If you find yourself relying on cash advances, sooner or later you'll probably run into a cash advance limit. The credit card companies don't advertise it, but many of them have limits on how much of your balance can be cash advances and how much must be in purchases. Try to find out these limits before you start taking advances because if you go over your preassigned limits then you'll incur fees and penalties and loan shark type interest rates.
You Always Pay the Balances With the Highest Rate Last
As you pay back your credit card balances, most lenders will put your payments towards the lowest-interest money (your purchases) first and then towards other lending. Clearly, this means that you keep paying the highest possible interest until you get your balance paid in full.
The bottom line is this: Credit cards are a convenient source of purchasing power and if used properly they represent a wise use of credit. On the other hand, don't use the credit card check or cash advance option unless you have too because these options represent how not to use credit wisely. They are simply a cleverly disguised marketing shell game used by the credit card companies to extract additional fees and interest.
This article may be reproduced only in its entirety.
Article Source: http://www.articles32.com
Kevin Erickson is an entrepreneur and writer. For other articles he's written visit: Credit Card Debt | Debt Management Programs | Bad Credit Debt Consolidation
.: New Loans Articles
1). Applying For A Business Loan
The process of applying for a business loan is a stringent one as compared to the standard procedures in obtaining a home mortgage loan or a personal loan.
2). Loan Officers Beware: Exposing the Loyalty Myth
Customer loyalty is becoming quite rare in the mortgage industry. Read why this is so and what loan officers can do to change that.
3). Common Mortgage Terminology Explained
An alphabetical list of many terms and phrases used in the language of "mortgage-speak" all explained.
4). What Are Seasonal Loans And What Are Some Of The Common Difficulties With Them
Seasonal commercial loans can be a common source of funding for a business. However these types of loan are sometimes filled with risks and riddled with problems. If the loans are not used for the intended reason or paid when agreed upon the loans then become a liability for the lender.
5). Student Loan Refinance And Its Value To Students
Student Loan Refinancing is taken up by students while pursuing their graduation to decrease their rate of interest. One main goal of refinancing student loan is to consolidate all the loans and convert it into a single and small monthly installment at a fixed rate of interest.
6). Refinancing: Does it go Better with Fixed Rate Mortgage or Adjustable Rate Mortgage is Better Option
Refinancing does make a good sense depending on your situation and financial goals. You may want to lower your monthly payments or interest rate but there are some questions to be answered prior to that.
What is your term to be in your home?
How much equity do you have in your home?
You will have lower monthly installments but will that make up for the closing costs, fees and points?
7). Refinancing Home Mortgages to Extend Your Term
There are many reasons to refinance. One reason may to extend the term of your home mortgage to lower your monthly payments that go towards paying off this mortgage. People who are in a situation where they are not able to handle such expenses generally do this.
.: Top Loans Articles
1). What is a Paydex®
Banks and lending institutions use the Paydex® system to determine the credit risk of businesses and it has been known to be a key factor in
2). Loans Are Not Just For Christmas. Surviving The Holiday Debt Hangover.
Christmas is coming - A time for decorations, songs, over-eating, gift giving, visiting the family, consumer spending and the increasing of personal debts. Bah humbug.
While most people see Christmas as a joyful period there are many who see it as a time of financial worry as they cannot afford to buy presents for everyone. For these people it is often the doorstep lenders who will be getting fatter rather than them and their family.
3). Early Redemption Penalties – What are they?
These days, more and more attention is being paid to APRs when people are shopping around for loans. This is not surprising as the very reason the APR was introduced was provide a standard figure that customers could use to compare the prices of loans without getting our their calculators and doing the math themselves. However, there are many other potential charges when taking on credit and it would be a mistake to ignore these and put all your concentration the single APR figure.
4). How To Get An Auto Loan With Bad Credit?
You found the car of your dreams, but you know your credit is not the greatest. You ask yourself, “How can I get an auto loan with bad credit?“ You are not alone. Thousands of people ask the same question everyday. Just because you have bad credit, does not mean you can not buy that car of your dreams. When considering bad credit auto loans, you can save yourself thousands of dollars when you know about the options available to you.
5). How Escrow Accounts Work
Describes how escrow accounts work and how to best take advantage of them.
6). Student Loans 101
Student loans are a helpful accessory when you need to cover costs when deciding to further your education, including housing and tuition. Student loans are there to be financial lifesavers when grants or scholarships leave your school funding a little short. There are federal loans available as well as private student loans that will help with the financial overload.
7). Loans Are Lenders Cheating On APR’s?
A pound from one lender is as good as a pound from another. So when you're shopping for a loan, the key issue becomes the interest rate. Consequently, when you read press advertisements and visit web sites, the Annual Percentage Rate of interest (APR) highly influences which lenders or loan brokers you apply to. After all, the government introduced APR's as a standard calculation that every lender has to use, precisely to help the public make reliable comparisons.