Having a certain credit score makes clear what credit card offers are for you. Good credit is valuable. It opens you doors to numerous lucrative credit card deals with tempting rates, rewards programs and reasonable fees. Having bad credit gives you a hard time finding a profitable offer. If you have no credit history, you fell between two stools. You are not eligible for good credit offers because you have not proven your creditworthiness. On the other hand, you have not faced defaults or credit exceeding to apply for bad credit cards. So, what credit offers are good for you?

So, you've filled out the application form and are waiting to receive your new plastic. The Equal Credit Opportunity Act gives you the right to find out whether you are approved or not within 30 days after you have submitted your application. In practice, you will receive a notification within a couple of weeks. If you get a rejection letter instead of your plastic, do not rush to apply for that credit card offer again. First see why you were turned down. Working on your shortcomings is your key to qualifying for credit card deals in the future.

When we get married, we hope to live happily together ever after. However, our life is not a fairy tale. Researches show that the half of all marriages ends in divorce. Financial issues are among the main concerns of divorcing couples. Most people, even if they start out with separate credit accounts, eventually combine their money. While going through a divorce, splitting off financially from the ex-spouse becomes one of the main targets. If financial aspects are settled before separating, then the end of your love story will be less painful. But if there are unsettled financial debts, life can become difficult.

Isn't it annoying to receive all that junk mail from credit companies trying to convince you to apply for their plastics? Pre-approved offers are based on the data in your credit report that indicates you meet the specified criteria. According to the Fair Credit Reporting Act of 1970 (amended in 1996), the three major credit bureaus have the right to sell your information to companies that want to offer you their credit cards. Fortunately, the amendment also requires the credit bureaus to provide a way for consumers to remove their names from pre-approval lists.

When you are making a credit card transaction, you probably assume that your credit card is in safe hands. However, it is not always so. Beware of skimming! It is a more direct version of an identity theft. The skimmers try to illegally copy the information from the magnetic strip on the back of your credit card. Once they have skimmed your plastic, they can download the information onto a computer and create a fake or 'cloned' credit card with your data on it. Then the scammers are able to withdraw money from your account.

We all are familiar with that little magnetic stripe, sometimes called a magstripe, on the back of our credit cards. Its name is CVV1. This is the most important part of your plastic. Consisting of magnetized particles impregnated on a thin band, magnetic stripe enables merchants to get access to the account information and make a transaction. So, it is obvious that we need to keep this part of the card always protected to ensure no breach of security and make transactions possible. But what happens if magstripe gets ruined? Will your credit card still work?

If your credit is less than perfect, you may feel that you are not eligible for low APR credit cards. It's not a surprise that applicants with average credit are expected to pay higher interest rates than borrowers with good credit history. Depending on the problem that damaged your credit score, it may be the truth. However, don't get disappointed. There are low APR credit cards that require only an average credit to qualify for. Knowing which cards, where to apply and how to highlight the positive sides of your application is the key to get a profitable plastic.

Having your plastic handy on holiday in foreign countries is a good idea. They can give you lots of freedom and peace of mind due to many reasons. You will be able not to carry lots of cash with you and therefore avoid robbery. You will have sufficient funds in case of an emergency. Many businesses, for example car rentals or hotels require a credit card to leave a deposit. So having a plastic in your wallet will be convenient and beneficial. However, there some pitfalls you should know about. Taking necessary precautions before you leave will help you ensure trouble-free holidays abroad.

Bankruptcy leaves a black mark on your credit score. Your level of credit risk dramatically goes up in creditors' eyes. Fortunately, the effect doesn't last forever. Filing for Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy will affect your credit rating for up to 10 years. Long before the bankruptcy is removed off your credit report, you can qualify for credit cards with good rates and moderate fees. Certainly, a lot will depend on your specific situation, for example the level of income or age of bankruptcy. But you can take measures to improve your credit rating.

People with no or bad credit history have a limited choice of credit offers: they can apply for unsecured cards for bad/no credit, secured cards or prepaid credit cards. Two last categories require funds to be deposited before using the plastics. The main difference is in the usage of those funds. Secured credit card deposit will be used to cover your debt if you fail to pay your credit bills. Prepaid credit card deposit will be used as your credit line. But if you pay with your own money, is a prepaid credit card really credit?