But of course, before we can use our phones, we need to apply first for a phone plan. This service will allow us to enjoy the benefits of having a mobile or cellular phone. Through phone plans, we can make calls, send text messages and emails and even surf the internet.

Today, a growing number of people is finally recognizing the perks of prepaid cell phone services. Thanks to the advertisements for these phone programs a lot of people are now leaving their traditional plans and shifting to prepaid plans. After all, plan providers keep on enhancing their phone programs. They do not just offer the usual call and text services. Some even provide free phones, wire-less internet services and gaming features. Very tempting offers indeed!

So, are you considering joining the prepaid-cell-phone-services-bandwagon? If your answer is yes, allow us to help you find and buy the right prepaid phone.

Tips in Buying a Prepaid Phone

1.Choose a reliable carrier. Before you apply for prepaid cell phone services, you need to choose a reliable service provider. To do this, you may need to conduct your own research on the service levels that each phone carrier provides.

You may read online testimonials of people who are satisfied with their prepaid plans.  You can also search for the common complaints and issues that consumers file against a certain service provider. You can also ask your friends and neighbors about the quality of reception in your area. By doing all of these, you can certainly identify an excellent provider that can meet your prepaid phone expectations.

2.Select a phone model. After deciding on a carrier, you also need to select a phone model. You may visit walk-in stores and phone retailers to see different phone models. You can also use the internet to find specifications and images of each model. This way you can select an attractive phone which possesses all your desired features.

3.If you want to retain your phone, ask your service provider if you can shift from a traditional to a prepaid plan. Some carriers allow their subscribers to change phone services. They permit their consumers to shift from contract plans to prepaid cell phone services. So ask your carrier first if they allow such shift of phone plans. If not, then you might as well wait for your contract to end before you buy a prepaid phone.

4.Settle only for the least expensive prepaid plan. Prior to buying a prepaid phone, you need to review your most recent cellular phone bill. Check how much minutes you have used during days, nights and weekends when you make calls and send text messages. Then compare it with what you would pay under different prepaid phone carriers. Once you have done this, you will see which prepaid phone provider can give you the least expensive phone plan.

So, use these tips and for sure you will be able to find and buy the prepaid phone that will suit your budget and give you the features you like best.

About the Author

Tara Tiemann is a credit analyst for Go-prepaid.com which has been a resource site for people who want to live debt free. If you are on a budget using prepaid debit cards, pre paid credit cards and prepaid cell phone service can save you big money!

The statements above can also be applied to card programs. Consumers who wish to repair bad credit history must also look for the right card accounts that can help them achieve their goals.

For example, consumers with poor credit ratings may take out secured credit card programs to rebuild their credit profiles. But what are these programs all about? And how can secured credit cards help consumers re-establish their credit reputation? Allow us to discuss the answers to these two questions in the remainder of this article.

Things You Should Know About Secured Credit Cards

1.What Secured Credit Cards Really Are – Consumers need to know that secured credit cards require the provision of collateral or security. Such collateral normally comes in the form of an initial monetary deposit.. The deposit requirement in secured credit card programs actually serves two important purposes. First, it functions as the collateral for the use of the card. Should a cardholder fail to keep up with his monthly charges, then his card issuer can use the money that he has initially deposited to settle the unpaid obligations. Second, the initial cash out serves as the credit limit for the card. Consumers can continue using their cards in making purchases and in paying their bills so long as they do not go beyond the limit set on their respective secured credit card accounts.

2.Benefits of Using a Secured Credit Card – Secured cards function the same way as regular credit cards. Consumers can use them to sign up for online purchases and even make reservations at hotels, car rental companies and airlines.

Secured credit cards can also help consumers avoid big credit problems. Since their spending will be limited only to the value that they have deposited on their card accounts, then they can surely avoid going overboard. This is the main reason why secured credit cards are perceived to be effective tools that consumers can use to gain control over their spending habits.

3.How you can make your credit card work to your advantage. Cardholders must resolve to pay their debt charges on time as this will influence the entries listed on their credit reports. They also need to use their secured credit cards discreetly. They can do this by using their secured credit cards only when it is extremely necessary. In so doing, they can gradually repair their bad credit history and they can eventually regain their credibility as borrowers.

About the Author

Tara Tiemann is a credit analyst for Go-prepaid.com which has been a resource site for people who want to live debt free. If you are on a budget using prepaid debit cards, pre paid credit cards and prepaid cell phone service can save you big money!

Laws are created to protect people as well as their interest. Through laws, policies and even simple rules and regulations, we are able to recognize our rights and privileges. We gain a feeling of security especially because we know that the government looks after our welfare.

One of the best examples of rules created to protect the interest of consumers is the new Credit Card Act. What are the provisions of this federal law? How does it influence the lives of credit consumers? And how does it protect the welfare of credit cardholders? To know the answers to these questions, we encourage you to read the succeeding paragraphs of this short article.

What is the New Credit Card Act?

The New Credit Card Act, more formally known as the New Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility , and Disclosure (CARD) Act was implemented on August 20, 2009. This law gives credit cardholders the special privilege of declining drastic changes that card issuers intend to impose on their credit card programs. Why is this important?

Read more How the New Credit Card Law Affects You

Resources: Guaranteed Approval Credit Cards

Basic Facts About Prepaid Debit Cards

1.Prepaid debit cards have unique characteristics. A prepaid debit card is actually a combination of a regular credit card and a traditional debit card program. How is this possible?

As we all know, debit cards are designed in such a way that they require cardholders to load money onto them, before they can be used in making purchases as well as in paying bills and other expenses. This is also true about prepaid debit cards. Before they can be used in card transactions, both offline and online, they need to contain first adequate funds that will serve as the balance that cardholders can use in paying for the items and services they need.

Also, prepaid debit cards function just like regular credit cards. In what way? Well, they are normally accepted as great substitutes for credit cards in commercial establishments that rely on card transactions. Prepaid debit cards are even accepted in stores and online shops which recognize and accept credit cards but not debit card programs.

2.Prepaid debit cards are also known as credit cards for bad credit. Since issuers of prepaid debit cards do not run credit checks on their prospective cardholders, consumers can receive the plastic cards they need, regardless of their credit scores. So, even if a consumer may possess poor credit ratings, he can still be granted the prepaid card he intends to use in making purchases and in paying his bills and expenses. This is the reason why prepaid card accounts are also considered as credit cards for bad credit.

3.Prepaid cards cannot help consumers repair bad credit. Despite their many beneficial features, prepaid card accounts cannot help consumers repair bad credit history. This is because in these card programs, cardholders do not receive credit lines from lenders and credit firms. Instead, the consumers themselves are the ones loading money onto their prepaid card accounts. So even if a consumer will resolve to responsibly manage his credit card for bad credit he will soon discover that his efforts did not have any impact on his credit profile and that they did not even help him repair his bad credit standing.

We hope that this short discussion helped you learn some basic facts about prepaid debit cards.

About the Author

Tara Tiemann is a credit analyst for Go-prepaid.com which has been a resource site for people who want to live debt free. If you are on a budget using prepaid debit cards, pre paid credit cards and prepaid cell phone service can save you big money!

Are you interested to know which specific types of consumers would benefit from applying for and using credit cards with instant approval? If you are then you have surely stumbled upon the right article. Below we have listed down three types of consumers who will certainly find the use of guaranteed approval credit cards very advantageous.

Consumers Who Will Benefit from Instant Approval Credit Cards

1. Consumers who possess good credit standing. Consumers who have excellent credit ratings will surely benefit from applying for credit cards with instant approval. After all most card issuers only provide these programs to individuals who possess good credit standing. How do these agencies determine which consumers have good credit scores?

Well, the answer is quite simple. They require their card applicants to provide copies of their most recent credit files. Some companies which rely on advanced computer systems also establish linkages with the three credit bureaus so that they can easily see the credit scores of their prospective guaranteed approval credit cardholders.

Who are usually granted instant approval credit cards? Most of the time these are the  consumers who have credit scores of 680 to 700 and above. Still, there are institutions today that offer cards with guaranteed approval even to consumers with poor credit ratings. However, card programs for poor credit are very rare. And most of the time, they impose high interest rates and charges to cardholders. So you need to be very careful in choosing  instant approval credit cards, especially those offered to consumers with less than perfect credit ratings.

Read more Who Would Benefit From Using Guaranteed Approval Credit Cards?

Check the security of the website. Make sure that the website address begins with “https” (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure), indicating a secured server.  When filling out forms or providing personal details, you should always check the https.

Check the credibility of the merchant. Remember that not all online shops are legitimate.  There are hundreds of merchants that set up fake websites to victimize unsuspecting customers.  Before making a purchase, check the background and reputation of the seller.

Even if the website shows a BBB (Better Business Bureau) logo, it is better to check from the BBB if the merchant is truly registered and that there are no cases of fraud filed against the company.

Check the merchant’s policy. Read the seller’s policy particularly with regards to purchases and returns.  In case your items are shipped in an unsatisfactory condition, you’ll know your options.  Does the seller offer warranty protection?  Will the product be replaced or can you refund your payment if the item is defective?

You must also check the seller’s Privacy Policy as to how they use customer information that they collect to process an order.  Will your information be stored in the company’s database?  Make sure that the seller will not sell your information to other merchants or third parties.

Submit a minimal amount of cash in your debit account. Do not deposit a large amount of money in your debit account.  To be safe, submit only a sufficient amount of cash that you need to make the purchase.

Monitor your debit account. Regularly monitor your debit account especially after your purchase.  Take note that the moment you checked out and paid with your debit card, the bill will be automatically deducted from your account.

In case you are billed incorrectly, notify the merchant immediately.  Debit cardholders only have 2 days to report erroneous or fraudulent charges. If you report within two days, you’ll only be liable to pay $50.  However, if you fail to inform your issuer about unauthorized charges within two days, you will be liable to pay up to $500.  After 60 days, you may be forced to pay the complete charges.

Protect your computer system. Is your computer protected with a reliable antivirus and anti-spyware software?  Don’t forget to check if your antivirus is updated.  Purchasing an antivirus program is definitely a wise and important investment even when you do not make online purchases.

About the Author

Tara Tiemann is a credit analyst for Go-prepaid.com which has been a resource site for people who want to live debt free. If you are on a budget using prepaid debit cards, pre paid credit cards and prepaid cell phone service can save you big money!

Apparently, there is a greater risk involved in paying with a debit card than there is in using a credit card.  In this article, let’s discuss what these possible risks are along with some tips on how to safely use a debit card.

Limited liability protection. Credit cardholders usually enjoy a $50 liability protection on fraudulent transactions and there are some credit cards that even provide zero liability.  With a debit card, you can get the $50 liability protection on unauthorized charges but only if you will report it within 2 days after the transaction was made.  Beyond that time period, a debit cardholder may be required to pay up to $500 or pay the entire charge, whether it was made with or without the account owner’s consent.

More difficult to get refunds. In case there’s a problem with the purchase you made, it will be completely up to the seller if you will be given a refund or not.  Remember that unlike credit cards that are paid at a later time, debit card purchases are instantly paid the moment you made the purchase.  That means, the amount of purchase will be automatically deducted from your funds as the merchant ships out your order.

The problem with this arrangement is that the customer may receive a defective item or may not receive the item at all.  Of course, customers can always dispute but since payment has been made, but if the merchant refuses to recognize your complaint, then you just lost your money.

To avoid being ripped-off, consumers are strongly advised to purchase only from reputable merchants, especially when purchasing online.  Check the seller’s rating and track record of sales.  What do past customers say about this seller?  More importantly, understand the merchant’s policy on purchases, returns, refunds, warranty, etc.

Your funds can be placed on “hold”.  Some establishments like hotels and car rental companies may place a “hold” on your funds aside from your bill. That means, your available cash in your debit account will be inaccessible to you for a specific time period.  For instance, the hold may last until the last day of your stay or until you return the rented car.

While the amount on ”hold” will be returned to you, such “holds” may lead to overdraft charges, especially there is insufficient funds in your account.  Therefore, be sure to inquire about the merchant’s policy on “holds” before using your debit card for payment.

The danger of identity theft. Technically, it is much easier to obtain debit card information and use them on unauthorized transactions without the cardholder’s knowledge.  This is why debit cardholders need to be cautious.

To avoid serious damage, consumers are advised not to link their debit cards to their savings accounts.  Therefore, in case identity thieves manage to steal their information, their bank accounts will not be drained.  In addition, see to it that you are using a secured website and that your computer has an updated antivirus protection before paying with your debit card online.

About the Author

Tara Tiemann is a credit analyst for Go-prepaid.com which has been a resource site for people who want to live debt free. If you are on a budget using prepaid debit cards, pre paid credit cards and prepaid cell phone service can save you big money!

But in reality, the differences between a prepaid debit card and a secured credit card are of great importance. How come? By knowing the distinction between these two card programs, you can be guided in choosing the right plastic card that will work best with your financial status. This way, you can avoid falling into debt traps and paying for large financial obligations.

Now, let us discuss how these two card options differ from one another.

Differences between the Two Card Options

Let us use several criteria that will point out how a secured credit card differs from a prepaid debit card. These criteria are:

1.The purpose of the initial deposit – Both secured credit cards and prepaid debit cards require the submission of cash deposit to make up for the applicant’s bad credit. However, issuers of secured credit cards usually ask for a minimum of $200 security deposit to open an account.  The deposit will serve as the credit limit at the same time.

On the other hand, debit cardholders are not provided with a credit line.  Once a debit card is used, payment is automatically deducted from the debit account.  Hence, a debit cardholder can only use his/her card while there is existing funds available.  When the balance runs out, he/she must make a new deposit before the debit card can be used for new transactions.

2.Bearing of the card transactions – The payments made on a secured credit card is often submitted to credit bureaus. This way people with bad credit can monitor the progress of their credit ratings. On the other hand, the transactions made using a prepaid debit card are not notified to credit authorities. They do not have bearing on your credit report, because you are actually using your own money.

3.Rates and Charges – When a secured credit cardholder fails to pay back the balance on time, he/she will be incur interest rate charges.  On the other hand, interest rates do not apply to debit card transactions because the charges are automatically paid using the money deposited in the debit account.  However, additional charges may apply for each transaction made, depending on the debit card issuer’s terms.

After this discussion, we hope that you can now point out the distinction between these two plastic card options. This way, you can decide which of these two card programs you should take.

About the Author

Tara Tiemann is a credit analyst for Go-prepaid.com which has been a resource site for people who want to live debt free. If you are on a budget using prepaid debit cards, pre paid credit cards and prepaid cell phone service can save you big money!

Most people find it hard to choose prepaid cell phone services. After all there seems to be so many options available to them. Once they made up their mind on a certain prepaid plan, a new one, which possesses better features and lower rates, will be offered again by another phone carrier.

Also, the different prepaid cell phone service providers keep on enhancing their phone programs. What was once considered the best prepaid plan will be immediately outshined by its closest rival. Cell phone carriers keep on competing in terms of call rates, phone models and additional features. And this only adds to the dilemma of people over what plan they should select.

But, if you want to get a prepaid service, what things do you need to consider? Allow us to answer this question.

Top Considerations in Choosing Prepaid Plans

1.Type of cell phone service you need. You should know what particular services and features you will be using regularly. These things are usually dependent on your lifestyle and cell phone habits. So before taking a prepaid phone plan, you need to know exactly what types of phone services you will need, when you will use such services and how often you will rely on these services. This way you can select a prepaid cell phone plan that will suit your lifestyle and will meet your expectations.

2.Network Coverage Area. You need to ask prepaid cell phone service providers their respective coverage area. Though most will claim that they cover almost all the places in the country, you need to know the quality of reception in your area. This way, you can continuously enjoy the services and features of your mobile phone. And you won’t encounter problems when you call your friends and loved ones as well as when you send text messages to them.

3.Call Rates. This is the main consideration of people who get prepaid phone plans. This is because most of them seek prepaid cell phone services to cut much on their phone bills. So, you need to check the different offers of phone carriers. Shop around to find the lowest possible call rates and fees for additional features. This way, you can have the assurance of selecting a prepaid plan that will not be burdensome to your pocket.

Tips on Using Prepaid Phone Plans

After getting a prepaid plan, you need to remember the following things:

Prepaid minutes expire, thus you need to reload before the expiration date. This can help you prevent interruptions in your calls, texting and even internet surfing activities.

Prepaid phone plans benefit those who do not travel a lot. If you keep on moving to different cities or countries, you might find a prepaid cell phone service unfit to your needs. Still the use of this phone plan is temporary. Should you need to move to other places, you can always ditch this plan and get a monthly contract that can provide you call and text services even as you travel around the country or the world.

About the Author

Tara Tiemann is a credit analyst for Go-prepaid.com which has been a resource site for people who want to live debt free. If you are on a budget using prepaid debit cards, pre paid credit cards and prepaid cell phone service can save you big money!

But aside from the common things we see in phone advertisements, what are the real advantages of using a prepaid cell phone service? Does this service also have drawbacks? To answer these questions let us find out the pros and cons of prepaid cell phone services.

Benefits of Prepaid Cell Phone Services

1.Lack of Contract. The main advantage of a prepaid cell phone service is the absence of a contract. You are not tied to any company or monthly rate. Thus, you can spend as little or as much as your budget allows. This is especially beneficial if you rarely use your phone. It is because you don’t have to pay a fixed amount on a service that will only go to waste.

2.It is easy to get approved for this service. Companies do not perform credit check on their applicants for prepaid cell phone services. They also don’t require their applicants to provide an initial deposit to open an account. So, anybody can apply and get approved for this program.

3.Recommended for Parents and Children. Prepaid cell phone services are great options for parents who want their children to have mobile phones. This is because they can easily control how much their children spend on their phones.

Drawbacks of Prepaid Cell Phones Services

Now let us look at the cons of using prepaid phone plans.

1.Limited Selection on Cell Phone Models. Not all phone models work with prepaid phone plans. Thus you have a limited choice when it comes to the mobile phone you can use.

2.They are more expensive. The call cost is relatively more expensive in prepaid cell phone services as compared to monthly phone contracts. This is because the cost per minute in a prepaid plan is usually 2-3 times higher than contract plans.

3.Possibility of running out of minutes. There is a great possibility that you will run out of minutes when you use a prepaid cell phone service. Unless you are organized and mindful of your phone credit, you may run out of airtime and stop enjoying your call and text service. So if you want to avoid interruptions in your phone activities, you need to keep track of your mobile phone balances.

We hope that this short article helped you understand the pros and cons of using prepaid cell phone services. This way, you can decide whether or not you should take this mobile phone plan.

About the Author

Tara Tiemann is a credit analyst for Go-prepaid.com which has been a resource site for people who want to live debt free. If you are on a budget using prepaid debit cards, pre paid credit cards and prepaid cell phone service can save you big money!