Credit Card Rewards Programs Explained: Citis Thank You Rewards Network

Credit card companies are in constant competition with one another to gain you as their customer. One way they approach this is with 0% introductory rates. Another approach is the rewards program. In this first of a series of in depth articles on credit card rewards programs, the president and CEO of Credit Card Depot Inc examines the Citi Thank You Rewards Network Program.

Currently, the Citi Simplicity(SM) Rewards Card, the Citi Platinum Select, and the Citi Diamond Preferred Rewards Card all offer thankyounetwork rewards. But what exactly are these rewards. They are points earned for every dollar spent that can be redeemed for everything from gift certificates to reduction in your interest rate. Here, I will focus on the gift certificates. Beginning at around 1,500 points, you can receive a free $10 gift certificate to a wide range of major retailers. As our points increase, so do their value. For 10,000 points, you can get a $100 gift certificate to these same great retailers.
Aside from retail gift certificates, you can vouchers for hotel discounts, free skiing pass, free movie tickets. There truly are a ton of rewards options available through this citicards program.

Now, some of you may be rolling your eyes at the fact it takes $10,000 of spending to get $100 in rebates. But the fact of the matter is, getting rewards is easier than you think. For starters, both the Citi Simplicity(SM) Rewards Card and the Citi Diamond Preferred Rewards offer new consumers a great signup incentive: thousands of free points. For the Citi Simplicity(SM) Rewards Card, all you have to do is make one purchase in your first three months with the card and you are awarded a $100 gift certificate. Imagine that, a credit card paying you to use their card. The same holds true with the Citi Diamond Preferred Rewards Card. Citicards will give you a $50 gift certificate for using that card.

Okay, so you get the free points up front, but how can you really take advantage of the rewards offered by Citibanks Thank You Network. Use you card for all your everyday purchases and pay your balance in full each month. Between groceries, gas, eating out, and other common expenses, you might find yourself with a few hundred dollars worth of rewards by the end of a year. Not too bad for simply using your credit card in place of cash or a debit card.

Citis Thank You Rewards Network, which charges no annual fee, adds great value to Citibanks credit card offerings. While the Citi Simplicity(SM) Rewards Card and the Citi Diamond Preferred Rewards Card offer the added incentive of a free gift certificate, the Citi Platinum Select card should not be overlooked, as it offers one of lowest interest rates on the market.

Overall, the credit card rewards available through Citibank are top notch. However, in my next article, well see how they stand up to the credit card rewards pioneer, American Express.

In 1950, the first credit card that could be used at more than one, specific merchant emerged on the market. The Diners Card, started by Frank McNamara, was an invention that got its start when Frank was having a business meeting over dinner, and realized he had forgotten his wallet at home. Of course, the man was extremely embarrassed, and had to call his wife and ask her to bring him his wallet so he could pay for the bill. Then the light bulb over his head turned on, and he thought it would be incredible to have a way to purchase things wherever people shopped, and pay for them later. The Diners Card started with 200 card holders, and within a few years- banks and private companies began offering credit cards.

Eventually there were so many credit cards to choose from that the credit lenders had to come up with new ways to stand out from the competition and entice people to select their card over another. Credit card reward programs were born sometime around 1986. Discover card began offering cash back based on the amount of money you spent on your credit card, and the first frequent flier miles for credit card users was with Continental Airlines. The frequent flier miles were such a hit that now every airline has joined in the rewards programs, offering discounted trips, free complimentary airfare, travel accident insurance- all based on the amount of spending you do using your credit card.

Now that just about every credit card has some sort of rewards program in place, once again card companies are finding themselves looking for new ways to entice more customers to slide their credit card into their already overflowing card holders in their wallets. Rewards programs have to be turned up a notch, and become so amazing, so absolutely unforgettable that consumers cant forget them and will apply for and use their card more than the other seven in their wallets when they go shopping!

Currently, the trend in credit card rewards programs appears to be creating cards that offer very specific rewards to cater to what people are doing with their lives. Michelle Shepherd, of MBNA Corp (one of the largest credit card lenders) says the rewards programs are developed with real people in mind, offering something for everyone whatever stage in life a person is in, whether its someone whos trying to reduce a mortgage or someone dreaming of going to the Super Bowl. This is seen in credit cards MBNA offers with rewards programs related to NASCAR and GMAC. Also, Visa offers several credit cards with Disney rewards programs- your spending earns you points towards travel to Disney theme parks and on the Disney cruise line.

Credit card interest rates have begun to rise overall, which is another reason why lenders are trying to entice new customers with their fabulous rewards programs. It would be hard for a card to sell itself to new customers with a high, unattractive interest rate- so lenders have learned to sell the idea of the rewards programs, hoping to gain your interest from that and divert your attention from the not-so-glamorous interest rates.

Keep in mind that while rewards programs can seem very rewarding when you are considering a credit card offer, there is often a lot of information you wont find out until after you apply for and receive the card. Rewards programs often have limitations, meaning once you reach the ceiling you are no longer eligible for the rewards program benefits- information they dont normally disclose in the credit card offers you receive in the mail. Also, for rewards programs that allow you to purchase items with points earned based on the spending you do using your credit card, keep in mind you will probably be charged additional money for shipping and handling of those items. For cards that offer travel discounts and airline tickets, many rewards programs require you to then pay transaction fees to redeem them.

Credit Card Reward Programs: Getting The Most Out Of Your Credit Cards

Credit cards can earn you cash, airline miles, or rewards. To get the most out of your credit card company, you have to choose the right program and use your card often.

Pick The Right Program

Do you want a free trip to Hawaii or cash at the end of the year? Credit card companies offer a variety of reward programs, so choose the one that you like the best.

If you are planning to earn airline miles, pick a destination and make sure your rewards program covers that area. Some credit card companies partner with a specific airline while others offer generic travel miles.

Cash rewards usually work out to 1% to 5% back on all your purchases. At the end of the year you could end up with a sizable check. Cash rewards dont apply to transfers or cash withdrawals.

Generic reward programs offer points for your purchases. Those points can then be redeemed either for products through the credit card company or gift cards for name brand stores like Starbucks, Home Depot, or Toys R Us.

Earn Your Rewards

To truly get the most out of your rewards program, you will need to use your credit card often. By using your card to pay for all your purchases, including groceries, prescriptions, and household bills, you can earn an airline trip or over a thousand dollars in a year.

Also look for special offers that are included in your monthly statement. Sometimes you can double your points by using your card with a certain merchant. You can also receive coupons for additional savings at these places.

Dont Get Caught

Reward programs usually charge a higher interest rate than other credit cards. To make sure you dont get stung on finance charges, pay off your balance every month.

Instead of whipping out your credit card every time you want to make a purchase, start with a monthly budget. Plan on how much you can afford to spend and stick with it. If you do carry a balance, know how much it will cost you.

Not only can you earn rewards for your purchases, you can also improve your credit score by making regular, on-time payments. The more responsible you are with your credit, the more likely you can qualify for more.

Credit Card Refunds – When and How to Ask for Your Money Back

Im sure most people have dealt at least once with unsatisfactory service. Quality complaints, products not up to standards or not what you wouldve expected. And, in the good American fashion, what did you do? You disputed the charges with the credit card company/bank, being almost sure that you wont be charged anything right? Well, it might not have been the best decision. And heres why:

The money back guarantee condition only applies if you are indeed eligible to get the money back. If you just had a change of heart and decided you dont want the product you just bought, chances are you wont see a penny if the company that you bought it from and from where you request the money back now decides to dispute the case.

In this case, itll be almost as if youre going to court with that company: your bank and the company will present their arguments before a chargeback committee which will decide on whose side the truth lies. And if they rule in favor of the company, not only you will not get the money back, but youll also pay a chargeback fee So the entire thing might end up costing you more than expected. So heres my advice:

Dont just go and dispute just about any charges you dont like anymore Some people do this thinking they can get the money back AND keep whatever product they have purchased. You might be in a lot more trouble then youd expect and its just not worth it. First off, when you buy something, especially over the internet, read carefully the Terms & Conditions of the website. I know, it sounds boring and its a lot of legal stuff you dont really want to know, but it could prove important should you not be satisfied with your purchase.

If, for whatever reason, you dont want the product/service anymore, contact the company you got it from. Get in touch via email, phone, regular mail or other means, but talk with them and hear what they have to say. You might get a better deal than just your money back. If the company has a no refund policy written in their T&C, this doesnt mean its written in stone. Exceptions can be made if there is no other way.

Of course, if all else fails, go talk with your bank. They can advise you regarding the next steps you can take to solve the problem. But if you follow the instructions above, you shouldnt get there. Or if you do, you have great chances of getting your money back.

With all the spending you do on a weekly basis, wouldnt it be great to get some of that cash back at the end of the year? With credit card rebates, you can do just that. Rebate credit cards offer you a percentage of your money back. So when you spend with your credit card you can be earning money. This is a great way to add to your end of year savings or to earn a little extra money for holiday shopping expenses.

How Rebate Credit Cards Work

When you sign up for a rebate credit card, you are agreeing to use the card according to the credit card agreement. While all agreements are different, the rebate credit card agreement will detail how much you have to spend to earn money on your purchases.

Most cards offer up to five percent cash back on your purchases. So check for the details in the contract. You may earn different amounts at different places. For example, some cards offer five percent cash back rebate when you use your rebate credit card at a grocery store, gas station, or drugstore. These daily purchases add up quickly and it is easy to earn rebates this way.

However, your purchases at other stores may only earn you one percent of your purchase price in rebates.

Restrictions

Again, many cards only offer their premium percentage rates on purchases made at specific locations. In addition, there may be a limit on how much your can earn. Credit card rebates may be limited to three hundred dollars or less in one year. Once you hit this limit in rebates, you will no longer be earning cash back when you use your card.

You may also have to pay an annual fee to use the card. Weigh the cost of this against how much you think you will actually earn back in credit card rebates to see if it is worth it. If you pay a fee that is over fifty dollars and you only think you can earn seventy-five dollars in rebates, the card may not be worth your time.

Keep in mind that the interest rate also plays a part in how much money you get back. It is very important to always pay your rebate credit card bill in full each month. If you dont, you will earn interest on the balance and pay the company much more than you get back at the end of the year.

Keeping Track of Rebates

Be sure that you keep track of your spending with these credit cards. Most companies offer an online service to let you see how much you have spent and how much you have earned. Take advantage of this service and stay on top of your monthly bills.

Tips to Earning More

Again, if your card offers a higher rate for spending at supermarkets, drugstores, or gas stations, use your card there primarily. You can also get the higher rate most of the time for purchasing merchant gift cards at the supermarket. So if you want to purchase something at a department store, buy a gift card at the supermarket to earn your higher rate and then shop with the gift card.

Credit Card Payment Strategies: Beat Credit Card Debt Nightmares That Keep People Awake At Night

If you are struggling to afford just the minimum payments on your credit cards, you are not alone. A large percentage of the people you pass on the street each day are suffering under the weight of the exact same stress. They are also concerned about upcoming (or past) due dates and an ever-increasing credit card debt balance.

You don’t have to continue to lose sleep worrying about your debts, but you do need to take actiontoday. Little by little, one-step at a time; you can change your credit situation from an ongoing nightmare to a bad dream of the past.

Scrutinize Your Expenses

Hard as it may be to face, until your credit card debt is paid down to a manageable level, you will need to start living frugally. Start by keeping a daily expense log, detailing everything from your morning coffee to the monthly electric bill. Then go through this list, line-by-line, and determine which expenses can be eliminated and which can at least be decreased.

Look for New Money

Consider taking a second job, tutoring on weekends, or baby-sitting. Look around your home for clothes, furniture, or other items that you can sell, either in the classifieds or online at sites like Ebay. Return unnecessary recent purchases for credit back to your card.

Stop Using Your Cards

It is nearly impossible to significantly lower your debt if you keep adding onto it each month. At the very least, take all specialty and department store cards out of your wallet and store them in a safe place (or cut them up entirely). Before you charge anything to a card from now on, ask yourself if it’s really necessary, and if there’s any way to either not make that purchase or to delay it until you have enough funds to cover the cost.

Pay Off Your Highest Interest Rate Cards First

After you’ve pared down every possible expense, sold what you could, and sought out new sources of income, determine how much you have left at the end of the month in excess of all your minimum payments. Then apply all of the excess funds to the card with the highest interest rate, and continue to do that until that card is paid off. Start the process again with the second-highest rate card, and so on. This will pay off your debt the fastest.

Call and Ask

If you need to send a payment in late, call and let your credit card company know. Customers who communicate honestly receive better treatment. It never hurts to call and ask if your interest rate could be lowered; even half of a percentage point can make a big difference for someone living month-to-month.

Your credit card company may also have some sort of hardship program in place for customers who are temporarily unemployed or who are dealing with a serious illness. If you think you may have a hardship case, again, call and talk to someone. You may qualify for a lower interest rate or a few months of grace.

If you have a credit card (most Americans have over 10) then you’ve probably received an offer called a “payment holiday”. You’ll receive a letter that says something to the effect, “That because XYZ Credit Card Company understands how difficult it is for some families around this time of year to make ends meet (or whatever other excuse they can come up with) that you are being given the opportunity to take a month off from making your monthly payment as a ’special gift’ and thank you for being such a valuable customer.”

Sounds Good on the Surface but Why Are They Doing It?
Typically, payment holiday offers have a high acceptance rate. A high percentage of individuals feel it’s a wonderful thing to be able to take a month off from the stress of having to make another payment. However, what they don’t usually realize is that these so-called “holidays” really aren’t a gift at all. They are simply are way to increase profits for the credit card companies.

It’s a Win-Win For the Credit Card Companies
Hmm… So how can letting me skip a payment earn them more money? Well, here’s where the slight of hand comes in. If you read the small print in any credit card agreement you’ll quickly realize that the payment holiday isn’t interest free. You are still being charged interest and because you’re not paying anything back for a particular month that interest will be there next month for you to pay compounded interest on or interest upon interest.

Here’s an example that hopefully with help clarify the principal I’m trying to convey. Let’s say you were paying back $1000 of debt at 1.5% per month (or about 19.5% per year) with a minimum payment each month of 2% (or about 26.82% per year).

If you made the minimum payment for all 12 months, you would have paid back $233.51 and you would still owe $941.62 at the end of the year. Your debt has been reduced by $58.38 and you’ve lost $175.13 in interest.

However, if you were to take a payment holiday you would pay 2% per month for only 11 months or (24.3% on your debt) or $217.80 and you would still owe $960.55 at the end of the year. You end up paying about $38 for the privilege of not making a single payment of about $20 (2% of $1,000). In other words, your month off cost you almost two months of payments.

Don’t worry if you don’t understand all the math – it’s suppose to be confusing. In fact, it was specially designed by mathematicians and marketers to be as confusing as possible to keep you from being able to figure out what a bad deal you’re getting. Case in point, if you hadn’t read this article would you have thought twice about turning down the next “payment holiday” offer you receive? And remember… don’t fall for it because the more you owe, the more that “holiday” will cost you. Instead, you should consider doing everything you can to pay off all your debt as quickly as possible.

If It Sounds Too Good
The old saying, “if it sounds to good to be true then it probably is” certainly applies here and remember that no-one ever gives away anything of value for free, that is with no strings attached – especially the credit card companies. Anytime they offer you anything, it’s because they are going to make a profit and if you can’t see how they benefit, be suspicious because it’s probably just the next slight of hand trick to come down the pipe that is being used to quietly milk you out of a little more interest.

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Executives at Debt Shield, Inc., a Maryland-based debt settlement firm, said that the increased minimum monthly payments on credit card balances will most likely not double, as it is widely reported, but that the increase might push financially struggling cardholders into bankruptcy or bankruptcy alternatives, like debt settlement.

While credit industry experts and the media claim that credit card companies are doubling their minimum monthly payments from 2% of the outstanding balance to 4%, the actual minimum payment increase is more complicated and less drastic for most cardholders, explains Mark Baylis, President of Debt Shield. The new rules require credit card banks to set their minimum payments to cover all interest and fees plus 1% of the outstanding balance, which will result in significant increases for high-interest accounts.

Baylis said that a cardholder with $10,000 on a credit card at 18% Annual Percentage Rate (1.5% monthly) pays $200 under the 2% minimum requirement. Out of that $200 payment, $150 (1.5%) goes towards interest and only $50 (0.5%) goes towards the outstanding balance. Under the new rule, the minimum payment will increase so that the amount applied to the outstanding balance in this example is at least $100 (1%), so the minimum monthly payment must increase by $50 (0.5%) to $250 (2.5%).

The average APR is currently just under 14% (1.17% monthly), but credit card companies increase the APR to 27% or higher if the cardholder makes one late payment. This means that the reality of the new rule will punish low- to medium-income families struggling with credit card debt more than high-income families who are able to avoid paying late. Baylis said that even a small increase can have drastic consequences for families struggling to make the existing payments and manage inflation combined with stagnating income.

The MMP on a credit card debt with the above-average 18% APR will increase by $50 while the same $10,000 debt with a 27% penalty APR will increase by $75. Also, the 27% APR charges $75 more in monthly interest than the 18% APR. Baylis said that this clearly demonstrates the financially destructive power of high interest rates.

The increased minimums will be good in the long term because it should encourage less debt, Baylis continued. But if the credit card companies want to help consumers, they need to stop punishing cardholders with outrageously high interest rates.

About Debt Shield, Inc.

Debt Shield, Inc., is a debt settlement company dedicated to helping consumers resolve their unsecured debt through mutually agreeable and discounted lump sum settlements in consideration of legitimate financial hardships. By helping consumers avoid bankruptcy, Debt Shield provides a service for both debtors and creditors. For more information about Debt Shield, call 1-888-397-7546 or visit the website at www.debtshield.com.

It is simply getting ridiculous the charges credit card companies are imposing on consumers who are late making payments. Yes, creditors have a legal right to do what they are doing, however ethically speaking that is certainly open to debate! Let’s look at some ways you can avoid costly credit card late fees:

1. Pay your bills on time. This one is obvious. When you get your bill, open it up and pay it right away. Waiting means forgetting or hoping that your payment arrives on time.

2. Pay online. Paying via your computer is faster than mail services, but there is still some lag time from when you authorize a payment and when the payment is finally credited to your credit card account.

3. Automatic payment. If your credit card provider permits it, have them automatically deduct a set amount from your account every month. That way they’ll get their funds well in advance of their due date.

4. Fight it. Just because the credit card company said that your payment was late doesn’t mean that it was late. Call them up and ask them to reverse the charge — now as high as $39 — and to adjust their records accordingly.

Allowing credit card companies to run roughshod over you is one sure way to worsen your credit card woes. Know your rights and take action as required.

Credit Card Interest Rates – Why It’s Important To Understand How They Work

Einstein put it best when he said, “Compounding interest is the greatest mathematical discovery of all time”. Now the question you need to ask is, “Do I want this force working for me or against me?” If you own a credit card and you carry-over balances from month to month then you’ve got that amazing force called compounding interest working against you.

In this article, I’ll attempt to explain how this “force” works against you month after month after month, in the form of interest upon interest. And perhaps, by helping you to gain a better understanding of how this “force” works and how important even a small change in the interest rate you are being charged effects you and families financial future. And hopefully, it will also inspire and motivate you to do whatever it takes to pay off your credit cards and initiate some type of savings plan so you can put this “force” to work for you.

Credit Card Interest Rates are Compounded
The interest you pay on your credit card balances are compounded, which means that you pay interest on the interest from the month before. A simple example would be that if you were being charged an interest rate of 2% per month, you would not be paying 24% per year. In reality, you would be paying 26.82%. A neat little trick that credit card companies use to pick up an additional point or two of interest is to calculate interest on a monthly rather than on a yearly basis. You pay more but you don’t know you’re paying more.

A Brain Teaser
Here’s a little brain teaser based upon what you’ve already learned. Would you rather have $1 million in cash or $10,000 in some form of savings account earning you a compounded interest rate of 20 percent per year?

Hmm, let’s see how that $10,000 would grow after 10 years – $61,917 or 20 years – $383,375 or 30 years – $2,373,763 or 50 years – $563,475,143.

After fifty years, you would have over $500 million. Of course, you would have to take inflation into account and if we used a figure of 5% per year, then that $500 million would have the buying power that $10,732,859 does today. Not a bad return on your investment of $10,000 but on a side note it also exposes another lesson in how the compounding rate of inflation destroys wealth but that’s the subject of another article.

Clearly, that question was a bit tricky because there’s so many variables to take into account that would influence what decision you would ultimately make – but you get my point, the power of compounding interest and by the way… it’s the primary way credit card companies make their money is a powerful “force”. It’s also the way pensions work and the reason the prices of things seem to rise massively as you get older. Be afraid… or at the least very wary of compounding interest.

Compounding Interest Can Really Add Up
Now, let’s look at a more real world example. Let’s say you have an average unpaid balance of $1,000 on a credit card with an APR of 15 percent.

First year interest would be $150. However, this amount is then carried-over and added onto the balance and interest is charged on that. As a result, year two interest would be another $172.50 for a total of $1322.50 and it continues to build year after year. Year three, four and five would look like this – $1,520, $1,749 and $2,011.

As you can clearly see, after just five years at 15%, you would owe double what you borrowed and after 10 years you would owe four times. I know it’s hard to believe but once again this simple “real world” example dramatically demonstrates the power of compounding interest.

If you let something like that carry on long enough, you end up paying on that same amount of debt for years and years and end up paying back many times what you originally borrowed and in some instances you still may not have completely satisfied the original debt. Unfortunately, most people simply don’t take the time to think through this out and they feel that the high and never ending payments are simply their fault for spending too much money to begin with.

The Three Percent Difference
You may feel that there’s not that much difference between a credit card that charges an APR of 15% versus one that charges an APR of 12% but then again after reading this article I’m sure you’ve realized that there is and so – that’s exactly what I’m going to show you. Remember the previous example that showed you would owe over $2,000 after only five years at 15% after borrowing an initial amount of $1,000.

That same example at 12% reveals the following: Year one – $1120, year two – $1254 and years three through five – $1404, $1573 and $1762 respectively. After the same five year period you would have saved nearly $250 or almost 25% in interest from a mere 3% difference in APR. Quite dramatic and hopefully it will help you convince you to make the necessary decisions to pay-off your credit cards and start saving so that you can put, “the greatest mathematical discovery of all time” to work for you… rather than against you.

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