Your Credit Cards Guide

Do you recollect that moment of time when you decided to order all the gifts you needed for Christmas from Amazon.com, but there was a misunderstanding with the delivery that almost left you worrying about whether you would be arriving at a family party empty handed.

You were annoyed but you still like shopping with Amazon.

However what if the company that controls your credit card handed you a penalty charge for being slightly tardy making your monthly payment? Would you be happy and would you want to forgive them?

A recent survey has suggested that when it comes to credit card companies the majority of Americans can play hard ball, refusing to forgive their credit card issuer when penalty charges are added.

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Banks commonly issue debit cards with an associated checking or savings account. Debit cards allow customers to withdraw and deposit funds into the associated account using an automatic teller machine.

Many banks now issue debit cards with a Visa or MasterCard logo. This type of debit card functions in a similar manner to a prepaid credit card, allowing users to make purchases from merchants that accept Visa or MasterCard.

The primary difference between a prepaid credit card and a debit card displaying the Visa or MasterCard logo is that the prepaid credit card is not directly associated with a checking or savings account.

Aways request a four-digit PIN number for your debit card. Many banks assign PIN numbers ranging from four to eight digits.

Foreign ATMs, however, will typically not accept debit cards that do not have four-digit PINs.

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The Verdict: The RBFCU Platinum Preferred Rate MasterCard comes with a low purchase interest rate that you can make even lower if you take out loans or open accounts with San Antonio, Texas-based Randolph-Brooks Credit Union. The only catch? You have to live in south central Texas to be a member of this credit union and, of course, to apply for the Preferred Rate MasterCard.

Overview: Most credit cards connected to credit unions come with low interest rates and fees. The RBFCU Platinum Preferred Rate card, though, comes with a difference; not only is the starting purchase interest rate low, cardholders can make the rate fall even more dramatically by taking out loans or opening checking or saving accounts with the Randolph-Brooks Federal Credit Union.

How This Card Works: You’ll earn a certain amount of relationship points every time you do business with the credit union. F

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In a recent effort to attract the consumers with a Do-It-Yourself mindset that are social-media savvy, Barclaycard unveiled their most recent credit card, the Barclaycard Ring MasterCard.

This credit card has the distinction of being the first that is “crowdsourced.”

For those not aware, crowdsourcing is a term defined by Jeff Howe, back in 2006 in an issue of Wired magazine. His definition is that its

the act of a company or institution taking a function once performed by employees and outsourcing it to an undefined (and generally large) network of people in the form of an open call.

Since that time, its become a big buzzword.

The Ring card will feature a number of appealing features for consumers, according to the Wall Street Journal. The

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Do you automatically choose BP gas stations because of the sweet rewards that you get with your BP Card? If so, you may want to think twice.

BP will be slashing it’s rewards as of March 1, 2012. The new “Pump Rewards” program will take effect with reduced rewards. This is really sad because the BP Visa was one of the, if not the best gas rewards credit cards on the market assuming you filled up at BP.

Let’s take a look at the updated rewards system and how it compares to the previous system (hint hint, it’s not good!). Also, let’s explore some alternatives to the BP Card.

The First 60 DaysPrevious Program

Under the previous rewards program, BP customers earned great rewards during the first 60 days. They earned a 10 percent rebate on up to $500 in gasoline purchases – a value of $50.

Travel and Dining purchases were good for a 4 percent rebate. All other pur

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Everyone knows that driving more slowly and carpooling can help you save on gas, but if you are a regular driver then you will be in need of a better way to save money at the pumps.

This is where gas station-affiliated credit cards and general gas credit cards should be given serious consideration. As gas prices have once again broken the $4 per gallon mark in certain areas of the country, Card Hub has recently released a list of the best and most rewarding gas company credit cards available today.

1. PenFed Platinum Cash Rewards Card

Their card gives you 5 percent cash back on all gas purchases no matter which gas station you use. In addition to which you will also get 1 percent cash back on all other purchases, although you will need to have a PenFed membership (which costs $15) to be eligible for this card.

2.

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