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10 Dangerous Myths about Credit Cards Credit cards can expand the buying power of a responsible user in the know, but those who aren't careful can quickly have their credit rating crippled and rack up huge debts. Read up on some of these common, but dangerous myths about credit cards to prepare yourself for the world of plastic. Building Your Credit From No Credit or Bad Credit Building credit from no credit or bad credit often seems to be a catch-22. Most credit card companies and lenders will not open an account for you or give you a loan if you don't already have an established credit history, but you can't establish a credit history without opening a credit card account or applying for a loan! Luckily, there are ways to break into building your credit score, even if you have no history or bad credit history. The secret is to start small and stay responsible. Common Practice of Very Responsible Credit Card Users Most of the advice surrounding credit cards is a laundry list of don'ts and warnings. But in order to use credit cards responsibly and build a good credit score, there are a couple practices you'll want to remember. Getting a Better Interest Rate for your credit card Believe it or not, your credit card terms are not set in stone. One of the secrets to saving money is by reducing costs on the small things over long period of time. Getting just 1% shaved off your interest rate on your long-term credit can add up to hundreds, or thousands of dollars worth of savings. If you can prove to your credit card company that you are a responsible and loyal customer, you can often convince them to give you better terms. How Your Credit Score is Calculated Knowing how to understand your credit score is a powerful tool for keeping your credit history in good standing and negotiating better terms from lenders. But keeping good credit takes a little bit more than just being aware that your actions are being recorded. Lies Credit Card Companies Tell It's a sad fact-credit card companies make big money off of your mistakes. And in order to make those mistakes more frequent, credit cards have a couple creative ways of phrasing things to mislead you. Read on to learn how to decipher the truth from the lies. The Differences between Debit and Credit Cards Debit card may look the same, feel the same, function the same, even have the same logo as a credit card but there is a world of difference between the risks and rewards of a debit card vs. a credit card. Contrary to popular belief, debit cards are -not- simply credit cards with training wheels and credit cards are -not- simply debit cards with rewards. Read on to find out why. Top 10 Rewards of having a credit card The world of credit seems to be a one-way trip into debt, but if you are smart and responsible there are many ways to reap rewards from credit cards. Almost every credit card company tries to cater to niche consumers with specialized points and rewards, but there are more perks to having a credit card than freebies and discounts. Read on for a breakdown of the kinds of rewards and benefits you can expect from having a credit card. What to do when your credit card is lost or stolen Though losing your credit card can be frightening and potentially devastating, there are a few things you can do for damage control. To reduce the amount of unauthorized activity, and thus costs to you and your credit card company, follow these steps: The True Cost of Cash Advance In order to make more money, credit card companies are offering more and more features and services for their customers, such as cash advance and super checks. While these services are ostensibly for your convenience, they are actually best at getting more money from you in fees and interest.

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