Credit Cards

By Tyson J Stevenson

A visa gift card is similar to a debit card and represents money deposited with the issuer (Visa). This card can be used for purchases up to the limit on the card at all outlets where visa card is accepted. The difference between debit card and visa gift card is that debit card is usually issued in an individual’s name where as visa gift card is issued without any name. Further there is a PIN in debit cards where as for visa gift cards there is no PIN. The amount varies from $25 to $2,500. There are two types of visa gift cards, domestic and international. Domestic can be used only within the US while international visa gift cards can be used internationally.

The visa gift card looks just like any debit card. It has a magnetic strip embedded in it on which the number is encoded. The remaining value in the card can be assessed by radio frequency identification. There are other ways, like entering the printed number on the card into a telephone or other numeric keypad. The simplest way to know the balance on your visa gift card is to call the toll free number on the card and give the card number.

The visa gift card can be given as a reward or gift on various occasions. Some visa cards are automatically activated whereas some have to be activated. The instructions for activation are written on the card. It is important to sign on the back of the card to prevent unauthorized people using your card. The purchase receipt has to be signed on every purchase.

The usage of the card is very simple and similar to using a credit card. The card has to be swiped through the keypad and the credit button has to be pressed. The amount spent on purchases is automatically deducted from the account. However unlike credit card the amount of purchase is limited to the amount in the card and no overdrawing is possible. If the amount of purchase is more than the amount in the card, the card is declined. Therefore it is necessary to know the balance amount in the visa gift card before hand. In case one wants to purchase an article of value more than the amount in the card, the difference amount can be paid by cash, check or credit card.

If a card is lost or stolen, dial the toll free number given on the card or the number in the back of the card materials. To issue a fresh card the card provider will need the visa gift card number. Hence it is better to note the card number and the toll free number in a separate paper and keep it in safe place. When gifting the visa gift card the gift card materials should also be given with the visa gift card.

Visa gift cards are available quite easily and at many locations. To purchase a visa gift card online, or to know the locations where it is available, visit usa.visa.com.

Tyson J Stevenson is a prolific writer of useful articles on a variety of topics.
Related resources are Cheap Visa Gift Cards and HubbuH as well as News2Reviews

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tyson_J_Stevenson

Posted by Orce Dimitrov at 1:22 AM | Permalink | Comments

By Joseph Kenny

Credit cards have ballooned in popularity in the UK. A recent study has shown that very soon, over a third of all adults in the UK will have credit cards, and the numbers are still increasing rapidly. It is important to remember however, that credit cards can have important consequences on your credit report however, so some caution is advisable when using them.

Your credit report is extremely important for a wide range of purposes. These days they are not only used by lenders when deciding whether or not to lend to you, but also if you apply to rent a flat, apply for insurance or in some cases, even when you apply for a job. So you should take care not to damage your credit report through credit card use.

For most people, using credit cards wisely and responsibly will not damage their credit report and in some cases, can show lenders that you are accustomed to credit and can meet your obligations and so help you to build up a positive credit history. However, one of the important items on your credit report will be the amount of credit to which you have access to. If you have thousands of pounds of unused credit open to you, it may cause some lenders to be cautious, even though you haven’t used the credit. This can be damaging if you are applying for something important like a mortgage and the lender raises concerns on this ground.

From the lender’s point of view, if you have a lot of credit cards in your wallet, even if you haven’t used them, they will see that you have the option at any time to spend all that money and may be afraid that you will do so. Therefore, if you do have a lot of credit cards in your wallet, that you decide you do not need, or if you have been switching balances from one credit card to the next without closing each account as you go, you may want to consider closing some of these accounts so that lenders can rest a little easier knowing that you can’t go out on a massive shopping spree tomorrow and bankrupt yourself.

Another danger of credit cards is that it can be easy to miss payments. Because they are not fixed monthly payments every month, but constantly vary, it can happen that you miss or are late on the odd payment. This will look very bad on a credit report as lenders will lose confidence in your ability or willingness to keep up to date with repayments. Therefore, you should be careful also about this aspect of credit cards if you wish to avoid unwanted damage to your credit report.

Joe Kenny writes for the Credit Card Guide, offering the latest 0% credit cards, visit today for introductory balance transfers and start clearing credit card debt today.

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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joseph_Kenny

Posted by Orce Dimitrov at 3:44 AM | Permalink | Comments