One of the best options for those who are weary of getting a credit card is an introductory card. Many introductory credit cards have low interest and low annuals fees which mean you can test drive a credit card without worrying about crashing into debt.

When searching for a credit card, you need to be aware of the following:

• Interest rate- the lower the better.
• Balance transfers- if you want to consolidate your debt. 0% interest on balance transfers is essential.
• Annual fee- your annual fee is usually directly related to the rewards and options of your credit card.
• Interest free days- these are the days you have to pay your latest purchases before incurring interest. Or most of us, the more interest free days, the better.

A sudden and unexpected expense such as a medical treatment or temporary loss of employment could land you in financial trouble, affecting your cash flow and involving you in credit card debt. You could be paying more interest on the credit card usage and land in a debt trap form, which it will be seemingly very difficult to escape.

It is time you turn to specialists organizations that offer credit card debt relief assistance. What these companies do is they consolidate debts, negotiate debts, reschedule payments and help you get back on the right financial track without affecting your credit ratings or having to file for bankruptcy that could be very damaging.

When you seek the aid of these debt relief organizations they provide you with a loan with a lower rate of interest in order to pay off your other outstanding debts and loans. A borrower simply makes one single payment to the debt relief company and that too with a lower interest rate.

There are credit card debt consolidators who charge more so finding out the right debt relief organization online takes some doing in order to avoid extremely high interest rates that could go even higher if you delay or miss repayments. Some offer very low monthly repayment s but over years, the interest could amount to a huge sum. Search for and select a debt relief company that has a proven track record and a high Better Business Bureau rating.

Some debt relief companies also offer to arrange for debt settlement for you. They will negotiate with credit companies and get the monthly payments rescheduled with lower install s negotiate to have the amount reduced and help you become debt-free sooner than you think. Credit card companies know all too well that reducing the debt encourages repayments while high amounts can lead to default and a total non-payment of the outstanding. A settlement is reached with reduced interest and you can heave a sigh when negotiations are concluded in your fr. In order to qualify, you should have a source of income, a qualifying account and over $5000 in unsecured debt.

One of the most trusted and reliable Better Business Bureau rated companies is Debt Free. They provide a free consultation and easy terms to resolve your credit cards debt relief issue in your and help you get back on track.

There are debt consolidators who charge more so finding out the right debt relief organization online takes some doing in order to avoid extremely high interest rates that could go even higher if you delay or miss repayments. Some offer very low monthly repayment s but over years, the interest could amount to a huge sum. Search for and select a debt relief company that has a proven track record and a high Better Business Bureau rating.

Some debt relief companies also offer to arrange for debt settlement for you. They will negotiate with credit card companies and get the monthly payments rescheduled with lower install s negotiate to have the amount reduced and help you become debt-free sooner than you think. Credit card companies know all too well that reducing the debt encourages repayments while high amounts can lead to default and a total non-payment of the outstanding. A settlement is reached with reduced interest and you can heave a sigh when negotiations are concluded in your fr. In order to qualify, you should have a source of income, a qualifying account and over $5000 in unsecured debt.

One of the most trusted and reliable Better Business Bureau rated companies is Debt Free. They provide a free consultation and easy terms to resolve your credit card debt relief issue in your and help you get back on track.

HDFC Bank, the largest credit card issuer in the country, has launched a pack of three premium credit cards that will make air travel for the affluent a walk in the air. With the Global Indian logging thousands of air miles to set his footprint across the world, the formidable trio of Regalia, Superia and Platinum Edge will offer them a complete solution to all their travel needs.

If Infinia (launched on July 12), our virtually “no-limits” credit card, has redefined the concept of luxury, these travel cards will ensure a smooth flight for the well-heeled. The cards come loaded with unique privileges with the USP being their reward point redemption system which gives one the freedom to choose from a wide array of airlines to cash in on the air miles accumulated on the card.

HDFC Bank is proud to launch these cards in the IT and travel hub of Bengaluru which boasts of one of the finest airports in India. The city is home to many a frequent traveller and according to the latest Airports Authority of India passenger traffic report, international aircraft movement in Bengaluru jumped 10.9% in May 2011 — the highest in India. The city was also ahead of the curve in international passenger traffic growth during the period, registering growth of 8.1% compared to the national average of 7.6%.

The range of cards will be available on both VISA and MasterCard platforms. The Bank has a credit card base of 50.5 lakh as of March 31, 2011.

Credit cards can be a great financial tool when used wisely but can quickly become a burden if you fall behind in payments. Even under the newly enacted consumer protection legislation the credit card companies can still raise the interest rate they charge you on your outstanding balance to the default rate if you miss a payment or two. This default rate is likely to be several times higher than the interest you are currently paying and can compound the problem of making your payments on time.

Because of this, many consumers are looking for ways to obtain some help with their credit card bills and luckily there are a few ways to approach this problem. While most of these options are available to anyone hoping to reduce their credit card payments, you should always try to find a solution to your credit card debt that enables you to avoid damaging your credit score. By protecting your credit score you can be sure you’ll always be able to get the credit you need in the future at the lowest possible rates.

One of the easiest ways to find some relief from high bills is to contact each of the credit card companies you deal with and ask for a lower rate adjustment. With the horrible economy in recent years many lenders have access to funds at a lower rate and may actually lower your interest rate as a result. You can simply call them each month and see if they can lower your rate based on your current credit. In some cases they can even do this on the phone while you’re calling. Other times they may offer another credit card that has a lower initial rate that they can switch you over to automatically. Even though these types of programs have been available for years, many consumers never think to call their credit card companies and ask.

Another approach to finding some debt relief is to locate a new card that offers a low introductory rate. Credit cards are a very competitive business and companies are always offering promotions in the hopes of stealing customers away from their competition. In many cases they will offer new customers a card at 0% interest for a year or more on any balance you carry. This can be a great way to pay down your debt quickly by transferring an older balance to these lower rate cards. If you still make the same payment on your new card as you did on the old card it will help you reduce your outstanding balance quickly since more of it will be applied to the principle.

After you have exhausted these two options you might consider a loan from your bank or credit union to pay off your cards. Most times these loans are at a far lower rate than the cards provide and paying them off in one lump sum will also help to raise your credit score. Consolidating your debt into one monthly payment will make it easier for you to pay your loan on time and avoid keeping track of multiple credit card payments. If you secure a home equity loan to use for paying off your cards you may also have the added benefit of being able to deduct the interest you pay on the loan at tax time.

If none of these options work for you, there are credit consultants that can negotiate with your company on your behalf. They will have you bring in all of your recent statements as part of your initial consultation and work with you to build a plan to pay down your debt. This may also involve working with the individual company to lower the interest rate they are charging you. In some cases these companies may actually loan you the money to pay off the cards and allow you to pay them back over time. While this may seem like a perfect solution, many credit card companies will report you as a bad credit risk as part of this adjustment. You need to understand very clearly what the consequences and risks are before choosing to engage a credit counseling service. In some cases the temporary dip your credit score may take from this type of negotiation will be worth it if it allows you to finally pay off your debt.

This type of debt relief is normally a last resort for most people and should only be considered after all other options have been exhausted. You also need to understand the fees involved with this type of activity as many of the companies that offer this service can be fairly expensive. In most cases you can do the negotiations yourself but may not be able to accomplish the reductions these experienced companies can provide. This makes the cost of having a professional handle the delicate negations on your behalf well worth the cost.

Ultimately keeping you credit card safe is you responsibility. Indeed, in a worst case scenario, if it can be proven you may have been negligent in keeping your credit card safe, you may find yourself liable for the cost of all transactions made fraudulent on your account should you lose the card. To help you avoid this, here are 5 basic credit card safety tips:

Never have more cards than you need

While it is always advisable that you have more than 1 credit card, in case it gets lost, you should never have more credit cards than you actually need to use. The principal reason why this is the case is because it becomes harder to keep a track of which cards you have and where you have kept them with the more cards you have.

Always keep a photocopy of your cards

How many times have you been asked what you card number is only to find yourself looking for your card to get the number? Now, what happens if you have a card stolen and no credit card statement to-hand? You have a problem! For this reason, it is always best practice to take photocopies of you credit cards to so that always know where to find the number should anything unfortunate happen to your card.

Always keep your receipts separate

Among the most important of the basic credit card safety tips you’ll receive is never to keep your credit cards and credit card purchase receipts in the same place – because likely as not if you have lost your card, or if it is stolen, then you’ll have lost or stolen the receipts as well. Now there is no way for you to vouch which transactions were yours and which where not – or, there is no way to tell which was the last genuine transaction you made.

Moreover, never keep a record of your PIN with your card, this is only asking for trouble!

Never give your account number to someone you don’t know

If you are ever asked to give your credit card details to someone you don’t know, or who as initiated a discussion with you (rather than the other way round) over the phone or via email, you should always refuse. Worst come to the worst, phone the card issuer and ask them if it is okay for you to divulge the information or phone the enquirer back. If the enquirer seems reluctant to accept this, you have to ask yourself why!

Never leave your account details open to public viewing

It may sound rather basic to say you should never let ‘Joe public’ see your credit card account details, but ask yourself this question: “How often have you received a publication subscription form in postcard format?” Now, suppose you complete this with your credit card details filled in. Suddenly half the world has access your credit card number, expiry date and signature!

HDFC Bank has launched the first ultra-premium credit card targeting the ‘uber rich’ in India.

Called INFINIA, the credit card is promoted as a virtually “no limits” product. The card will initially be offered to a select group of 5,000 individuals.

“INFINIA is a super-premium offering from us to rich Indians. It is the culmination of a very successful journey that began in 2003 with the launch of our first card,” said HDFC Bank’s managing director Aditya Puri.

“What prompted us to conceive INFINIA was the need our clients felt for such a product,” said Puri.

The card will be available on both Visa and MasterCard platforms.

Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) of India has joined hands with private sector lender Axis Bank to offer credit card services to customers and employees of the former.

The credit card program of LIC would have four variants to it namely Visa Gold, MasterCard Titanium, Visa Platinum, and Visa Signature Credit-Card.

All general benefits coming with credit cards like global acceptance, interest free credit period, cash withdrawal etc will also be offered with these cards.

Along with them, card holders will also be offered with fuel surcharge waivers through all petrol pumps and lost card liability cover too. The fuel surcharge waiver is however not applicable on the gold credit card.

Payment of LIC policy premiums through these cards will bring reward points to the customer.

The mail today is littered with charge card offers. Every time you open a letter from a bank, there seems to be an unbelievable deal about a new card with no interest rates, high limits and low minimum payments.

In reality, how many of these offers can be trusted at face value? It is easy to be skeptical when a company is offering what seems to be a great deal upfront, but it is important to look a little deeper to see exactly what these types of letters are really selling. A credit card introductory offer, while tempting, should be investigated before being taken advantage of.

Many credit card introductory offers seem too good to be true. Offers of no interest and high limits can be enticing and can seem like a great way to have a little extra cash to spend right now and pay off later. However, reading the fine print is always a good idea. Some cards carry zero interest for a specified period of time, but then charge a huge interest rate, sometimes upwards of twenty percent.

Also, the high limits that are offered are generally legitimate, but can also be deceiving. Many companies offer huge limits, but also require a large minimum payment every month, or a huge interest rate. A $5,000 limit that requires a person to pay several hundred dollars a month as a payment does not make a lot of sense, as it will end up costing more in the end to pay off the balance than it would to have a lower limit card.

However, not every credit card introductory offer is a scam. Some are legitimately good offers that are made available to people based on good credit history. Banks will sometimes offer cards to members who have been with them for several years and have shown good spending habits and do not overdraw on their accounts often.

This is a way for the bank to show its allegiance to a member, and for the member to begin building better credit by taking advantage of a good offer. These kinds of cards generally have normal interest rates, regulated limits that are not high enough to ruin credit scores, and are a great way to begin using credit cards safely and smartly.

Charge card offers are handed out to people on a daily basis. Through mail offers, nearly every person has been offered a card from one company or another. Some are legitimate offers with low interest rates and are a great way to build credit. Others are definitely trouble, offering high rates and high payments. The key to every offer is reading the fine print and finding out exactly what each offer includes.

At least five institutions, including Axis Bank and SBI Card, have shown interest in buying the credit card business of Barclays India.

“We are evaluating the various options and will choose the route which serves the interest of our stakeholders,” said Karan Bhagat, managing director and country head of Barclays Corporate.

Barclays India put the business on the block a month ago. It received five expressions of interest, including from Axis Bank and SBI Card, said banking sources. The deal value of Rs 180-200 crore is based on the number of cards (240,000) in the performing portfolio.

Like most things, there are 2 sides to a coin when it comes to possessing a credit card. Sure, it’s easy because you don’t have to bring cash around, but if you’re not careful, you could up nights worrying about how to get rid of credit card debt. To make sure you reap all the gains, and none of the pains, below are credit card dos and don’ts that may help.

Dos

* Shop around for the best deals. Look for ones that offer low interest rates along with various fees you need to pay to get a card. Choose one with a combination that works for you.
* Always keep track of what you’re spending, that is how to get rid of credit debt. The more you’re aware of where your “money” is going to, the wiser your purchase decisions will be.
* As soon as you get your card bill, pay. And remember to pay more than the minimum amount you’re allowed.

Don’ts

* Making a habit of using your credit to make everyday purchases like food and gas is a definite mistake. For purchases such as this, use cash instead.
* It’s easy to think that because of your credit limit, you can afford to buy things you don’t need. Do not do this. Understand that every time you’re using your credit, you’re actually borrowing money. Your credit limits is more often than not more than your pay check. So, really, if you don’t have the cash to pay for it now, that means you can’t afford it.
* It’s a bad idea to max out your credit. Not only is that a danger in itself, credit card companies will also charge you a fee when you’ve reached your credit limit on top of it.