Choosing A Credit Card Rewards Program

By Darren Cason

No matter which way you turn, there are always credit card companies that offer reward programs to entice customers. New ones keep cropping up everyday, and it may make you think it is to good to refuse. Even though some programs sound great in theory, others are not all they are cracked up to be.

Having more than one rewards card is something that a lot of people think about, you need to bear in mind that they are not all worth having. Using your credit card is a good thing, but you do end up paying interest and may wind up paying substantially more in the end. When it comes to credit card rewards, you should exercise caution and always employ common sense.

Any credit card that is accompanied by a high interest rate should be avoided. With some reward cards, you will find they hike up the interest rates than some standard cards would. This higher rate can quickly add up to trouble that is no kind of reward. You want to stay on the safe side and look at the interest rates and decide if the reward is even worth it. If you pay off your balance at the end of the month, then you do not need to worry about this.

You need to keep your eyes peeled for those reward cards that offer an enormous annual fee. These types of cards can be tough to grasp and they also could interfere with the type of reward you think your getting. If you look at the small print, before applying for a rewards card, you can avoid this problem. Cash back is another type of reward that is growing in popularity. Many of the top credit card companies and some banks offer a cash back program. It is a rate of about one percent for each purchase you make. But, before you rush out the door to get a reward card, you should always read the fine print and be aware of the maximum limit on the account.

Another option is called points, and this is also applied when you use your credit card to make a purchase. Once you accumulate points, you can apply them towards items and other stuff. Some cards have a limit as to how many points you can get, which shows again, it does pay to shop around.

There are credit cards with rewards card and frequent flier miles programs, which have been around for quite a long time. Some cards base your reward on points, and some use real miles. Others like Chase bank have a chase flexible rewards card that a every cardholder to choose if they want to have a travel reward or a merchandise reward. For every dollar spent using your frequent flier credit card, you will receive points or miles, depending upon which card you have. Once you have enough miles added up, you can redeem them. Most of these reward programs take around twenty-five thousand miles in order to redeem them, this can make it almost futile for reaping the benefits.

No matter which way you turn, choosing the right credit card reward program is going to require time and effort. You may not have any luck finding a card to suit your needs, but if you do, you are fortunate. You should always read the information and compare companies, before choosing your card. You can find a great selection of prepaid cards at many department and variety stores, and even online.

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