All About Rewards Credit Cards

By Ben Fox

Most people look out for an opportunity to avail rewards credit cards for them as there are several benefits. A rewards credit card is similar to any common credit card that promises its consumer to offer rewards on each purchase or a purchase of a specific amount, say 1 point at $10 or 10 points at $100. However, there are several other aspects too that you need to know about rewards credit cards.

The first is that you earn certain number of points when you shop with your rewards credit card at grocery store or use it for several other purposes, such as filling gas, purchasing airlines ticket etc. These points get accumulated together and when they reach a specific number (as per the conditions offered by the credit card company), you would be offered certain rewards by the credit card company, such as movie tickets, a dinner for two or free shopping for a specific sum of money or vouchers.

However, these credit cards usually charge a high rate of interest from their users. But users are also offered with reward points on the purchase of a wide range of items. The best way to save money on rewards credit cards is to pay off as soon as you can. You can earn a lot of incentives such as cash back schemes thru using your rewards credit card.

Although, there are several types of rewards credit cards, but some of the most popular ones are:

* a) Travel Rewards Credit Card: This would be the best option to choose from in case you travel frequently. With a travel reward credit card every time you purchase tickets you will earn points. Not only this but you are also get benefited from lower APR. Generally these cards do not charge any hidden charges.

* b) Gas Rewards Credit Card: You must go for a gas rewards credit card that has a tie-up with a Gas dealer or a gasoline company. This would help you earn several gas rewards, every time you get your tank filled while on the go. These cards would also offer you the best interest rates and lowest annual fees.

* c) Airline Rewards Credit Card: Avail an airline rewards credit card and you would be benefited from an opportunity to fly; as well as save money on it.

Let’s see the basic computation practices by these rewards credit cards companies.

Most of the rewards credit card companies these days follow two basic types of computation practices.

* a) Percentage-based rewards

* b) Points-based rewards

In case of percentage-based rewards, the credit card holder is offered with a percentage of his or her money back on the purchases made (however, this depends on the conditions offered by the company). The later method provides a number of points for the total number of purchases made, and thereafter, is redeemed for reimbursements on several expenses made.

When it comes to the points-based rewards system, it is very difficult to know what you would be receiving at the end of the day (generally three to five percent is offered by the company on a particular targeted purchase). One point system provides a reward rate of 2,500 points for twenty dollars you spend. This is single point that you earn for each dollar you spend on a purchase. Now, this is calculated to one percent return rate on the money you have offered to the rewards credit card.

Though, we have discussed a few important points above, to understand all conditions and calculations in a better way you must read the fine print or brochures offered by the credit card company. So, in case you have any questions or queries, don’t hesitate to contact the company. Additionally there are many online websites that have useful information so never forget to go through them.

This article was written by Ben Fox, owner/operator of getCredit365.Com; A website dedicated to finding consumers the best credit card to suit their needs, from bad credit, to good credit, rewards cards and anywhere in between they have something for you. They also offer resources for auto, mortgage and personal loans as well as auto, home-owners and life insurance.

Shriram arm floats credit card

Shriram Transport Finance Company Ltd (STFCL), in association with UTI Bank, has launched a co-branded credit card exclusively for small-truck owners.

The card offers a credit limit of Rs 15,000 and they can withdraw up to Rs 5,000. The card will be officially launched by Finance Minister P Chidambaram on January 6.

“Our target is to issue one lakh credit cards in one year. Depending on the success, we will further look into tie-ups with petroleum companies and others to provide additional facilities to truck drivers. We have taken an initiative to target the sub-prime category as we believe that the credit risk is less but this requires proper identification of customers, pricing and collection machinery,” said J P Nayak, chairman and managing director, UTI Bank.

Lending through credit card would prove beneficial as transactions are recorded and leave an audit trail, he said. Truck owners are entitled to one loyalty point for every Rs 100 they spend using the card.

They can use the card for day-to-day capital requirements, including buying fuel, tyres and oil, and can also withdraw money from ATMs. UTI Bank has around 2,100 ATM centres across the country.

The card offers in-built insurance schemes under four categories - personal accident cover of Rs 3 lakh, lost card liability of Rs 40,000, credit shield and purchase protection, each of Rs 25,000.

R Sridharan, managing director, STFCL, said at the launch, “The current base is Rs 9,000 and our aim is to increase it to Rs 15,000-20,000 crore in the next four to five years. The launch of this card is a unique step and we assure UTI Bank that the devolvement rate is limited to 15-20 per cent.”

Source business-standard.com

Air Deccan introduces credit card masking system

Low cost carrier Air Deccan today said it has introduced a credit card masking system, an enhanced security system, at its call centre.

Air Deccan, whose 10 per cent of total bookings are made through its call centre, said with this system, credit card payments can now be made through IVR (Interactive Voice Response) instead of the call centre agent.

The IVR will procure the credit card details without any manual interaction, allowing the caller to provide his credit card details to a more secure system, it said.

Bureau Report