Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Cash Advance Loans Online - The Plus Side

Cash advance loans online can be a huge lifesaver when you find yourself in a bit of a pinch in between your paydays. So just what is a cash advance loan and how will it be helpful to you?

A cash advance loan (or payday loan) is a very short-term loan that carries extremely high interest rates. Generally, these types of loans last from a period of one to four weeks and you either write a check out that the company will cash when the loan is due or you would have to authorize the company to be able to make withdrawals out of your savings or checking account.

If you are in a bad credit situation when it comes to obtaining a loan, getting a cash advance loan may just be the answer you are seeking. Most all payday loan companies only require that you have either an active savings or checking account and have held your current job between 3-6 months and be able to prove how much you make in a month.

You can obtain your money very quickly when you decide to into applying for cash advance loans online. After you have provided the loan company with all of the information that they require and you are approved you are likely ti have your cash within 24 hours sometimes instantly depending on the company you are getting your loan through.

Getting a cash advance loan can assist you in making your credit score better. Just make sure that when you are getting an advance you make sure that the loan company reports to one of the three major credit agencies.

Now the next time that you are in a bind and need some cash quickly, if you are you sure you can meet the terms, applying for cash advance loans online would be a smart move.

Saturday, June 20, 2009

Steps To Get Your Financial House In Order

Managing your finances may be easier than you think. That's because online banking offers the same services found at bricks-and-mortar institutions-plus many others.

For example, through online banking, customers can check their account balances, transfer funds, pay bills and more. And because of the convenience, online banking can make it easier to get your finances in order. Here's how:

• Eliminate clutter and help save the environment-Pay (and receive) your bills online and you can get rid of unnecessary paper, envelopes and stamps. You can also view images of your paid checks and account statements online.

• Simplify your Web life- Instead of bouncing from site to site to view and pay your bills, you can do it all through your bank's Web site-and save yourself the trouble of multiple log-ins and passwords while you're at it.

• Easily monitor your accounts-You can choose to receive e-mail alerts when checks are paid, deposits clear, bills are due, your account reaches a certain limit and more. Alerts also help you stay on top of recent account activity so you can detect and prevent fraud.

• Reduce your chances of fraud-A study released in January 2006 by Javelin Strategy & Research shows that Internet-related fraud incidences are less severe, less costly, and less prevalent than theft detected offline due to online account monitoring.

• Manage your investments-Invest and build your portfolio using helpful tools and resources online. You can also watch your retirement savings grow and decide how to invest your money.

Some banking sites take customer service even further-even if you're not a customer. That's because these sites serve as valuable "at your fingertips" resources for everything from current interest rates to protecting your accounts to retirement tips.

One Web site, wellsfargo.com, offers an added benefit for its customers called My Spending Report. This expense management tool gives customers a "big picture" view of their spending, combining payments and purchases from credit cards, check cards, checking accounts and online bill payments in one convenient place. My Spending Report automatically organizes these expenses into 19 categories, including gas, groceries, health care and entertainment.

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

The Fight Against Fraud Knows No Border

Canada and the United States share similar cultures, enthusiasm for sports and a common border.

Unfortunately, the border is proving to be no barrier to fraud schemes that target victims in both countries. Armed with the Internet and cell phones, con artists target victims-many of them older Americans-in these cross-border schemes. Using false names and electronic tricks, they hide who and where they really are.

The good news is that the U.S. Postal Inspection Service is working with Canadian law enforcement to stop these crimes. Prevention, however, is still the best medicine. Chief Postal Inspector L.R. Heath encourages consumers to protect themselves by following these tips:

• Be wary of anything that promises large sums of money, such as sweepstakes or lottery winnings, in exchange for your advance payment, donation or investment.

• Don't be pressured into making a decision about an offer. Check it out first.

• Be cautious about businesses that try to conceal their mailing addresses and phone numbers, and evade questions about their operations.

• Be aware that if you respond to even one of these "offers," your name will be added to a "mooch" list by these criminals. These are contact lists, similar to those used by legitimate businesses, that track people who have fallen for scams in the past. They are bought and sold by these criminal enterprises and you can count on being targeted again.

The Postal Service's Consumer Advocate Delores J. Killette said, "Older Americans need to be educated to avoid becoming victims of consumer fraud and convinced that it's okay to say 'no' to solicitations. But their children, many of whom are baby boomers, also need to play a role. They need to keep an eye on elderly parents and grandparents to protect them from scammers. Fighting fraud truly is a family matter." Educated families are the best defense against these fraudsters-if they recognize the warning signs.