2. Pay online. Paying via your computer is faster than mail services, but there is still some lag time from when you authorize a payment and when the payment is finally credited to your credit card account.

3. Automatic payment. If your credit card provider permits it, have them automatically deduct a set amount from your account every month. That way they’ll get their funds well in advance of their due date.

4. Fight it. Just because the credit card company said that your payment was late doesn’t mean that it was late. Call them up and ask them to reverse the charge — now as high as $39 — and to adjust their records accordingly.

Allowing credit card companies to run roughshod over you is one sure way to worsen your credit card woes. Know your rights and take action as required.

Copyright 2005-2008 — Matthew Keegan is The Article Writer who writes on a variety of topics including: advocacy, automobiles, aviation, business, Christian themes, family, news, product reviews, travel, writing, and more. Samples from his portfolio are available right online.

I wrote previously urging anyone who still has a credit card that does not give them a “reward” for using that card to convert to a rewards card or switch to a credit card provider that has a rewards program. The reason? If you are going to use a credit card you might as well get something out of the experience. Of course, a rewards card makes no sense for the person who doesn’t pay off their card every month as the interest on the card will likely offset any points accumulated. So, if you are a savvy consumer who lives debt free you can accumulate points quickly and get some nifty stuff. Let’s take a look at one plan and how to make it work for you.

Alright, I am not going to reveal this particular provider’s name. However, I will tell you something about the program. If you spend a dollar on mostly anything, you accumulate a point. It is that easy. Moreover, this particular provider is automatically bestowing 500 points on new users for just using the card once within the first 90 days. Not bad, especially when you only need 2000 points to qualify for merchandise, cash credit, or travel.

I realize rewards programs vary and this particular one allows for users to accumulate an unlimited amount of points per year. You must, however, redeem them within five years or start to watch points drop off.

So, just what can you get with only 2000 points? Here are some examples:

Life’s little and big emergencies often require that you have cash on hand or at least enough credit to give the contractor who is to fix your leaking roof the peace of mind that you have the funds available to pay for the job. It could take days for the insurance adjuster to arrive and process your claim, even longer if you live in an area where most of the homes were damaged by a hurricane, tornado, etc. You lined up a building contractor but he wants a down payment now, but you are short on funds. What can you do? Apply for an instant approval credit card!

We live in a society where many decisions must be made almost immediately. Creditors know this and have developed a way for you to apply for a credit card online and receive approval within one or two minutes. This method is accomplished quickly because computers do much of the legwork by pulling up your FICO score to measure your creditworthiness. The higher your score, the more likely you’ll be rapidly approved.

One thing to note is that not every “instant approval” credit card will allow you to access your credit line right away. If there is a “flag” in your credit file, you’ll be conditionally approved until a human worker can access your credit reports for further information. You may still receive conditional approval, but it could take a few more days for a professional to review your information and to approve your new credit card.

If you do receive instant approval for your credit card application then you could be granted limited access to your credit line until the actual credit card arrives in the mail. This may be all that your contractor needs to know before beginning repairs. Once the credit card is in your possession you’ll then have full access to the line of credit determined by the credit card company.

Instant approval credit cards can ease your burdens and strengthen your hand in a difficult situation. Find the Discover, MasterCard, Visa, or American Express card that fits your needs and put your worries behind you.

(c) 2006; You may republish this article to your website with the following author resource information and link left in place.

Matthew C. Keegan is a freelance writer who manages a variety of blogs including PrivateFA and TravelDuties.