Sunday, March 9, 2008

Instant Approval Credit Cards: How They Work

Instant Approval Credit Cards: How They Work
Everything moves faster in today's world. Credit card
companies recognize that consumers expect fast results, and
they have responded accordingly. You can now apply for what
is known as the instant approval credit card. How does this
type of card work? And just how "instant" is it? Here's the
run-down on instant approval credit cards and how to decide
if one is right for you.

Where to Find Them

Applications for instant approval credit cards are not
likely to show up in your mailbox. You can, however, find
them online by going to a credit card website. They are
often listed in a section of their own. Some can be found
in other categories, such as low interest rate cards or
cards for those with poor credit.

What "Instant" Means

Most companies advertise that you will know whether or not
you've been approved for the card within 60 seconds. This
means that after you fill out an online application and
send it in, a response will be e-mailed to you in less than
a minute. The process is incredibly faster than sending in
an application through the mail.

Getting approved for a credit card does not mean that you
can begin using it right away. You will have to wait for
the actual piece of plastic to arrive in your mailbox. In
most cases, this takes between five and seven business
days. Once you have the card in your hands, you'll need to
call a number to authorize that you have received it. Then
you're free to swipe it as you wish.

How the Process Works

Just how do companies instantly know if you can handle a
credit card? In most situations, companies run a quick
check on your credit. They usually have access to your FICO
score. FICO stands for Fair Isaac & Company, the
corporation that develops credit scores for consumers. The
numbers range from 300 to 850. The higher your score is,
the more likely you are to get approved for a credit card.

When the credit card company receives your score and
approves the application, it then does a more thorough
check. It reviews your credit and makes a final decision
based on that. While the instant approval is not a 100%
guarantee, in most cases the answer you first receive is
the correct one.

Having your private information sent through the Internet
may seem scary. But there is hardly a need to worry about
fraud in the instant approval process. Credit card
companies use the latest data encryption available to make
sure that your information remains secure. If you are
unsure of a site, check for a padlock on the screen. This
indicates that they use the latest security technology.

At one time, instant approval credit cards mostly targeted
consumers with good or excellent credit. Today, however,
competition between credit card companies has increased
greatly. This has resulted in more options for you, the
consumer. Even if your credit is poor, you can find cards
that offer the instant approval feature.

Regardless of the card you choose, you'll want to read
through the fine print before you apply. Also review the
other benefits and rewards that are included. Once you've
chosen the one that's right for you, the application
process takes only a few minutes. You'll soon have another
credit card to add to your wallet.


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To View Instant Approval Credit Cards click the following
link:
http://www.credit-card-surplus.com/instantapproval.php . Ed
Vegliante runs http://www.credit-card-surplus.com , a
directory helping consumers to compare and apply for credit
cards.

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