Credit Cards

Credit Cards, Merchant Accounts, and Your Bottomline

Small Business Q&A with Tim Knox

Q: I’m opening a gift shop and want to be able to accept credit
cards. I talked to the branch manager at my bank, but he didn’t
seem to know much about how it all worked. He did say that I
would need something called “a merchant account” and something
else called “a credit card processor.” Beyond that he seemed
as clueless as I am. I’m thinking about going to another bank.
Can you explain how that all works?
– Mary Ann G.

A: Mary Ann, I’m going to give your banker the benefit of the
doubt and say that a lack of knowledge regarding the specifics
of credit card processing is not necessarily a reflection of
the banker’s competence. I have found over the years that
most bankers, no matter how experienced or knowledgeable about
the banking business they my be, don’t really know much about
how credit card processing and acceptance really works. That’s
because the task of accepting and verifying credit card
purchases is handled by third party service companies who
process and deposit (or settle) the funds into a bank merchant
account.

The decision to accept credit cards is a wise one for any
retailer. I agree with financial guru Dave Ramsey’s teachings
regarding the use and abuse of credit cards. Many people dig
deep holes with credit cards that are hard to climb out of.

But, from a practical business point of view, any retail
business that does not accept credit cards is leaving money
on the table. Research has shown that accepting credit cards
increases revenue and helps with cash flow since you receive
the money within a couple of days instead of waiting up to a
week for a check to clear.

Credit cards don’t bounce, as some checks have a tendency to do.
Credit card users are also more likely to buy on impulse and
spend more when they do. Bad news for them, but good news for
you. If you have a social conscience concerning the use of
consumer credit cards, a retail operation probably isn’t the
business for you.


To accept credit cards at a brick and mortar location you
typically need four things. The requirements may vary a little,
but the following applies in most cases.

You will need: (1) A way to enter the customer’s credit card
information into a verification and processing system. This
can be done with a swipe terminal, point of sale system, or by
calling the credit card in by phone; (2) A credit card gateway
company to verify the credit card’s validity and process the
payments; (3) A credit card merchant account in which the
gateway company will deposit payments made to you; and (4) A
business bank account into which the settled funds will
ultimately be deposited for your use.

Here’s how the process works. (1) You make a sale and the
customer pays by credit card. (2) Using a card swipe machine
or telephone, you contact what is known as a “gateway company”
who takes the card information you submit and verifies that
the card is valid and the charge can be made against the card
account. The gateway company returns an approval code for
the purchase.

With a swipe machine or point of sale terminal the verification
process happens in a matter of seconds. If you’re doing
telephone verification it can take a couple of minutes. You
call the gateway company, give them the credit card number and
expiration date and they give you an approval code that you
write on the credit card charge slip. Either way, the money
is typically deposited in your merchant account within 24 to
48 hours (less fees, of course).

You’ll also need to apply for merchant status with each credit
card company whose card you want to accept. To do business
with American Express and Discover all you have to do is fill
out an application, but to accept Visa and MasterCard you must
have a merchant account. A merchant account is a special bank
account set up for the expressed purpose of accepting credit
card payments processed by the gateway company. Merchant
accounts are usually associated with banks, though you can
also use credit card merchant account service companies to
perform the same function if you can not get approved for a
bank merchant account.

Applying for a merchant account at a bank is much the same as
applying for a loan. The only difference is sometimes a loan
is easier to get. There is the prerequisite paperwork to
complete and pledging of the first born, followed by an approval
process that can take up to several weeks. And you are not
guaranteed that the bank will approve your merchant account,
even if you have been a favored customer for many years.
Banks have strict regulations regarding the granting of merchant
accounts and if issuing you a merchant account in anyway puts
the bank at risk of losing money, you will be turned down.
Banks always make decisions based on economics, not
relationships (no matter what your banker tells you).


Requirements for qualifying for a merchant account varies among
banks, but in general the bank will look at the following
criteria:

How long have you been in business? Business longevity
suggests a history of stability, efficient management, and
good financial health.

What is your product or service? Does your product lend itself
to a high rate of returns and chargebacks? A chargeback is a
disputed credit card charge that is refunded to the buyer and
charged against your account. You are accessed a chargeback fee
that can be as much as $20 per event. If your business lends
itself to high chargebacks, you will not get the merchant
account.

How’s your credit report? Banks always look at how much you
owe and how you pay your bills, so it’s important to have good
financial and trade references. If you have a history of late
payments or defaults to vendors, it will count against you.

What is your anticipated volume of sales and average transaction
amount? The more money you make, the more money the bank makes.
If you anticipate just a few credit card charges per week it
may not be enough to justify the merchant account in the bank’s
eyes.

Is your business categorized as a “high risk merchant?” High
risk merchants are those with the highest instances of credit
card fraud and chargebacks. High risk merchants include many
types of internet-based businesses, telemarketers, travel and
cruise businesses, and membership clubs. Being a high risk
merchant dramatically decreases your chances of getting a
merchant account with a bank.

Being a high risk merchant doesn’t mean that you can’t get a
merchant account from somewhere else. Thanks to the growth of
ecommerce in recent years there are a number of alternative
companies that will provide you with a merchant account,
sometimes with more perks than a traditional account, but
almost always with higher fees.

Also, not all banks support internet merchant accounts. If
yours does not, shop around for one that does. We’ll take
a look at accepting credit cards online in next week’s column.

Here’s to your success.

Tim Knox
tim@dropshipwholesale.net
For information on starting your own online or eBay business,
visit http://www.dropshipwholesale.net

About the Author

Small Business Q&A is written by veteran entrepreneur and
syndicated columnist, Tim Knox. Tim serves as the president and
CEO of three successful technology companies and is the founder
of DropshipWholesale.net, an online organization dedicated to
the success of online and eBay entrepreneurs.

Related Links:
http://www.smallbusinessqa.com
http://www.dropshipwholesale.net
http://www.30dayblueprint.com
http://www.timknox.com

Credit Cards

Credit Cards - Friend or Foe?

At one time or another most all of us apply for and get more credit cards than we need. We feel like we have to be able to purchase almost any type of item at anytime, whether we can really afford it or not. Having several credit cards allows one to buy products and services at will. Is that a good thing or bad? Learn more at http://www.apply-credit-cards.com/

There are many companies offering credit cards and loans online, but all may not fit everyone’s needs. A credit card is a great financial tool that needs to be used wisely and cautiously. Never allow yourself to get so far behind on your creditcard balance totals that you can only afford to pay the minimum payment amount or small amounts each month towards the reduction of your debt. That is the interest rate trap. Once your cornered on paying minimum amounts, you will most likely be stuck there for years if not for a lifetime.

However, having credit cards can be a positive, productive personal finance tool and does not have to be a negative to your credit status or your lifestyle. A couple of key points:


• Convenient to use and carry
• Offers valuable consumer protections
• Use it with caution and good judgement
• Pay off your monthly bill in full each month,
• which eliminates interest charges

Having credit cards is a priviledge and huge personal responsibility. You must utilize and manage your credit rating wisely and carefully at all times. The saying ‘ if you can’t afford to pay cash, then you can’t afford it ‘ is a true statement and we should all take heed to its warning. Using creditcards in this manner makes them your friend and not your foe. Having credit cards in your name is not bad just take care not to go into debt for more than can repay. Doing so will only serve to damage your credit rating and it can and will create larger credit problems for yourself into the future that may be difficult or impossible to repair.

When shopping for a new credit card, comparison shopping is important, because it can save you money. Be sure to consider all of the costs and terms of each of the credit offers. These can make a real difference in how much in fees and interest charges you will possibly be paying each month. Be sure to compare these costs with any of your existing financial instruments, cards, loans, mortgages, etc. You may be able to replace some of your current debt with less expensive options. Some of the costs and terms to consider are the annual percentage rate (APR) for goods and services as well as for any cash advances you may request, the annual fee, and the grace period. Also compare other fees, late-payment charges, and over-the-limit spending fees.
About the Author

Greg Smith publishes timely information on Credit Card issues at http://www.apply-credit-cards.com/ . This article may be freely reprinted as long as the author’s information and URL links remain intact.

Credit Cards

Credit Cards for Small Business

When you decide to start a small business, you find out pretty quickly that it takes more than skills and dedication in your respective area of work. Besides being good at what you want to do, you also need to known your accounting and financing issues, no matter how annoying and boring these may be. And the credit card problem for small businesses needs careful handling, just like that of a regular, personal credit card.

Choosing the right type of credit card is vital for the success of a small business. Even if you don’t have access to a corporate credit card, a small business card can be a major tool on the path to success. When you apply for a small business credit card, lenders will analyze your request from a variety of points of views. While their evaluation of the risk may vary according to various local factors, they will all take into account the “five Cs”: capital, capacity to make the payments, collateral, conditions and character.

Capital, meaning your personal investment in the business, outlines not only the size of the business, but also how much risk you are willing to take. Balance risks carefully - too much means you will be rated reckless, too little, and the lenders may think you are not serious about this. The capacity to repay the loan is, of course, critical for the lender and will be carefully analyzed. The collateral or the guarantees will show that you have a backup plan for returning the loan, in case things go wrong. The conditions represent the general situation in your geographical area and your respective line of business - mostly things that you cannot control (but you can make them look better in carefully planned business plan). Last but not least, character is the impression you make on the lenders - how trustworthy and business-oriented you appear to them.


If you take all these into account, your application is more likely to be successful right from the start. Of course, you also need to consider, carefully, which type of business card suits your needs.

Many small businesses rely on cash flow to pay for suppliers or contractors, because they need to purchase materials and services before their own clients pay up. You need to calculate the difference between the date when you purchase the materials and the date when the clients pay you back. If this is shorter than 30 days, go for a card that doesn’t charge you interest for the respective period. If it is two, three months or longer, go for a low interest card.

Also, you should think of how often you will have to travel for business-related purposes, and how a special type of credit card can help you with this, or how you will handle unprepared emergency situations that hustle small businesses constantly.

Some of the offers for credit cards for small business include Blue for Business Card - no annual fee, 0% intro APR for the first 9 months, credit line of up to $50,000 or Blue Cash for Business Credit Card - up to 5% cash rebate, no annual fee, 0% APR for up to 15 months. Advanta Platinum with Rewards, featuring cash back bonus, offers 0% intro APR for balance transfers, up to 50,000 credit line and various types of rewards for the things you buy most often (gas, office supplies and so on), bonus miles or cash back.

The CitiBusiness card has 0% APR for purchases for the first 6 months, no annual fee, a generous credit line and additional cards for the employees, with a credit limit set by you. The Platinum Business Credit Card from American Express has no annual fee and 0% APR for the first nine months on purchases and balance transfers.

Other options include Business Green Rewards Cash - no fees for the first year and no pre-set spending limit, and the Business Cash Rebate from OPEN: the Small Business Network, with up to 5% cash rebate, no annual fee, 0% APR for the first six months, no limit for cash back and no minimum spending requirements.

About the Author

This article has been provided courtesy of Creditor Web. Creditor Web offers great credit card articles available for reprint and other tools to help you search and compare credit card offers.

Credit Cards

Credit cards for people with bad credit scores

http://www.cashbazar.com

Sometimes life lands you in a situation that causes your credit to suffer. A job loss or illness can send your credit rating south leaving you with nothing to do about it. Some creditors may let you slide a month or two, but your records will still show a delinquency. A stolen identity can also leave you feeling violated and unable to resume a normal life with credit. It is during these times you may have to search a little harder to find companies that wan to deal with people who have bad credit. There are a handful of lenders who will help you re-establish your creditworthiness by using one of their credit cards.

The price you will pay

Searching the Internet will give you a good idea of what types of credit card companies will deal with bad credit. Companies like Capital One, Orchard Bank, Providian Financial and even Citibank have plans to help you get back on your feet again. But at what price will you have to pay? The price is interest. Interest rates from these companies can be up to 25-30% annually. So it is important to manage your money and credit more wisely.

One of the many benefits of using one of these preferred lenders is that they report positively to the major credit scoring repositories. That means if you make timely payment it will be in your favor and will help boost your credit rating back up. The interest you pay is a small price to pay to get back on your credit worthy feet.


The secured credit card route

Most of the major banks and lending institutions may seek a deposit matching mechanism called a secured credit deposit before backing a credit card for you. This card is used the same way that a normal credit card is, however the cardholder must fund it before using. If the cardholder deposits $100 into the interest bearing account their credit card is funded at 100% of their deposit. Some credit cards can at their disposal issue double or triple matches to boost the amount the creditor can spend. The deposit of $100 can return $300 in credit terms. Secured credit cards also report positively to the credit agencies and will eventually become normal revolving accounts and the balances held for deposit are credited back to the cardholder’s account. A very positive way for people with bad credit to obtain the financial vehicles they need.
About the Author

Jakob Jelling is the founder of http://www.cashbazar.com. Visit his website for the latest on personal finance, debt elimination, budgeting, credit cards and real estate.

Credit Cards

Credit Cards, Debt Consolidation and cellularphones

Need a credit card! Why do you need a credit card. The more obvious reason is to build up your credit history. However there are other more good resons sucha sdoing simple things such as renting a movie or ordering stuff online. If you go to:
http:/ inyurl.com/1q4p

you will see different types of credit cards to choose from that fits most anyone’s credit profile. If you have bad credit, just click on the text link on the top. If you have average credit and you are showing that you have paid your bill on time. There other options. If you have next to perfect credit, I have a platinum and Discover option. (Please be patient while the screen takes time to download; also privacy is protected.)

If you are not thinkgin about buying a credit card becuase you have just too many bills then try debt consolidation. Here you have two programs to choose from. Once you fill out y our information someone will get back in touch with you to help lower your monthly bills at:
http:/ inyurl.com/1q4x


Need a cellular phone, go to http:/ inyurl.com/1q50
You don’t need a credti card to apply and one of the offer comes with one of those free cellularphone deals.
About the Author

I live in Boston, MA. I am thrity years old. I have some college education. My idea and dream of owning my online business is to put to good use of some of that college education.

Credit Cards

Credit Cards and Home Equity Loans – Read the Fine Print

These days, everyone’s lives are burdened with paperwork. With newspapers, magazines, bills, junk mail, and who-knows-what taking up space in their day, few people have time to look at every piece of paper that comes their way. Unfortunately, it’s becoming more and more necessary to carefully examine bills and contracts, as various penalties are finding their way into the fine print of credit card bills, home equity loan and mortgage contracts. It truly pays to take the time to read the fine print in these documents.

Up to one third of major credit card issuers now include a “universal default clause” in their credit card terms. The UDC allows the credit card company to raise the interest rate on the account if the cardholder pays his or her bills late. This can apply even if the credit card bill is paid on time! It is important to find out if your credit card terms include a UDC, as your interest rate could be affected by whether or not you pay your telephone bill on time. This is just one of many ways that credit card companies are increasing their profits, but it isn’t one that they’re willing to advertise. When a letter comes in the mail from your credit card company that says “change in your credit card terms” or something like it, make sure that you read it. Failure to do so could raise the interest rate on your credit card substantially.


Another “fine print” issue that has been turning up recently is the prepayment penalty that is now being attached to up to half of all mortgages and home equity loans. The volatile nature of interest rates in the lending market has inspired many homeowners to repeatedly refinance their homes in the last few years. Lenders often hold a mortgage for only a few months before the borrower finds a lower rate and refinances, paying off the original loan. In order to “protect” the profits from lending the money, up to half of all lenders are now requiring a substantial penalty if the loan is paid off prior to a specified date. These fees can amount to several thousand dollars on a primary mortgage and several hundred dollars on a home equity loan. Most borrowers would not be pleased to go through the process of refinancing their home, only to find out at closing that they owed a penalty of five thousand dollars. Instead, be sure to read the fine print in your mortgage or home equity loan documents before you sign them.

As the lending and credit markets become more and more competitive, lenders are doing more and more to increase their profits. They are not necessarily doing so in obvious ways, however, so it is always in your best interests to read any document carefully before you sign. Your failure to do so could cost you quite a bit of money.
About the Author

©Copyright 2005 by Retro Marketing. Charles Essmeier is the owner of Retro Marketing, a firm devoted to informational Websites, including End-Your-Debt.com, a site devoted to debt consolidation and credit counseling, and HomeEquityHelp.com, a site devoted to information regarding home equity loans.

Credit Cards

Consumer Advice: Unwanted credit cards

(NC)—If you receive a credit card in the mail that you didn’t order, here, according to information on Industry Canada’s Consumer Information Gateway website, is what you should do:

Consumers are not liable for a credit card they did not request. However, you should destroy any unsolicited credit cards immediately. Using the credit card constitutes acceptance of the card. If you use the card, you will have to pay the bill. Similarly, do not cash small cheques that are sent to you without reading the small print. Doing so often locks you into paying for products or services you may not wish to buy.

For more information on unwanted credit cards, and other questionable marketing practices, visit ConsumerInformation.ca . It’s a Web site created by federal, provincial, territorial governments and their partners specifically to provide Canadians with convenient, one-stop access to hundreds of objective, reliable, current consumer information sources.


- News Canada
About the author:

News Canada

Credit Cards

Consolidating Credit Cards

Credit card consolidation is a popular solution for those with significant credit card debt, usually distributed on three or four different cards. Basically, this means putting all your debts together on a single card, like transferring it all to one loan. Of course, the goal is to pick a card that offers better conditions than what you already have, in order not only to simplify, but also to reduce your payments.

Since there are so many offers out there, and lenders fight over your business, you can sometimes find solutions that can save you thousands of dollars per year. If you consolidate your debt to a credit card with low interest and 0% balance transfer, you can save considerably, and pay off your credit sooner (which, of course, is the main goal when dealing with credit card debt).

The most serious mistake people do when consolidating is to go though the entire process just to simplify their accounting, and they don’t pay enough attention to how much they could save. Another mistake is to close your zero balance accounts when consolidating. This practically means you close some of your credit options, which is never a good idea.

When you plan to consolidate, call your banks and explain the situation. They want your business, and you’ll be surprised how flexible and willing to negotiate they can be, once you explain to them that you have various options available to take your business someplace else.

There are many web sites offering solutions for debt consolidation. However, keep in mind that, while this is a comfortable and fast solution, you don’t have the options to negotiate directly with the banks. Also, most often the best offers come from banks that want to keep your business, so make sure you give a change to the banks you’ve had a long-term relation with. If you’re not pleased with the results, take your money elsewhere quickly.


Consolidation is often a necessity for students, new graduates, or people who have filed for bankruptcy some time ago. If you’ve handled your payments well and managed to clear up your record to a certain degree, there is no need to continue paying more than it’s worth for your credit cards. Sit down and go through the numbers carefully, and think analyze the problem realistically. Don’t forget to check your credit report and your credit rating before you start anything - it will help you plan and plead your case. Also, if your credit request gets rejected, don’t forget to ask for your free copy of the credit report.

Of course, credit card consolidation is not a miracle solution for all your financial problems. On the contrary, you may find that it requires a lot of financial discipline to make the payment on time and to straighten things up. However, it is less confusing than having several small credits, and so it is easier to keep things under control.

There is also the option of getting credit counseling, if things get really confusing. A successful plan will make sure you make the payments on time and regularly, without putting a strain on other aspects of your life. Of course, it’s a lengthy process, usually taking one or two years - but it’s worth the trouble.

Sometimes, you can lower costs by consolidating your debt through a second mortgage - but be really careful about the hidden costs and problems - you may want to consult with a specialist or two before taking this step. Usually, this means that your home will become collateral, and you may lose it if things go wrong. Also, costs add up quickly and you may end up paying more than you initially thought.

About the Author

This article has been provided courtesy of Creditor Web. Creditor Web offers great credit card articles available for reprint and other tools to help you search and compare credit card offers

Credit Cards

Various APR Features For Credit Cards

Since we all know that there are virtually as many different credit card companies as there are stars in the sky, finding the one that works best for you and your needs can be a bit tricky. All credit card offers will come complete with a list of features that are supposedly exclusive to that card. In actuality, most of the cards offer about the same set of features with a slight variation. All will mention the APR and knowing what and how that works is vital.

APR stands for “Annual Percentage Rate”. It is the amount of money that you will pay, expressed as a percentage, for the privilege of charging purchases and carrying a balance.

The All Important APR

This is a biggie. The APR can drastically change your ability to pay off your card, particularly if you carry a balance. The APR attached to the credit card can vary not just from card to card but also from how and what you purchase.

If you are looking to obtain a cash advance on your card, be aware that the APR here will usually be the highest. The APR for purchases is usually right on it’s tail, though. For example, for a cash advance of $200.00 the APR may be as high as 23%. This is a whopping amount of interest to pay on a relatively small amount of money. For purchases, however, the APR may be more like 19%. Still pretty high for the convenience of not using cash. That’s why it’s usually best to use credit cards for emergencies or for purchases that you intend to pay for in full at the end of the month.

APR’s can also vary according to how much of a balance you carry on your card. These are called tired APR’s because the APR depends upon which balance tier you are at on any given month. For example, a balance of $0-$2,000 may be subject to an APR of 14% while a balance of more than $2,000 has an interest rate of 18%. Again, it pays to keep your balance lower on these types of cards.


Then there’s the penalty APR. This happens when you make late payments regularly (meaning more than once in credit card lingo). Your APR can be raised and will affect your entire balance. Moral: Make your payments on time.

The most popular marketing tool used today by the card companies is the introductory APR. This is a significantly lower interest rate on transferred balances and purchases made during the said introductory period. This is beneficial if you carry a high balance on another card at a high APR and can transfer your balance, giving you the opportunity to put more of a dent in that balance during the intro period.

One thing to look out for, though, is the future APR (or delayed APR) that kicks in when the lower rate expires. This rate can be significantly higher than the intro rate they are offering.

So remember, pay attention to the APR and know what rate will come into play for the card you are looking at. Make your choice wisely and be cautious!

About the Author: Keith Baxter made it his mission after college to educate as many people as possible to the advantages and disadvantages of credit through a widespread re-education initiative. You can find out more about Keith and what he’s up to at http://www.bankcreditcardlist.com

Source: www.isnare.com

Credit Cards

Are You Paying Extra Interest Charges on Your Credit Cards?

Are you one of the many credit card holders who signed up for a credit account with an 8.9% interest rate and then later had your interest rate inflated to 27.4%? Have you read the fine print in your latest statement? Do you know that a little clause in the fine print of the credit card terms and agreements, called the “Universal Default Clause” may mean that you’re paying a higher interest rate than when you applied for the credit card? What does this sneaky little clause mean to you?

If your credit score goes down or one of your other credit qualifications changes, then your interest rate increases, sometimes more than 10 points. This doesn’t mean only new charges you make to this particular credit card account: the higher rate gets charged to the entire balance. Yes, you get charged more on items you purchased beforehand, while believing that your interest rate would remain the same.

Credit grantors periodically review their customers’ credit reports. About half of all credit card companies take advantage of you if you’re perceived as a high-risk borrower. The fine print in your account statement may include the universal default penalty, which allows your credit card company to increase your interest rate if they discover these conditions:

1. You have just one late payment on any credit account. They don’t care if you’ve never made a late payment to that particular company.

2. You go over your credit limit on any account. Even if you unknowingly charge a small amount over the credit limit (which many credit card issuers let you do without notice), your interest rate can be raised.

3. Your credit score drops. Just one late payment can hurt your credit score. Experian reports that people with no late or missed payments in the last year enjoyed an average credit score of 759; consumers with one or more late payments in the past year dealt with an average score of 598.


4. You charge up too much on one account or many credit cards. If you charge up your credit card near the limit, or even charge up some of your credit cards over the preferred proportional amounts owed, you could pay extra interest. The amount owed on a credit line compared to the available credit is termed the proportional amount owed. Owing less than ten percent of the available balance gives you the best possible rating. On the other hand, owing over $4,500 on an account with a limit of $5,000 lowers your score considerably, especially if you have too many credit cards and other loans with high balances compared to available balances.

5. You open new accounts or your charge activities indicate a high debt-to-income ratio. Opening new credit lines, especially consumer finance accounts, lowers your credit score and adds notations like “Too many consumer accounts” to your credit report. If your credit card issuer sees that you’ve made many new charges on existing accounts and believes that you’re getting in over your head, they may raise your interest rate. Even if this is a temporary situation, like new home owners who make many purchases in a single month, the companies take advantage of the unsuspecting credit card holder.

If they find any of the above conditions listed on your latest credit report, your credit card accounts that started with a low interest rate can jump to interest rates as high as 29.99%, Check your credit card statements closely; look to see if your creditor raised your interest rates. If you find that you’re paying more than you agreed to, call your creditor and ask the reason. Once you determine the cause, you can work on your credit issue. After you’ve fixed the problem, call back and ask for a reduction in your interest rate.

Copyright (c) 2005 Jeanette J. Fisher All Rights Reserved.

About the author:

Jeanette Fisher teaches real estate investing and interior design college courses. She became a credit expert to help her students buy their dream home and multiple investment properties. Jeanette is the author of “Credit Help! Get the Credit You Need to Buy Real Estate” and other books. For more information on building and maintaining a strong credit score, explore the Real Estate Credit Help Center http://www.recredithelp.com/Credit questions? Ask Jeanette: http://recredithelp.blogspot.com/