Bank of America Platinum Plus Visa Card

Card issued by FIA Card Services, NA.
Mini Card available
Photo Expressions available
0% Intro Annual Percentage Rate (APR)† on purchases and balance transfers for the first 6 months.
No Annual Fee
Credit lines as high as $25,000
Online Banking Service
Total Security Protection®

Start building a solid credit history with

Visa® Platinum Plus®

• No annual fee
  
• 0% Introductory APR on purchases, balance transfers, and cash advance checks for your first 6 billing cycles†
  
• After your introductory APR expires, you will receive a variable APR on purchases, balance transfers, and cash advance checks currently Prime + 2.99% for Platinum Plus® accounts or Prime + 12.99% for Preferred accounts. Please note that you will lose your introductory APR if you exceed your credit limit, close your account or are late with a payment.
  
• All payments you make will be applied to lower rate balances first
  
• No fees on balance transfers
  
• Credit lines as high as $25,000
  

• Online Banking service***
  
• Total Security Protection®, our free package of security features, including zero liability from unauthorized card use if you notify us promptly***
  
• Travel and emergency assistance***
  
• Automatic auto rental insurance***
  
• Purchase Replacement***
  
• Purchase Guard***
  
• Cash advance checks at no extra charge***
  
• Additional cards at no extra charge

DID YOU KNOW?

	We all know that credit is important, but what should we do if we are in need of credit repair? I know if were to find that my credit was in trouble, I would want to solve the problem myself rather than pay someone to do it. Credit repair is a serious thing since your credit determines so much of your life in today’s world. Credit can effect your ability to buy a home, rent an apartment, buy a car, or even finance your new washer and dryer. That is why you should take credit repair very seriously. There are some steps you can take to help yourself by fixing your credit problems yourself. The first thing you will need to do is find out if you even need credit repair. To do that you will need to get your hands on a copy of your credit report. That should not be difficult, since the government mandates that you are allowed to obtain one free copy of your credit report annually. You just have to ask the right people. You can either check out the website for the Federal Trade Commission or contact one of the major credit agencies directly. When you do, though, remember that it should be free and you should only have to supply your name, address, and social security number to get it. Next, you will want to look over your copy of the report carefully. One of the easiest ways you can perform credit repair for yourself is to spot any incorrect information on your report. All of the agencies have ways you can go about making corrections to your credit report. Even if the information is just partially incorrect, you should take the time to get the credit repair made. Also, if something just doesn’t look right to you, ask the credit agency to give you the name and number of the institution that gave the report that you are not sure about. There is a chance you can work whatever it is out with the company, which can help with your credit repair even more. Once you are familiar with the credit repair process for incorrect information, assemble what you need. Then, send it in to the agency to make sure they make the necessary changes and repairs to your credit report. Before you do, though, be sure to make copies for yourself. If the information is lost in the mail or even misplaced by the company before the credit repair is made, you will be able to easily make another copy and get it to them quickly. It is always a good thing to keep copies of everything so that you can track the progress of your credit repair. If you keep getting rejected for loans or credit that you believe you should be able to obtain, it is a good idea to find out why. With the law allowing you one copy of your report a year for free, there is no reason you can’t make at least the easy credit repairs. When you obtain your copy of your credit report, you may be amazed at the incorrect or inaccurate information on there, and at how easy it is to get those inaccuracies corrected. Take the time and put in a little effort and you can do some serious credit repair without having to pay someone to do it for you.

Once you have determined that debt consolidation is in your best financial interest, then the next step is to do some serious research. Since rates, programs and service vary greatly with each organization, it is essential to shop around. Many desperate people have lost large amounts of money simply by doing business with the first company that they contacted. Make sure that you do not rely solely on verbal promises; get everything in writing and read everything carefully before you sign it.

In general you should avoid companies who charge a large fee up front while promising to return your money once the consolidation process is complete. All fees should be discussed before any procedures begin. Ask the company about services other than debt consolidation. For example, do they provide a free budgeting session? Do they offer counseling? How much does it cost? How much time do they spend with you discussing your particular situation? The last thing you want is anyone pressuring you into making a quick decision. If after 10 minutes the company is pushing a fix-all program, you should be very skeptical.

You should also find out who funds the company. While it is good to know whether the group is non-profit or for profit, you should remember that just because the company is not for profit does not ensure that its practices will always be in your best interest. There are non-profit debt management companies that charge high rates, do a poor job and act unethically.

When you find an agency that appears to have competitive rates and a program appropriate for your situation, make sure you check it out with your state Attorney General and the Better Business Bureau. These groups will be able to tell you if there are any consumer complaints on file, and if the company is licensed. Taking these measures will help protect you from the surprisingly large number of debt management companies with questionable practices. Some companies misrepresent the terms of a debt consolidation agreement, do not explain all costs, charge very high fees, and/or fail to complete the promised services. There have even been cases where a business that offers “voluntary debt reorganization” does not explain that the debtor is in fact filing for bankruptcy.

Find out if the company is accredited through an independent, third party association such as the Council on Accreditation. It is also a good idea to ask what kind of training the counselors have that you will be working with. Are they certified? The National Foundation for Credit Counseling and the Association of Independent Consumer Credit Counseling Agencies are two reputable companies with certified counselors.

Be wary of claims from organizations that present themselves as “credit repair clinics.” These companies will often claim that they can clean your credit report for a fee. What they don’t tell you is that you have the right to see your credit report and remove any inaccurate information for free. Other than removing incorrect information, there is nothing you or any company can do to automatically improve your credit.

In the end taking these precautions could save you thousands of dollars and many headaches.