credit cards

Why Paper Business Cards Are Being Replaced by Frosted Plastic Cards

Posted in credit cards on May 16th, 2010 by Socrates De Souza – Be the first to comment

Everywhere you turn you see business cards. As a matter of fact, they’re as commonplace as putting ketchup or mustard on a hamburger. When we shop at the grocery store, we can choose from several types of mustard, meaning that mustard is a useful product that has been reinvented several times throughout the years. The same thing is true for business cards; the traditional paper business card that we are all so accustomed to has been reinvented as the frosted plastic business card. They are rapidly replacing the standard paper card.

Just what are frosted cards?

Although they are usually about the same size as a traditional paper business card, some frosted cards can be slightly larger. They do not rip or tear like paper cards eventually do, because frosted cards are made from sturdy plastic. Being plastic, they also stand up well to moisture and dirt. Frosted cards will have the same appearance even after being stored in a wallet or purse for years.

Frosted cards are typically transparent and their designs can incorporate different graphics and themes to represent the user’s company. They contain the same type of information that would be included on traditional paper business cards, including:

* Name of the business, All contact information, Branding information (logos, slogans, images, etc.) The contact information is of course the main information that people are looking for when they pick up or ask for a business card, so it must be presented on the card. Yet, branding information is extremely important as well since it will allow the card to advertise on the businesses behalf over time.

Benefits of Frosted Cards

Currently, frosted cards are a novelty. People notice the difference between frosted cards and traditional paper cards immediately. Frosted cards will be discarded less often because people want to keep them and look at them again. They give people the feeling they were handed something valuable instead of being handed a mere piece of paper.

A frosted card being appreciated more and kept for longer periods of time means the company’s information will be in front of potential customers for longer periods of time. The probability that frosted cards will be passed on to other people is also much more likely, and this will spread the word about the company to others.

Being plastic, frosted cards are much more durable than traditional paper business cards. They won’t tear, and they can be kept in a wallet or purse for many years and still remain readable. Clients will be able to keep them longer, saving companies from needing to give them to the same people over and over again. Their durability can save the company money over the long haul, despite their initial cost being somewhat higher.

Who Uses Frosted Cards?

Many businesses are now using frosted cards to show their customers and potential future customers that they appreciate their business and value their interactions. Some are using frosted cards as a complete replacement for paper cards while others are using the frosted cards in specific marketing campaigns only.

Just about everyone who has information they want people to keep would benefit from using frosted cards.

The Future of Business Cards

While frosted cards may be a novelty today that grabs attention, they are going to be the standard in the future! Paper cards are quickly being replaced since they don’t hold up well to the way most people carry business cards. Why not jump ahead of the crowd and start changing over to plastic cards now?

If you want to know what frosted plastic cards can do for your business contact us.

Everybody’s Getting A Merchant Account

Posted in credit cards on September 3rd, 2009 by Christina Lambereau – Be the first to comment

Do you have a business that you would like to promote online? That is very much possible by having your own website. But if you are going to process a payment online, you will need to have a merchant account.

Having a merchant account for your website is very much advantageous as you will be able to get people from all over the world to buy from you. At the same time, there is a chance that you will get the sale right away as most of the buyers will not think twice especially if you have the product that they want.

But do you know that there are several types of this account? There is a merchant account that will match your current business. These are the types of accounts that will fit your business.

There are a number of businesses that use merchant account for internet. They are the ones who would use this account to be used in getting payments from their clients. They can get credit card payments and be able to verify them online. These accounts have a credit card billing verification system in order avoid fraud.

If you would see several websites that have a “Buy Me” tab, then that is an internet account. You can just click on that tab and you will be directed to the payment page and put in the information needed. This is one convenient way of shopping for people who does not want to go out of their homes.

The next accounts are the high risk ones. They are the ones that are said to be exposing the banks making the levels of security at high risk. Examples of these accounts are those being used in travel, adult sites and the likes. The reason why they are considered high risk is that they have increased instances of refunds because of products that did not meet the expectations of the buyers.

If you are also going to look for an account online, be sure to get the ones from popular payment sites. In this way, you will gain the trust of your clients to do business with you as they know that the chances of their money will not be lost through processing.

So if you want to start your online payment scheme, you can get a merchant account to be your assistant to your business. You can easily close the sales and easily process them online to bring in profit.

Christina Lambereau is a professional content producer in the areas of merchant accounts and credit card merchant accounts.

Settle the Debt

Posted in credit cards on August 31st, 2009 by James Pynn – Be the first to comment

There is hard evidence that suggests the loan industry has, and still does, target minorities. ACORN maintains African Americans and other minorities were, and still are, disproportionately targeted. They are burdened with significantly higher interest rates than their white counterparts, even when median income levels were comparable. The ramifications of predatory lending are families that are straddled with tremendous interest rates and significant debt. The end result seems to be foreclosure. Pursuing debt settlement and mortgage refinancing are viable defenses against the predators.

According to the Investors Dictionary, predatory lending is the practice of a lender deceptively convincing borrowers to agree to unfair and abusive loan terms, or systematically violating those terms in ways that make it difficult for the borrower to defend against.” There is irrefutable evidence that predatory lenders have targeted, and still target, racial minorities, the undereducated, and the elderly. Although predatory lending is often associated with mortgages, other forms of predatory lending include credit cards, payday loans, and overdraft loans.

What may be surprising is the fact most predatory lending is collateralized. In other words, these loans are only given with vehicles and homes as collateral. The Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) supplies ample evidence that indeed the loan industry targets poor and minority families. Think predatory lenders work from underground lairs? Think again. ACORN successfully pressured HSBC Finance and H&R Block into changing some their predatory practices. Its been said the man who comes to repossess your home wears a suit and tie, not a ski mask.

There are those who still defend the practice of subprime lending (the nice way of saying predatory) defenders. The National Home Equity Mortgage Association (NHEMA) claims the practice of lending high-risk loans is essential for some families that would normally have no chance of owning a home or own a car. They claim the laws targeted at predatory practices actually restrict the ability of low-income families to move to safer or more profitable neighborhoods.

Hidden in the foliage of mounds and mounds of paperwork lies a number of clauses designed to tear you apart. Welcome to the predatory lending jungle. Although there is no legal definition of so-called predatory lending, you need only turn on the financial news or skim the business section of any newspaper to see the far-flung effects of this monumental greed. Moreover, there are some laws in various states that target specific practices often identified as predatory. The loan industry is rife with corruption and the incredible number of foreclosures provides ample evidence.

Should you have suffered from predatory lenders, it is not difficult to find reliable debt settlement companies. These debt settlement programs can help you regain financial freedom.

The Real Score On Instant Credit Cards

Posted in credit cards on August 25th, 2009 by Andy Zain – Be the first to comment

Instant credit cards are a new idea to a lot of people. As you look at them in detail, you’ll hear a lot of things that should make you very interested in them, and yet if you know anything about how most credit cards work, you’ll be taking the claims with a huge grain of salt. Though that is a good point of view to have, you should also try to look beyond it.

Many people are annoyed with the companies that provide these before they even get to know them because of all the offers they get in their mailbox. You can’t blame them for feeling such, and it’s good to look at the junk mail with a thought that it won’t live up to its promises. However, looking in detail reveals more than you might expect.

That doesn’t mean there won’t be disadvantages. In fact, there will probably be several different ones. The first is that the claims of instant results are greatly exaggerated. In fact, the only initial speed comes in being approved for the application. Actually getting and using the card may take much longer, though you might not expect it.

Also, interest on these options often hits huge heights and adds up to large amounts that you will be expected to pay on time. If you have any regular cards, you know how significant an issue interest is, and that any initial promises of low or no interest are likely to give way to huge amounts of it. The same is especially true for this type of card.

However, you might be surprised to learn that there are certain things that make it all worthwhile. Of course, this is only true if you have a good enough credit score to get the best of what the companies have to offer. You must expect that your credit history will be looked into and that many of the offers you received will be based off of that.

Like with anything else, you need to be smart and compare all potential offers before coming to any sort of a decision. There are bad ones that will promise you something but stick you with another that’s entirely different. But there are also good ones that really do what they say they will. If you can find these, you’ll be glad you did.

Because of their own doubts and the work involved, many people set this aside as a lost cause. However, in looking more closely, you’ll see it actually has a lot of potential and should be willing to make that work to your advantage.

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