Visa Credit Cards - Wide Choices, Many Uses

2007-07-24 08:31:47

( Financial )



Visa has become a leading international network with more than twenty thousand member providers or issuers. More than half of all credit card holders use Visa. Visa credit cards are widely accepted by merchants all over the globe.

Basic Features of Visa Credit Cards

When you make purchases using Visa, the store clerk swipes your card on a card reader. This automatically contacts your Visa issuer to verify your available credit balance and whether the issuer will honor your purchase. If the issuer approves your purchase, the card reader generates a credit card slip with a four-digit reference or approval code representing your purchase. You sign this slip to acknowledge the purchase, and the store submits a copy of the transaction to the Visa issuer. The issuer will then reimburse the store and bill you in turn.

You can pay your credit card bills through the mail or by direct debit arrangement. You can also access your balance through the online site of your Visa card issuer.

Different Types of Visa Credit Cards

There are typically several levels of Visa credit cards - Classic or Silver, Gold and Platinum. The Classic level has a stipulated credit limit, and each level entitles you to other privileges. For instance, you can get coverage for unauthorized purchases after you have declared a lost or stolen card, and accident insurance for trips you have charged to your Visa card. You can also make cash advances as long as you don't go over the credit limit.

Other Variants of Visa Cards

Discover Visa's other great advantages for you. Now you have even more options, because the traditional Visa card has evolved into several variants, each one meant to attract specific types of credit card users.

Some variants can give you reward points for your purchases. Others give you travel miles instead of reward points. You can use the reward points to claim free items or to enjoy discounts at specific establishments.

There are also Visa credit cards made especially for students, which usually carry a lower credit limit and waived annual fee.

You can also buy Visa gift cards which work like gift checks with prepaid credit balance. The balance will be depleted each time your recipient uses the gift card for purchases.


All rights Reserved © Tradenet Services srl
Do not duplicate or redistribute in any form.