We all get credit card offers through traditional snail mail, and we all know how they work. Although many credit card offers in the mail claim that you are already pre approved, you still have to wait weeks and weeks before you hear anything back once you apply. These days are long gone though, as the Internet has made everything easier. With the Internet, you can apply for a credit card online and receive a response if minutes - instead of waiting weeks and weeks. If you have good credit, youll have no problems at all being approved online for a credit card. Those cards that have the best terms and rates are always available for those who have good credit. Therefore, before you apply online, you should know how good your credit is. You can always get a free credit report online, and check your credit yourself. If you do this at least twice a year, youll always know where you stand with your credit. If you dont know your credit score of if you havent looked at your credit report in a long time, now would be the time to do so. Look over your credit report, and fix anything that doesnt add a positive to your report. Always keep in mind that even being turned down for a credit card online can affect your credit score as well, and play a major role with future credit offers. Once you have looked at your credit report and determined how good your credit is, you can apply online for an immediate answer. No matter which credit card company you visit online, they will all ask for your personal information, such as your name, phone number, social security number, age, employer, income, and things of that nature. Before you fill out the application online for your new card, you should always go over the terms and conditions very carefully. You should look at the APR, and ensure that there are no surprises. Once you have applied, the company will use your social security number to pull your credit report and use it to determine your credibility and whether or not they can be approved for a credit card. When you begin filling out the application, you should make sure that the website you are using is encrypted. The standard encryption these days is SSL 128-bit, which ensure that the information you are sending is protected. If the website has less than 128-bit encryption, it may be possible for someone else to steal your information - which could result in identity theft. Once you have finished filling out the application and send it on, youll have the final decision in a matter of minutes. If you are using a credit card company with the right technology, the decision will be shown on the screen. If the decision isnt shown on the screen, it will be mailed to you via traditional snail mail. In the event that you dont get approved, youll be mailed the reason why. If youve been approved, you can expect to receive your credit card in the mail within a few days. Applying for a credit card online is always the preferred way to receive a credit card, as things will work much faster. No more waiting for weeks at a time to receive a response, as youll know instantly. There are hundreds of online credit card companies looking for your business - which gives you plenty of choices when choosing the credit card - and company that is best for you. PPPPP (word count 592)

If youve surfed around on the Internet, youve no doubt ran across many different credit card companies, offering you cards at what they claim are the best in terms of interest rates and fees. Credit card companies operate both offline and online, and you can even apply for your card directly through their website. Even though many people understand how this process works, there are some who dont. There are a lot of credit card companies who can process your application online instantly, or within a few minutes. Keep in mind that it doesnt mean you can shop instantly, simply because you cant print out your new credit card and take it out to the store. You can still shop, although you wont be able to use your new credit card - you have to wait until it is mailed out to you. Although your application will only take you a few minutes, youll still have to wait for your new credit card. It will be sent to you via mail, so youll need to a wait a few short days before it arrives. Online credit cards are a smart choice, as most will tell you instantly whether or not youve been approved. Even though youll have to wait on the card, it doesnt take near as long as applying the old fashioned way. When you compare the old fashioned method of getting credit cards to the online method, youll see some major differences. The first difference is the time, as it can take a long time to return the credit card offer to the company and receive a response. Snail mail can take forever when you are waiting on a response, especially if there are problems with processing your application. The traditional method of getting a credit card wont allow you to compare what other companies have to offer. If you choose to apply for your credit card online, youll have the option of looking at several different companies. This way, you can find the best deal for your money and know without a doubt that you found the best deal. There are literally hundreds of credit cards online, all you have to do is find one that interests you and apply for it. Keep in mind that even though applying online is a great way to get credit cards, there are limitations on instant approval. As you may already know, online credit cards with instant approval are meant for those who already have good credit. Even though you may not have good or perfect credit, there are ways that you can get approved online. With the market being very competitive these days, there are some companies that will approve you regardless, just for the simple fact that it gives them business. A lot of online companies are looking to get more business, so they will let the line slide quite a bit, and approve almost anyone now days. If you are looking for a credit card, all you have to do is look online. Youll find many to choose from, giving you plenty of available options. Credit card companies are easy to find online, with there being more online than offline. Getting approved online for your credit card is easier than ever, as all you need to do is apply and wait for a response. With a little luck, you may end up getting approved. Once your application is approved, all you do is sit back and wait for your credit card to arrive - its as easy as that. PPPPP (word count 590)