Are you swamped with too many credit cards with outstanding payment in each? One of the things you can do to solve this problem is to get a Balance Transfer Credit Card. With this type of credit card, you can practically consolidate all your outstanding balances into one card and obtain a 0% APR for the introductory period. Just like other credit tools, you should analyze the attributes of a Balance Transfer Credit Card before applying for one.
1. Reduce your overall repayment amount
With a balance transfer credit card, you can potentially reduce your high interest rate payments from your other cards, especially if you acquire one with a 0% APR. This way, you get to break up your outstanding debt into monthly repayments and pay them off gradually over the 0% APR introductory period.
2. Getting into more debt with a Balance Transfer Credit Card
With the wrong perception of balance transfer credit cards, and the allure of 0% APR credit cards, many consumers have gotten into further debt with Balance Transfer Credit Cards. This happens when they fail to pay off their monthly repayments in full, and end up being charged higher interests once the 0% APR period is over. What’s more, they continue to spend on their credit cards and end up in a mountain of debt greater than ever before.
3. Best time for balance transfers
Although you may transfer your balances at any time, the best time to do this would be the time before your following month’s credit card balance has been tabulated. With this, your interests for the following month would have yet to be included into your bill, resulting in a lower amount that is transferred to your balance transfer credit card.
4. Avoiding overspending on your credit limit
As some credit cards impose penalties for charges that go above the credit limit, getting a balance transfer credit card is a good idea to help avoid this predicament. This way, getting part of your outstanding payments transferred to another card will free up some credit on your existing credit cards.
5. The process of balance transfers
Transferring balances between cards is similar to making a charge to your card. The difference here is that the amounts are debited into your balance transfer credit card account by your existing credit card company. Simultaneously, your outstanding balance on your existing credit card will be credited, lowering or eliminating your outstanding payment for this card. One word of caution though, some credit card companies regard transfers as payments for outstanding amounts, while others may require a different process for balance transfers. In these cases, it would be best that you cross-check procedures with your credit card company before proceeding.
In conclusion, balance transfer credit cards are great tools for consumers as long as they know how to utilize them in the proper way. Otherwise, they will just be instruments of debt.
Alan Bernstein recommends Find Credit Cards to apply for a balance transfer credit card today.
Article Source: ezinearticles.comWhile cash advance credit cards allow you to use part of your credit line to withdraw cash, there are a number of fees and fine print issues that must be considered before proceeding with a cash advance. Getting a cash advance from your credit card is easier than ever. However, one must be aware of the expenses associated with taking a cash advance before inserting their credit card into an ATM. While there are a limited amounted of credit cards that offer 0% cash advances for 1 year, most charge much higher interest rates on cash advances than they do on regular purchases.
First off, there is a 99% chance of being charged a cash advance fee. Of the over 70 credit cards covered on Credit Card Depot, I could not find a single card that charged less than a 2.9% cash advance fee. Some cards even impose a $10 minimum fee. That means the cash advance fee can be 5-10% if you are only taking $100 or $200. Taking out less than $300, therefore, can be expensive.
Now, unless you take advantage of a 0% interest cash advance offer, you will also be charged a higher interest rate on the money you take out. For example, a very popular credit card with a variable 11.24% interest rate on purchases charges 23.49% on cash advances. This is not the exception, but the rule. Regardless of your credit, you will likely be charged 23% or higher on your cash advance balance.
There’s another sticky issue here. When you repay your credit card, your dollars go first to the balance that is being charged the lowest interest rate. For example, let’s say you have a $2000 balance from purchases at 11.24% and a $1000 balance from cash advances at 23.49%. Until you have paid off the $2000 from purchases, you will continue to pay the higher interest rate on your cash advance. This is an unfortunate trap many cash advance users fall into.
Now, there are ways to limit the expense of taking a cash advance from your credit card. First, you can find offers that will give you a 0% interest rate for 1 year. At the end of that year, you can pay the cash advance balance in full or, if your credit is good enough, transfer that balance to a 0% balance transfer credit card. However, if you do not repay the cash advance, you will get hit with an interest rate in the mid to high 20% range. Also, you may be charged a balance transfer fee.
If you have a balance on your current credit card, it is probably better to get a new credit card for your cash advance to avoid the messy interest rate situation having purchases and cash advances on the same card creates. Also, if you cannot repay the cash advance in a short period of time, you could transfer the balance to your current credit card and pay a much lower interest rate on your cash advance.
Taking a cash advance from your credit card does cost money. However, the wise use of a cash advance can limit the astronomical expense taking a cash advance often entails. By taking interest rates, cash advance fees, and the fact that paying off a cash advance on a credit card with a balance is not that easy into consideration, one can effectively use a cash advance credit card without falling prey to the traps in your credit card’s fine print.
©2006, Credit Card Depot Inc. This article may be reprinted as long as a live link to http://www.credit-card-depot.com remains intact.
The author is President and CEO of Credit Card Depot Inc, an online credit card comparison site, featuring over 70 current credit card offers, including 0% cash advance credit cards. At Credit Card Depot, you can compare credit card applications and apply online for instant credit card approval.
Article Source: ezinearticles.comIf you’re shopping around for a low interest credit card, chances are good that you already have good credit or you’re looking to transfer high balances. In any case, you need to know a few things before you sign up.
1. Shop around
If you’re looking for a low interest credit card, you need to make sure that you’re investigating all of the possibilities. One of the easiest resources is the Internet for comparing various credit card companies and how they can help you. You can see many companies at once and then make your decision that way, instead of having to research each one individually.
2. Read the fine print
Many people don’t take the time to read all of the restrictions before applying for a low interest credit card. While the initial interest rate may be low, there also might be a limited time to enjoy it. For example, many balance transfer offers are only good for a few months or even up to a year. So if you’re looking to pay down a balance by transferring, you want to be sure that you can do it in the limited time.
3. Balance transfers
Because so many people now have outstanding credit card debt, people are looking for ways to cut down their interest payments. This can mean that people are finding lower interest rate cards to transfer to. And in many cases, these offer much lower interest rates than a traditional card. But these can be short-lived offers and will not extend to the rest of your history with the credit card company.
4. Have good credit
Another way to find a low interest credit card is to already have a stellar payment history. The companies will see that you are living within your means as well as paying on time, and they tend to reward this kind of behavior. Be timely with your payments and keep the balances low.
5. Just ask
In some cases, you may be able to turn your current credit card into a low interest credit card by simply asking. Of course, you will have to have a good history with the company that shows that you are paying your bills on time as well as not spending more than you can afford. Call the customer service department and ask if your interest rate can be lowered. It can really be that simple.
A low interest credit card is a great way to start releasing yourself from credit card debt, but sometimes it’s just better to not get into that situation at all.
Beth Derkowitz recommends Find Credit Cards for finding the best low interest credit card for you.
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