You see all the ads for 0 APR credit cards all around you today. However, are they for real? The truth is yes, they are for real, however, this special 0% APR does not last. You can find all kinds of credit card companies offering a 0 APR credit card for people with excellent credit. Many credit card companies are now offering 0 APR credit cards as part of their incentive program to get you to apply and begin using their credit card for all their purchases. However, there are downsides to some of these offers.
Although they are advertising a 0 APR credit card, the 0 percent APR is not for the entire time that you are a cardholder. You will have to pay close attention to learn how many months they are offering this ?special 0% APR?, you can find them for 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, 12 months and if you are lucky for 15 months. However, now you must check if the offer also includes all new purchases and balance transfers. One company may offer 0% only on balance transfers. If you are using one of these 0 APR credit cards, you will find that you will have to pay the normal interest rate for all new purchases and all money that you pay monthly will be for paying off the original balance, so you will get stuck paying the higher interest rate on your purchases.
It goes something like this ? say you did a balance transfer of $5,000. This money will not incur finance charges. But then you make a purchase of $1,000 and this money will incur finance charges. You then pay off the $1,000 before you think you will incur any finance charges, however, the $1,000 is applied against the original $5,000 balance transfer. So now you will have $4,000 on the original balance transfer without any interest being charged but the $1,000 in additional purchases is being charged the regular APR, which tends to be pretty steep. Therefore, you may find that it really was not worth the money to use this 0 APR credit card after all.
Another downfall to the 0 APR credit card is that if you do not pay off the entire balance transfer before the introductory offer expires, you may find that you are paying a higher interest rate than you were with your other credit card. Reading all the terms and conditions can aid you in making an educated decision about a 0 APR credit card and whether it is for you.
As such, many of the 0 APR credit cards may sound appealing, however, after the introductory period ends on these offers, the ongoing interest rates and other fees tend to be higher than average, so you may find yourself between a financial rock and a hard place. Just because you can find a 0 APR credit card and get approved this does not mean that you are necessarily going to enjoy a financial life of luxury. Remember, however, there are other fees that are applicable so the credit card issuers are still making tidy profits with annual membership fees and fees for balance transfers. So as usual, it always pays to read the fine print.
Lots of people use credit cards for making various day to day purchases. Whatever the use of the credit card may be, you will have to repay the money you have borrowed from the credit card company. And it is only with a 0 APR card credit that you will end up with smaller monthly installments.
A 0 APR card credit is a credit card with 0% annual percentage rate, which means that you have no interest to pay on the amount borrowed using this card. With this no interest offer, you are sure to jump at the first bank that offers you a 0 APR card credit. However instead of waiting for a bank to approach and offer you a 0 APR credit card, you yourself can get yourself a 0 APR credit card.
Low risk consumers have a good credit score
To get a 0 APR credit card, you have to first check your credit score as the better is your credit score, the better is the chance of your getting a 0 APR credit card. This is because with a good credit score, you show that you are a low risk consumer, and thus deserve a 0 APR card credit.
Use one of the online sources to get a copy of your credit report, and find out if there are any blemishes that will stop you from getting a 0 APR credit card. Don't neglect this step, even if you are confident of a perfect 0 APR credit card as it is very possible for the credit bureau to give you a wrong credit report.
On confirming that you have a good credit score and credit report, you can apply for a 9 APR card credit by approaching your present credit card companies for lower interest rates. Ask the company to make a balance transfer to this new 0 APR, for perhaps six months or a year.
Continual balance transfers ensure 0 APR for term of loan
This proves to be very beneficial to you as you will have lower monthly installments to pay, and in the meantime, work at setting up a 0 percent APR on another credit card and then make the necessary transfer of your balance.
If you maintain a good credit rating, you will be able to transfer your balance from one card to another as many times as you want, so that you get 0 APR credit for the length of your loan amount.
Check policies on balance transfers before transferring to 0 APR cards
The second option you have to open new credit cards offering 0 APR offers, easily found online. Usually, these 0 APR credit card offer ?introductory? offers where this 0 APR may switch to a higher offer after six months or a year. This is why you will have to transfer the balance amount to another 0 APR credit card before the end of the loan.
However before you adopt this policy, make sure that you check all policies on balance transfers as there are many credit cards that have different APRs for balance transfers and purchases.
So it can be seen that with the right spending habits, and hard work, it is possible for one to get a 0 APR credit card. This in turn spells a large savings on your monthly installments as there is no need of paying any interest for borrowing money from the credit card company.
Both Robert Alan & F.j.yanie are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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