When credit card companies issue 0 APR cards and you transfer the balance, that balance (which was previously costing you money in interest charges) is now interest free (for a while). However, all the repayments you are making to your new card only serve to pay off the 0 APR portion of the debt. If you actually use the new card for purchases or to get cash that will attract interest, and that portion is not paid off by your monthly installments. This is a sneaky way for the banks to make more money by only letting you reduce the 0 interest debt, not the 15% interest debt or whatever it is - you'll find this in the small print.
There are two ways to avoid this issue. The first is not to make any goods purchases or draw cash at all with the card after you've made the balance transfer. You must treat this card solely as a card for handling your transferred balance - you should literally not use it for anything else. This may be difficult though, because it means you can't actually use the card when you want to and as you have been used to!
An alternative approach would be to use two cards. One would be the card with the 0 APR transfer rate and the other would be another card with a 0 APR or low APR, or even a rewards program. It would work like this:
1. First choose your zero-percent card and make sure that there are no hidden charges or annual fees.
2. Transfer your old balance to this new card and try to pay as much of this balance off per month as you can. Remember this balance now attracts no interest for the number of months stated by the issuer of this particular card - but it still has to be paid off! If you can't pay off the entire balance, you can always transfer the balance again to another card when the time comes (at the end of the 0 APR period), so remember to transfer your balance as that time approaches.
3. Find a second credit card that you can use in the normal way for purchases, etc. You might even want a card with a cashback rewards system of some sort. You certainly want a card with a low APR rate or even a 0 APR rate on purchases as well as cash.
By doing this you've established a good debt management program for yourself. You've taken a big sum of money, moved it to a 0 APR card, and set up a repayment plan. You also have a second card which means you'll be able to carry on as normal. Do bear in mind, though, that you do need to stick to the repayment plan you've decided is best for you.
A balance transfer credit card aids in consolidating credit card debt and sometimes can also be a way of steering clear of the burden of debt. You will find as you are searching through all those credit card company offers you receive all the time that they are now offering balance transfers in a variety of ways. You will also notice they all these credit card companies are all competing for your business so the incentives are becoming more and more appealing all the time especially when it comes to credit card balance transfer offers.
The dream of most Americans is to have an interest free credit card all the time, not only during an introductory special. There are a few rules that you can use to ensure that you get the most out of a balance transfer.
Pay close attention to any balance transfer offers that you may find. They change all the time and you do not want to apply after they are no longer offering this special deal on Balance Transfers.
Watch that your credit card balance transfers are completed on time without any overlapping time from one credit card to another. You will find yourself paying a lot more in interest charges. When you are responding to banks and credit card companies by mail, remember to take in consideration the delay that normally happens with mail. The company must have time to receive your correspondence and then reply to you.
Are you going to have a balance transfer to a store card or a major credit card? You should pay attention to the APR on the credit card that you plan to place your balance transfer. Many store cards have a higher APR than major credit cards; choose a credit card for your balance transfer that has a low APR. The way in which you handle your credit card balance transfer can be practical and expedient, and can be a great way in which to evade extra credit card debt.
Always read the fine print. If you are applying for a 0 APR credit card then that is what you should be receiving, make sure the 0% includes your balance transfer and the length of time you have before the APR changes.
Do not apply with any company that you do not trust. You should be able to understand their terms and conditions, their rules regarding balance transfers, etc? If you have never heard of the company do your own investigating, never feel pressured to applying because you are afraid of missing a good thing, you may be in fact saving yourself some heartache and financial drawbacks.
Find out as much as you can about the company that you are applying with, are they quick with balance transfers and do they respond quickly with answers to your questions and information regarding your account.
Both Gordon Goodfellow & Robert Alan 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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