Thursday, March 20, 2008

Balance Transfers for 0% Interest

So you have received a credit card offer that allows you to transfer your current balances from other credit cards to this new credit card at an interest rate of 0%. Sounds good, right? Maybe, but there are some definite pros and cons to the idea.

The most important part of the offer is how long does the 0% interest rate offer last. These offers do not usually last for a long time. Some companies offer it for three months and some will offer it for up to one year. So make sure that the rate offer is actually worth the transfer.

You are probably thinking that no interest for even three months is better than paying interest for those three months. That is only true if you are actually going to save money. See, most balance transfer offers require a transaction fee for each transfer.

Transfer fees differ for each credit card company. Most of them charge about 4% of the actual amount transferred. But they usually have a cap on that amount. That means that if they have a cap of a $75 fee you will pay 4% until reach the $75 limit. Remember that fee is for each transfer.

If, for instance, you only owe $1000 and are currently paying 9% interest and you want to transfer the balance over, you will first pay a $40 fee. If the rate is only for three months, you did not save any money, it actually cost you money to do the transaction.

But if you could borrow, say $8000, you would pay the transfer fee of $75. If the offer is for anything over three months, you will actually save quite a bit of money. So do the math before you jump on the offer.

The biggest pro to this is, if they are offering you a high enough credit limit that you can consolidate a few very high interest rate cards on to the 0% interest rate card. You can, even after paying the fees, save a lot of money. This is especially true if the length of the offer is for nine months or more.

One thing to check with first is what the interest rate will be after the promotional time period expires. This will let you know if you can just keep this card or are you going to need to shop around for a better card two months before the rate expires. Usually, if you are a good payer, the interest rate you will receive will be pretty reasonable.

So there are a few pro and cons that come with a 0% interest rate offer. Just check first and make sure the rate out weighs the fees. If that is, in fact, the case, go ahead and consolidate some of those high interest rate cards and save yourself some money.

David Tanguay is dedicated in helping individuals & businesses get out of debt. To compare hundreds of credit card offers & rates please visit Compare Credit Card Rates at easycreditcompare.com

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Tuesday, February 5, 2008

Debt Consolidation - Get 0% APR On Balance Transfers Today

Debt Consolidation made easy!

If you have alot of debt, or even a little, and are paying outrageous interest or any interest for that matter, you may want to apply for a new credit card with 0% interest on balance transfers. This is a very simple procedure that many people now use to avoid paying interest on their debt. There are numerous credit cards available that allow to transfer balances and receive an introductory rate of 0%, usually for 12 months, on any balance transfers.

In fact, many people apply for a new card about six to eight weeks before their their current offer ends. They then transfer any remaining balance to the new credit card and again receive 0% interest. This cycle can go on until the debt is paid off without having to pay huge interest rates. This process can save thousands of dollars a year, and help you to pay off your balances are a much faster rate.

If you are interested in applying for a credit card that offers 0% interest on balance transfers, you can do online and be approved instantly. The advantage of applying online is that many sites let you compare different credit cards to find out which one is best for you. Please take your time and compare some of the benefits of each card, some even offer 0% on purchases.

This strategy will help you in your debt consolidation efforts and is the best way I know to cut interest paid out each month. If you are looking to apply online, you may compare cards by visiting my website at http://augyz.ecreditdirectory.com and clicking on the balance transfer cards option.

This site offers over 100 different credit cards with a wide range of interest and rewards options.

Mike Agostino writes many articles regarding credit and debt consolidation and is a webmaster for a credit card comparison site where you can apply for 0% interest credit cards.

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Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Why A Balance Transfer With Your Credit Cards Makes Sense

Many people have made the mistake of willingly (or unwillingly) racking up hundreds, possibly thousands of dollars worth of credit card debt. Even if they decide to pay more than the minimum and snip the offending cards in half in order to curb their desire to spend, the damage has been done. The interest rates that will be applied to unpaid balances are usually sky high and the debtor, despite valiant efforts to gradually pay himself out of debt, ends up with escalating figures.

The best way to get out of debt is to simply pay off the balances of the offending credit cards in full, but unless you were born with a silver spoon in your mouth or have a million dollar trust fund at your disposal, this option would simply not work. The more plausible move would then be, to have all the outstanding balances consolidated and have this total amount transferred to a separate credit card ? just make sure that the special balance transfer rates are applied to your account.

This option may sound far out, but it is one of the best ways you can get out of debt. This happens because any outstanding balance you have on any credit card is wiped out, thus you will no longer be charged the standard interest rates. The amount that you transfer to the balance transfer card would be interest free, and the balance transfer interest fee that the new card will apply to your new account will be much lower than the usual rate, and will not be compounded.

Almost all major and minor independent credit card companies and those that are supported by banks and other financial institutions offer balance transfer programs. Apart from the significantly lower interest rates and the flexible payment terms, these credit cards further entice consumers to sign up for their program by offering other benefits, such as waived annual fee and possibly, the chance to earn rewards points when the card is used at affiliated partner establishments. If you are looking for a card company to transfer your outstanding balances to, you would need to gather as much data as you can and compare the rates side by side, so you can glean which of these services best suit your lifestyle and your finances.

If you have a lot of time on your hands, you can simply visit the banks nearest you and grab hold of their balance transfer leaflets. But if you?re on the go and have no time to sift through a lot of information, you can get the data you need by logging on to the Internet.

At present, there are several websites that give vital and relevant information to Internet users. There are sites that provide comparative data on myriads of products and services; from digital cameras, MP3 players, vacuum cleaners and even credit card facilities and promos. By visiting these sites, all the data you need will be presented in a very clear and concise way, without all the fluff and leaving you only with what is relevant.

By viewing sites such as these, you will be in a better position to evaluate the balance transfer offerings and you would be able to make a sound decision, based on facts and not on anything else.

http://www.cardratings.net/balance-transfer.htm

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Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Successful Credit Card Balance Transfers

Credit card balance transfer is a good way of consolidating your credit card debt. It is also the best way to evade the possible problem that your debt can give. With the high demand of these credit card transfers, companies are competing with one another to get the business.

Before you go into credit card balance transfer, you must learn some pointers to be able to appreciate its function. Here is a checklist of the things you should keep in mind to enjoy the best that it can offer.

1. Carrying out your credit card balance transfers should always be on time, it should not overlap on periods from one to the next as it can bring more money charges on your account.

2. You should always make sure the availability of the zero credit card money transfer is on time. There is no use for applying for an offer after the expiration date.

3. If your credit card issues free interest rate, make sure that it is true. Read the small printings on the promo sheet to know exactly the process of their promo.

4. It is crucial to transfer a credit balance. You should transfer all the balances to normal interest card as the store cards have the tendency to have a higher APR rate.

5. A zero interest or low interest card must be easily identified. You should trust a source where you can have a comparison of two credit cards. You should choose a source that does not advertise a particular credit card; aside from the comprehensive description of comparison, the source must also help you make a good decision. You can check a financial broker for this matter.

6. Always remember the expiration date of your zero balance rate credit cards so you can apply for a new credit card balance transfer before it expires.

7. Choose a flexible and quick interest free credit card balance transfer.

You are sure to get the best credit card money transfer by following the pointer sited in this article. You also have to follow the nine steps for you to get the right procedures in money transferring.

1. Find a lender that gives free interest rate or those that have zero introductory balance transfer rate.

2. You must shop for a credit card wisely. Always be aware of all the things about your chosen credit card.

3. Once the new credit card arrives, call the one who issues the card and tell about your plan of money transferring from your previous credit card. They are the one who will arrange it for you.

4. You will be offered with many privileges you do not need, such as insurance plans. Just tell them that you do not need it now.

5. If the balanced is successfully transferred, never use your previous credit card again. Destroy the card after closing the account to avoid the temptation to use it again.

6. Remember that your new account has a zero introductory balance transfer rate, so you will need a minimum rate to repay it every month during the period.

7. Manage your debt better this time, after getting a new credit card.

You need to learn all of these to transfer successfully a balance to a new account. Make sure to follow the directions carefully for more positive results.

Morgan Hamilton offers expert advice and great tips regarding all aspects concerning Credit Cards. Get the information you are seeking now by visiting Credit Card Balance Transfers

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Thursday, January 10, 2008

Balance Transfer Credit Card Facts and Myths

There are a number of balance transfer credit card facts and myths that are important to be cleared up. Understanding these facts and myths will help you to better keep your finances under control.

Myth: I can get arrested for continually transferring my credit card balances.

Legally, you can transfer your credit card balances as often as you want. So long as you are making your payments and not attempting to defraud your lender, the law does not concern itself with how you choose to handle you finances. It is, however, a bad practice to continually move your balance transfer credit card to another. This is because, in order to do this, you need to open up several credit card accounts. When it comes to your credit rating, having a large number of open accounts can lead to a bad credit rating.

Credit cards utilize what is known as "revolving credit." This credit is different from something such as a car payment, which is paid back in installments. Too much available revolving credit puts you in the high-risk category. The basic thought process behind this is that it would be too easy for you to acquire a great deal of revolving credit, use it all up, and then default on your payments. Therefore, using balance transfer credit cards to consolidate bills one time is a good idea, but it shouldn't be a routine practice.

Myth: The best balance transfer credit cards have a 0.00% APR.

While it is true that the best balance transfer credit cards should offer a 0.00% APR, there are more factors to consider when choosing the best card. For starters, you need to learn more about this special APR. Do you need to complete the balance transfer at the time of application in order to qualify for the 0.00% APR, or do you have a window of time during which you make transfers? Does the 0.00% APR last for the lifetime of the balance transfer, or will it rise to an above average APR within a few months? Does the balance transfer credit card offer other benefits, such as travel insurance and fraud protection? Does the card offer a low APR for purchases, as well, or is it best to use the balance transfer credit card only for transfers?

Myth: Balance transfer credit cards are the key to getting out of debt.

While balance transfer credit cards can assist you in taking control of your debt, they should not be considered your primary means of getting out of debt. Instead, you should look at the balance transfer credit card as one tool in your tool belt of obtaining financial freedom. You can consolidate all of your higher interest rate credit cards onto one balance transfer credit card, thereby paying less in finance charges. It also makes it easier for you to keep track of your debts and your bills because all of your payments will be made to just one credit card. Nonetheless, it takes responsibility, diligence, and proper planning to get out of debt - not just getting a balance transfer credit card.

Myth: Balance transfer credit cards are hard to find.

Many people mistakenly believe it is difficult to find a great balance transfer credit card, but this is not true. Many credit card companies offer special introductory rates in order to entice people to apply to their card. After all, the more money you transfer to their card, the more money they can potentially make on the finance charges you have to pay. In fact, you might even be able to make a card you currently have into a balance transfer credit card by calling the credit card company and asking them if they would be willing to give you a special deal. Many companies will waive fees and lower interest rates to keep you with them.

For more information on balance transfer credit card facts and myths, Bert Wills recommends that you visit CreditCardAssist.com.

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Friday, January 4, 2008

Credit Card Balance Transfers - 0% Introductory Offers

Balance transfers have grown in popularity and importance ever since lenders have started using zero per cent interest rates on balance transfers to lure consumers from other companies to their own.

Introductory Offers

These 0% balance transfer offers give the customer a very low, or zero per cent interest rate on any sum transferred from another credit card, over to them. If you are considering a balance transfer then there are two figures you should be aware of. The first is the APR on the balance transfer, or the balance transfer rate. This will tell you the interest that will be charged on the sum transferred and will generally be very low, or free.

Rate Tarts

In fact these introductory balance transfer offers are what caused the introduction a generation of ?rate tarts?. Basically a rate tart is someone who will search for a 0% balance transfer deal over and over again to save money on interest repayments. They will keep transferring balances and keep the cash they have saved in high interest bearing accounts. In a strange sort of way they actually use the banks? money to earn money from them, just what the banks have been doing to customers for years, earning money from their customers? savings. However, the banks do not like the rate tarts at all and have declared war. The first step, and a very powerful one was the introduction of the balance transfer charge.

Balance Transfer Charge

The other figure you should pay attention to is the balance transfer charge. While you may be charged nothing on the balance once it is on the new card, you may be charged a fee to get it there. This is usually pretty low, about two to three per cent, but you should be aware of it, and only pay it if you have to, and if you genuinely are going to make use of the low balance transfer rate.

Length of Introductory Offer

Another figure that will be of interest when shopping for a good balance transfer deal will be the length of time that the balance transfer rate lasts. It may be six or nine months, and most cards are generally about this period, but make sure you check, as if one card offers you twelve months at one per cent, and another six months at zero per cent, the twelve month card may be more suitable, depending on your circumstances, than the six month card, even though this card has a slightly lower rate.

Get The Best Balance Transfer Deal Available

If you are looking for a good balance transfer deal, then the most important thing to do, is make sure that you shop around and give yourself every opportunity to find the best deal that is available to you. Today, using the Internet, it is easier than ever to search among a huge range of credit card providers and find out exactly what each one is offering.

Only be doing a little home work and shopping around will you be giving yourself the best chance to find the card offers you the best deals. And with offers varying buy such large amounts from lender to lender, and given the amount that people pay on credit card payments, it is vital that you give yourself every opportunity to find the best deals available.

You may freely reprint this article as long as the author bio and live links are left intact.

For more information on credit cards, visit the comparison site http://www.CardGuide.co.uk for some credit card money making advice.

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