The True Value of Balance Transfer Credit Cards

Far too many people make the mistake of just looking at the interest rate offered for balance transfer credit cards. There are several other factors that play a critical role. These factors include the duration of the introductory rate, the actual rate offered during the introductory period, the rate to be imposed after the introductory period is over and finally, any and all fees.

Another key component to getting the best deal on balance transfer credit cards is your current credit score. If your credit history is solid, you're going to get a great deal. If you have poor credit, the deal you will be offered will not be nearly as good, if in fact, you're accepted at all by the credit card issuer.

We are all looking to improve our financial situation. Lowering expenses is an excellent place to start. As a matter of fact, I think it's the very first thing that should be looked at. If you are not in the position to immediately pay off high balance credit cards, then the next best move is to transfer your balance to a credit card that charges a lower interest rate. A 12 month 0% APR introductory rate credit card is definitely a desirable option.

Use that introductory rate to your advantage though. Don't view it as a free ride. Pay off your balance as quickly and aggressively as you possibly can. That's where the true value of balance transfer credit cards lie. But again, and I cannot stress this enough, read all the fine print so that you will know what rates you will be charged when the introductory period expires. Far too many people apply for balance transfer credit cards thinking that their financial debts are taken care of, only to learn that they are once again socked with high interest rates.

All credit card companies know that their real profits lie with those individuals that carry balances month after month. They love them. That's what keeps them in business. Don't enrich the credit card issuers, enrich yourself. You can do that by knowing all the stipulations associated with the credit cards that you are considering. You must also be diligent and disciplined so that you will not get caught unknowingly with high interest rates and unnecessary fees. Only then will you truly benefit from balance transfer credit cards.

Morgan Hamilton offers expert advice and great tips regarding all aspects concerning Low Interest Rate Credit Cards, including assistance with locating the Best Balance Transfer Credit Cards. Get the information you are seeking now by visiting getqualitycreditcards.com.

All About Credit Card Balance Transfer

In our daily lives, we often encounter problems which concern the family, work, business, and many other things. The most commonly encountered quandary is financial problems.

Most working professionals have credit cards, and sometimes these gives way to debt problems. The best possible solution for most of them is to jump at an offer which promises a lower APR, but you should be extra cautious in dealing with such offers.

A balance transfer simply means moving the balance from your existing credit card to another credit card. This is usually taken advantage by most people because of its very low rate of interest compared to the old card issuer.

There are companies which make credit card their business, and competition among them is becoming more intense. The need to stay in the market and stay competitive as ever, has brought about the introduction of balance transfer among credit cards.

You have to be cautious in any decision that you will make. A good choice is one that offers zero percent APR, but this is just an introductory offer. After a specified period, the interest rate charged changes. So before making an abrupt decision, be sure that you have read all the terms and conditions of the card issuer.

There are certain things to consider for a balance transfer with 0% rate:

- the interest rate after the 0% introductory rate expires
- understand the fees, terms, and conditions
- don't forget the 'fine print'; most people skip that part, but it is equally important to read that part unless you want to pay unexpected fees in the future
- simple reading is not enough, you must 'understand' all the terms, rates, conditions, and other important matters
- take note of the day when the introductory rate will end

Applying for a balance transfer can also save you money. All you have to do is to move all your card balances to the new credit card bearing low rate of interest to achieve utmost savings. Some credit cards offer cash back, points or rewards when you make purchases using your new credit card.

You can make a balance transfer with your bank cards, personal loans, gasoline cards, charge cards, and department store cards.

You also need to close your old credit card. Once you sign up for a balance transfer, you should continue paying your debt while the balance is still pending. Call your old credit card issuer once the balance transfer is confirmed, and make sure that you get a 0 balance from your old company. And finally, you need to close your account.

Once you have your new credit card, don't just make minimum payments. Pay more money each month until your balance reaches zero. You can also make extra payments, and remember to never be late in making any payments. Above all, use your card intelligently.

You should also be aware of the fees being charged for late payments, cash advance fees, flat fees, and fees for balance transfer, and fees charged if you exceed the credit limit.

Keep track of your expenditures so that you can minimize your bill. If you constantly make unnecessary purchases, your debt is sure to grow rapidly. Be responsible in any action that you undertake, and think of its consequences.

Aaron Ballantyne is the owner of a credit card website with links where you can apply for a credit card which best suits your needs.

The Power of Balance Transfer Credit Cards

Have you given in to the temptation of balance transfer credit cards? You will be able to transfer the balance off other credit cards to balance transfer credit cards. You will then benefit from bonuses like low interest rates, and incentives for transferring a balance. But it would still be sensible to do your home work before deciding to go with this type of credit card. You see, these cards can worsen your financial situation.

Balance transfer credit cards will enable you to consolidate all your credit card debt into one. As a result, it will be easier to pay your balance and it can also reduce the amount of your monthly payments. However, you can actually end up paying more. Even though these credit cards offer no or low initial interest rate, the interest will eventually increase. When you choose to combine all your debt into a single large sum, you can pay a lot more once the interest rates increase.

You can pay a significant amount of the balance before the interest rates go back up to avoid this problem. You should also pay your monthly payments on time, so that you will not increase your balance. Staying on top of payments and setting a plan to pay off the debt is the best way to ensure that balance transfer credit cards help rather than harm. These cards are ideal if you have an effective plan to pay off your debt. Balance transfer credit cards enable you to deal with a single company, instead of dealing with multiple credit cards that have multiple interest rates, payment dates, and other fees.

These cards can offer you a low initial interest rate or no interest rate. Balance transfer credit cards will also give you a nice grace period to pay down your balance without any added fee. You can be free from a large amount of debt by budgeting out a plan that will lessen the debt balance before a new higher interest becomes active. If you are smart enough to maximize their benefits, balance transfer credit cards will become a blessing.

Morgan Hamilton offers expert advice and great tips regarding all aspects concerning Balance Transfer Credit Cards and the Best Balance Transfer Credit Cards. Get the information you are seeking now by visiting http://www.GetQualityCreditCards.com

Balance Transfers Can Help You Stop Putting Money Down The Drain!

Balance Transfers Can Help You Stop Putting Money Down The Drain!

 by: Claire Bowes

As you probably know, interest rates are at all time low right now and if you arent getting the best deal from your credit card company then they owe it to you to either lower your rate, or you owe it to yourself to find a better deal. You see, credit card companies need your business in order to succeed and if you refuse to pay a penny more than you have to then youll be doing yourself and others a big favour indeed. By doing this, youll avoid paying more than you should and the companies will stop treating its clients inappropriately.

Now that this is clear, we will talk about the essentials of balance transfers, how they work and how you can ensure that you get the absolute best possible deal.

1. First and foremost, understand what a balance transfer http://www.the-credit-card-centre.co.uk/balance-transfers.html is. A balance transfer is when you transfer the balance from one card to another in order to get a better interest rate than the one that you are currently getting.

2. Second, to find the absolute best deals, look to transfer balances on cards where the initial interest rate is 0% and the amount after that is lower than the one you have now. For instance, if youre a cardholder that has an interest rate of 27.4% on a 1000 balance and you only pay 150 a month for 6 months, you will not pay off the balance in 6 months. Instead you will pay 247 worth of interest and your balance after 6 months will be 346. In contrast, if you had a 0% card and make the same monthly payment then your balance will be reduced to 100 at the end of the 6 month period, a tremendous saving!

3. Third, dont throw those offers that you receive in the mail away. If you have great credit then youll likely have credit card companies vying for your attention. Just use this power to your advantage and find the very best 0% deal for you.

4. If no good deals seem apparent, then you have to find your own deals. You can do this by conducting a thorough search on the internet to see if you can find a 0% card offer.

5. Once youve done this, request information and then review it carefully. Pay close attention to the rate after the initial introductory period is over. For instance, if you have two choices of cards with 0% interest rates http://www.the-credit-card-centre.co.uk/0%-credit-cards.html for 6 months and one charges an interest rate of 15.00% after the initial period and one that charges 11.00% after the initial period then by all means choose the second one because it is by far the better deal overall.

6. Read and then reread the credit cardholder agreement a couple of times. Make sure that you understand all of the jargon and if you dont, find someone that does before you sign it. Review it closely to make sure that you are getting the best deal possible. For instance, when evaluating deals, you should ask yourself these questions:

   1. How long does the introductory rate last?

   2. What will be the rate after the teaser expires?

   3. What are the cards annual fees? Can they be waived?

   4. Are there any transfer fees that you should be aware of?

   5. Are there any perks that are offered? (Ex. frequent flier miles, free gifts, etc).

7. Once youve decided on an offer, fill out your application fully and get it in the mail as soon as you can.

8. Once you get the offer, make sure that it is a 0% teaser rate and if it isnt, then contact the company right away. If they arent open to doing so then tell them that youre cancelling the card and look for another company that delivers what they promise. Your primary goal is avoid the old bait and switch while simultaneously saving money on interest.

9. While waiting for your new card, make sure that you continue to pay on your old card to avoid glitches in your credit report and once you receive notification that the transfer has been made, make sure you contact the old company and make sure that they received the payoff amount.

10. After the teaser rate is up, dont be afraid to jump from one credit card to another after the teaser expires. You see, there is absolutely nothing wrong with surfing cards and taking advantage of 0% offers whenever you possibly can. Just keep finding and researching great deals.

Thats it my friend. Credit card transfers dont have to be so confusing and daunting. If you follow the above mentioned steps then you can and will win the balance transfer rate and stop throwing your hard earned money down the drain.Claire Bowes is a successful freelance writer and owner of the Credit Card Centre http://www.the-credit-card-centre.co.uk/ where you will find further advice and tips on the best credit card deals http://www.the-credit-card-centre.co.uk/best-credit-cards.html , balance transfers and 0% credit cards http://www.the-credit-card-centre.co.uk/0%-credit-cards.html .