Posts Tagged "Balance Transfer"

Low APR Credit Cards: Use a One-Stop Shop

Posted by admin on Sep 5, 2010 in Articles | 0 comments

Low APR credit cards (APR means annual percentage rate) offer an attractive inducement for people to transfer current credit card balances to a new card and of course to a new financial institution. Because this is a highly effective marketing strategy for financial institutions, there is a lot of choice.

However, the sheer availability of low APR credit cards can present its own problems. How can you wade through so many possibilities to find the best real options for your particular needs? While an internet search will throw up hundreds of choices, without professional product knowledge it can be difficult to make a well considered decision.

A professional service that sorts through the various low APR credit cards on offer and presents a smaller but worthwhile selection can save you a lot of time. It can also protect you from making an expensive mistake. It would be especially beneficial if a reminder service was also offered to let you know when your introductory low rate period is coming to an end. This way you can transfer your balance to another low APR credit card to have to pay the normal interest rate.

Most of us wouldn’t even think about credit card hopping to avoid high interest charges, so this very service can get us thinking in a more financially beneficial direction. Even if we have seriously thought about it, time can easily get away from us and we can find ourselves out of the introductory period before we know it.

When considering low APR credit cards, look for those with the longest introductory periods, the lowest introductory interest rates (zero is best) and the lowest balance transfer costs. Once you have decided which one to apply for you can often apply online on a website offering these comprehensive services. Once approved, you can sign up for an alert to remind you to transfer the balance from your new card to another credit card offering an introductory low rate. This way you will hopefully never have to pay interest on your credit cards again.

By taking this simple step, you will be streets ahead financially and will be in a position to become debt free much sooner if you use your interest savings to pay off your credit card balance. Look for a good comprehensive all-in-one online service that will help you do this, and the process will be far easier than you can possibly imagine.

Low APR credit cards are a great way of keeping control of our finances. Remember that the banks are there to make money out of us, so we should at least attempt to save as much as we can while not spending too much time keeping tabs on what is happening behind the scenes. As always, careful financial planning is important in our daily finances, and there is no reason why we should not look after our bank balance in the same way as we look after our skin or our diets. It’s all part of living healthily.

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How Low Interest Credit Cards Work

Posted by admin on Aug 12, 2010 in Articles | 0 comments

Low Interest credit cards are exactly what their name suggests. They charge low rates of interest (APR). The APR is calculated in the same way as with other credit cards; this facilitates an easy comparison for an individual who is planning to switch over to these cards. Low interest credit cards are favored by individuals who habitually carry their monthly credit card balance forward. Low interest rates can lead to significant savings on financial charges.

For the introductory period, most low interest credit cards offer 0% APR; however, most credit cards offer 0% APR only for select situations such as balance transfers and major purchases. The introductory period offer can be used for consolidating multiple credit cards that charge high rates into a single low APR credit card. This helps people to reduce the financial charges associated with credit card debts and pay off the existing balances quickly. Often, low interest rate credit card companies will waive the balance transfer fee upon a client’s request. Thus, low interest rate cards with rates that can be up to 9 percentage points lower than those of other cards are a great way of saving for those inveterate shoppers who invariably end up with a monthly balance on their credit cards. It is also less taxing to take a cash advance with low interest credit cards. Individuals with poor credit scores may find themselves ineligible for low interest credit cards.

Low interest credit cards may or may not offer other advantages like cash back and travel insurance and should therefore be used with another card that does. This helps a card user to earn benefits from the other card which he may use when he does not intend to keep a balance; for other purchases, the low interest credit card can be used. It is advisable that the oldest extant credit card account that an individual has should not be closed for acquiring a low rate credit card; this is because maintaining credit accounts for long periods reflects well on the credit ratings.

There are several low interest credit cards available in the market. Individuals should do a thorough research to find a card that offers a perfect fit for their needs.

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Low-rate Credit Cards

Posted by admin on Jul 30, 2010 in Articles | 0 comments

Credit can be a powerful thing, but only in a beneficial way if it is managed responsibly. At the start of 2008 the total outstanding balance on credit cards in Australia was $43.25 billion, of which $31billion is accruing interest. According to figures recently release by the Reserve Bank of Australia, Australians spent and average of $17.5billion on credit cards alone in February 2008. This figure exceeds the February 2007 average by a massive $1.9 billion, making credit cards liable for 56% of Australian spending.

This increasing tendency to pay with credit cards has created a competitive marketing environment between institutions, with many providers now seeking to entice their customers with low-rate credit cards.

What is a low–rate credit card?

Low-rate cards offer special incentives such as 0% balance transfer periods and low ongoing interest rates, generally between 9% – 13%.

Features buried within the fine print

The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has urged consumers to be wary of terms and conditions on low-credit deals amid fears many Australians will accumulate debts they can’t afford. While interest-free purchases and low-interest credit offers are popular, they aren’t suitable for everyone so it’s important to understand how it works in order to make use of the attractive rates.

Low rates often come attached with other undesired features such as:

Annual fees – Higher fees are principal in low-rate cards. In contrast to standard-rate cards which have no annual fee, or a fee that can be subsidised by reward points, a low-rate card requires the payment of an annual fee. These fees can be more than double that of a standard card. So ask yourself if a lower rate is really worth paying a higher fee when this money could be spent towards paying off your balance?

Rewards program – Reward offers generally come hand-in-hand with a higher annual fee. It’s important to remember that nothing is free and that these incentives are expensive for the banks to operate. So unfortunately, in order to keep costs low, low-rate cards will only offer limited partner or discounted programs without the extra benefits of a full rewards program.

Cash advance rate – Banks and institutions see cash advance transactions as a high risk. In effect, this is why low-rate cards charge up to an extra 20% for cash advances than on purchases. So if your aim is to keep debt to a minimum, before selecting your card it’s vital to determine whether or not it would be used for cash advances. Otherwise, look for a product that offers low interest rates for cash advances.

Late payment fees – Making a late payment can add a substantial dent to your debt. Like cash advance rates, late fees are generally higher than that of a standard card.

Other fees and charges – ATM fees and overseas transactions can be charged at higher rates.

Limited features – Say goodbye to features such as travel insurance, internet banking, cheque and branch facilities and 24-hour services.

Who can benefit from a low-rate card?

If you struggle to pay off your credit card and revolve your debt from month to month a low-rate card with a low, or no annual fee might be right for you. If you can get a card that offers instant rewards or discounts at places you regularly use, that’s even better considering that these features are normally quite limited. Don’t be swayed by cards that offer balance transfer period unless you have a good repayment habit.

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Low Interest Credit Card – the Pros and Cons of Owning a Low Intrest Credit Card

Posted by admin on Jul 18, 2010 in Articles | 0 comments

Are low interest credit card offers really low?

Yes, all major banks have a few credit cards for people in the prime credit market. These credit cards come with very low to 0% APR. Typically they offer somewhere between 5% APR to 0 % APR for an introductory period. The introductory period ranges from three months to a year. After the introductory period, the interest rate jumps to the current prime rate. You can benefit from a low interest offer by paying a low interest rate for the entire introductory period and save on money. For people using 0% APR credit cards, the credit extended is completely free and you can split a large purchase over a few months without paying any interest fees.

How do you use a low interest credit card?
Low interest credit cards typically come with high balance transfer rates and fees or interest rates higher than the prime rate after the introductory period. Cash withdrawals may also have higher fees. In short, you have to read the terms and conditions pretty carefully. Check for all the fees and future interest rates before signing up. To make the best use of a low interest credit card, you should make large purchases using it and pay off the balance during the introductory period. Yes, you might end up paying a small interest rate but it would be better than taking a store credit for a high interest rate. If you have a 0% INTEREST offer, then you paying nothing for the entire introductory period. Using your low interest credit card smartly during the introductory period can definitely help you to save some money on your large purchases.

0% APR balance transfer rates for low interest credit cards!

Another offer that pretty popular is the 0% APR balance transfer rates. Typically they are standalone offers but occasionally you will find them tagged along with the low interest credit cards. In such cases, you can use move existing high interest balances from other credit cards to the low interest credit card with 0% balance transfer rates and save on balance transfer rates. This will help you pay off your debt quickly and also help you save some money. There has to be a catch to a sweet deal like this, its the high balance transfer fees and high interest rates after the introductory period. Please check these fees and rates to confirm if it would be financially viable to move your debt from other cards on to a low interest credit card with 0% balance transfer rates.

What are the conditions to maintain low interest?

Though the introductory rate might extend for a period of 3 months to a year, the interest rate could be hiked up to a rate much higher than the prime rate during this period. This is typically done if you miss out on any monthly payment or if you exceed your credit limit. To use the benefits of the low interest credit card to the maximum, don’t let any of the above situations occur.

Pros and Cons for switching credit cards?

To take advantage of the low interest credit cards many people switch credit cards rolling over their balances to the new ones in order to keep their interest rates low. This will definitely save you some money and work in your benefit. However switching credit cards might be a long process and frequent switching might reflect badly on your credit report. Typically you should keep some long standing accounts with prime or low interest rates after the introductory period while you switch other credit cards.

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Trying to Save on Interest Expense? Apply for a Low Interest Credit Card

Posted by admin on Jul 15, 2010 in Articles | 0 comments

The following article lists some simple, informative tips that will help you have a better understanding about low Interest credit cards. If you find yourself confused about low interest credit cards don’t despair. Everything should be crystal clear by the time you finish reading this article.

Low interest credit cards equivalent to cheap credit cards are considered the most popular credit cards because of the 0% introductory APR (annual percentage rate) offer. This promotional offer can last up to 12 months. If you are planning to pay the full balance off before the 0% intro offer expires, then this offer can be an ideal situation. If you will be carrying a balance each month, then a low fixed APR interest rate might be a better choice. Choosing the 0% intro interest rate might be a mistake if it changes to a high interest rate after the promotional offer expires. This is the reason why it is very important to know what the interest rate will be after the introductory period expires. Customers who decide to go with the promotional offer can use the money saved on interest expense to accelerate paying off the loan much sooner.

Low interest credit cards main benefit is to save money on interest expense. These credit cards are very essential in saving money on interest expense when used to transfer balance from a high interest credit card to a low interest credit card. They may also be beneficial to cardholders who make large purchases and carry a balance forward every month. Doing a balance transfer requires paying a fee; therefore it’s a good idea to shop around for a credit card with the lowest costs. Individuals with excellent credit score can ask to have the fee waived.

Banks and credit card companies competing for the low interest credit card business offer impressive features similar to standard credit cards. Some of these features may include cash back, rewards, no annual fees, frequent flyer miles etc. Therefore, it’s a good idea to compare credit card features to find the card that meets your needs and one that will save the most money on interest expense. Paying your entire outstanding credit card balance on time each billing cycle is the only way to avoid paying interest expense. This may not be financially feasible for many customers due to the fact that they do not have the available funds. Therefore, by using a low interest credit card to make purchases and maintaining a credit card balance will be the next best choice to save money on interest expense.

It’s a common situation for individuals with bad credit to pay credit card companies large fees and finance charges. With this kind of financial problem it can be a daunting task to get out of debt. As you can see, having excellent credit is very important because it makes it possible to get approved for a low interest credit card which in turn will save you a vast amount of money on interest expense. The amount of interest accrue on your account depends on the interest rate you receive. Be aware that credit card companies are able to change the interest rate on your low interest credit card because of late payment or they can change the interest rate for no reason at all. Managing your credit wisely is extremely important for financial success. Make sure to report errors on your credit report to the three major credit bureaus which are: Equifax, Trans Union and Experian to correct the errors on your credit report promptly.

If you are overwhelmed with bills and credit card debts, why not consolidate your loans into one loan. This will save an enormous amount of money on interest expense. It will make monthly payments more manageable and can alleviate the financial problems that come with having too much credit you can’t afford. This is an excellent opportunity to start the process of improving your credit score. Having less credit card accounts will simplifies your life and eventually improve your credit score. It’s much more convenient to write one check instead of writing several checks each month to various creditors. Debt consolidation is an excellent opportunity to keep you out of bankruptcy and get your finances back on track.

Customers should understand the grace period agreement as it relates to their low interest credit card. The grace period generally last between 20 to 25 days. This is the number of days stipulated in your credit card agreement before your credit card company starts charging interest on new purchases with certain conditions. During this period customers do not pay finance charges on new purchases if the account did not carry a previous balance. Also, monthly payments must be received during the grace period time frame. Usually credit cards without a grace period are charged finance charges immediately on new purchases even if your previous month’s bill was paid in full.

The internet is best place to do credit card research and submit online credit card application. The credit card types are organized into categories making it easy to find the credit card you are looking for. Just by clicking on the low interest credit card category will bring up a vast amount of information. Customers with excellent credit can get instant online credit card approval within a few minutes of filling out their online credit card application. Once approved, the customer will receive the credit card in the mail within a few days. This is the fastest and most convenient way to obtain a credit card. Customers should make sure the credit card features fits their lifestyle before submitting an application.

Don’t be surprised when you received your credit card bill to find out that you are paying different interest rates on the same bill depending on the type of transaction you are making. While credit card companies may offer the 0% intro offer for balance transfers, there maybe a much higher interest rate for cash advance and new purchase. This is why it is very important to read the fine prints and pay close attention to your credit card statement. This will give you a good understanding about the miscellaneous fees and interest rates to avoid surprises.

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