5 Pros of Owning a 0 APR Credit Card

April 19th, 2010 - 
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When you get the offer in the mail for a 0 APR credit card, you may be tempted to throw it out, thinking that it is too good to be true. But before you toss it in the circular file, take a good look at it. There are some distinct advantages to owning one of these 0 percent interest cards that could help you in ways you dont know yet.

1. Transfer high interest credit card balances.
If you have a credit card that you use often but cant seem to pay off, you can transfer the balance of this card to your new 0 APR card. If you are paying twenty percent interest on another card and have stopped using it because all you can afford to pay each month is the minimum balance, this is a great option for you. You can not only pay off your other balance, but you can also get your purchasing power back.

2. Consolidate all credit card debt to one card.
For people with several credit cards that are maxed out, consolidating them all onto one 0 APR card is the perfect way to pay down the debt quickly. Instead of your monthly payment going to the interest alone, you will be able to pay on the principle for the entire 0 APR introductory period.

3. Transfer high interest rate loan balances.
If you have a car loan that is at an exorbitant interest rate, this is your chance to pay off the loan with no interest. Pay it off at the bank with the 0 APR credit card and then make your interest free payments to the card to pay off this balance.

4. Make big ticket purchases with no interest financing.
Planning to buy some furniture or an appliance? Want to buy some plane tickets to Europe? Use your 0 APR credit card to finance the purchase of these items at 0 percent interest.

5. Improve your credit.
By paying your bill on time each month and paying off balances from other cards or loans, you improve your credit score and better your chances for getting future credit offers.

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0% Credit Cards: Are They The Real Deal?

February 28th, 2010 - 
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Whenever I hear the number 0%, I hope that it refers to the interest rate I have to pay and not the interest rate that I have to earn. There are many different credit card offers out there, and of course when you see the 0% it seems like it would be the best option. But, when you sit and think about it you might wonder why one credit card would be 0% and the other would be 26%, what’s the catch?

It is not that the issuer is out to scam you. But you still need to look close. You never know what you are in for unless you read all the terms and conditions associated with the card.

0% Doesn’t Mean 0% Across the Board

While there are some legit 0% credit cards out there you need to look at the fine print before you simply assume that you can buy everything with no interest. The 0% is not a blank check that you cash anywhere. If applies to some types of transactions. This isn’t to say that you shouldn’t take advantage; you just need to be an aware consumer and make sure that you know how the 0% works.

If you have some credit card balances that you would like to transfer than you may want to look for a 0% credit card. There are many credit cards out there that offer 0% balance transfers. The more the transfer, the higher the saving. Many people use these cards to do away with those high interest credit cards so that they can actually start making a dent in the amount of money that they owe instead of just paying off the interest each month.

Many 0% credit cards have 0% interest rate offers on specified purchases. These may be purchases at specific stores or for specific products, but depending on what you purchase these credit card offers really can save you a lot of money. You’ll need to be sure to read all of the fine print on these cards to be sure that it is something that will save you as much money as you would hope.

Then there are the cards that use 0% as the way to ensnare you. Often times this 0% is good for the first six months or a year that you have a card. This is a nice way to consolidate debt, make big purchases, pay for car or house repairs, or just buy things that you have been putting off because you didn’t want to pay interest. One more interesting dimension of credit cards relates to rewards and cash back.

Before you choose any one of the 0% credit cards that you come across you should read through all of the features. The prudent buyer wants to know the interest rate, not just on day one but also on later days. Do you need to pay off all of the items that you bought during the 0% time? Whether you make money or lose money will depend on how smartly you use the card.

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0% Balance Transfer Credit Cards – Too Good to be

February 15th, 2010 - 
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0% Balance Transfer Credit Cards – Too Good to be True?

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On the surface, 0% balance transfer credit cards are incredibly enticing, especially if you have outstanding credit card balances. But there are a few details you need to understand before taking the balance transfer credit card plunge.

Some consumers seem to get in trouble overnight with credit cards. Seemingly broke and deeply in debt, some desperate card holders are constantly on the lookout for a quick fix for the credit problems. A 0% credit card balance transfer
might appear to be the perfect solution. Many among us desperately jump at such offers without much forethought. 0% deals on balance transfers or purchases might seem irresistible even to the most credit worthy person. But especially if you have a large outstanding card balance (or balances), a 0% credit card balance transfer will seem especially lucrative. And to no surprise, there is no shortage of these type of balance transfer offers currently available in the marketplace.

Regardless of your credit circumstances, you should exercise caution and thoroughly investigate all aspects of any credit card offer that you consider. Despite the obvious attractions of a balance transfer credit card, it is worth giving a second thought before you cut up your old credit card to make room in your wallet for the new one. Companies often fail to clarify the fine print, hiding those rather unpleasant details which could cost you dearly in the long run.

Let us start with a very typical credit scenario. Imagine having a $10,000 outstanding balance on a credit card with a 10% annual APR, translating to $1000 in finance charges on a yearly basis. On the other hand, imagine securing a credit card that offers you 0% on balance transfers for the first year of membership. Transferring your card balance to a 0% balance transfer offer would cut down your annual interest expense by $1000. Exciting, isnt it?

But did you bother to check what the interest rate would be after the introductory interest-free period? The rate might turn out to be significantly higher than your existing card, and you do not want to be caught on the wrong side of a high APR. Forewarned is forearmed. You will need to plan ahead and not just a day or two before the interest-free period comes to an end. Some consumers might be surprised to discover that when an introductory APR offer expires that the rate of interest can revert retroactively to an APR of 23% and beyond. If you do not pay off your balance systematically and end up with a large balance when the introductory offer expires, many times consumers are stuck paying out an outrageously high APR because they did not pay down their card balance at all. So above all, make sure to plan on paying off that balance before the introductory period expires or you may regret it.

0% Balance Transfer Some Pointers

When considering balance transfers credit cards, help yourself by asking these questions:

- What will be the interest rate once the initial introductory 0% balance transfer period is
over?
- Is it comparable to my current APR or will it be significantly higher? What is the net difference?
- Particularly if you plan to carry a card balance over time, what will be the long-term net effect of the difference in APR’s?
- Do I want to get into the habit of switching from one 0% balance transfer card to another?

If your current credit card offers a better long-term ongoing APR than the new one, it makes more sense to stick with what youve got, especially if you have the means to pay off your card balance without incurring large finance charges. A balance transfer card most certainly has its own pros and cons but if you wish to use balance transfers to your advantage, make sure that you understand the net benefits of the card over the long term.

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0% APR Credit Cards – Tips & Tricks

December 30th, 2009 - 
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Credit cards can be considered to be one of the many basic necessities of the modern world. Credit cards are available nowadays in abundance. One type of credit card specifically is the so-called 0% APR credit card. 0% APR credit cards were introduced in the late 1980s and to this day has still proven to be one of the most sought-after credit card types available anywhere. As with all credit card types, there are a certain tips and tricks surrounding 0% APR credit cards that all potential card applicants should be made aware of.

With the help of a 0% APR credit card, it means that you need not only pay the outstanding balance; and what more you could even charge up to the limits without having to sustain any monthly interest charges. However, sometimes, one tends to think just how these credit card companies can afford to provide 0% APR credit cards, and make a profit out of it?

Although 0% APR credit cards may not comprise any monthly charges, it is sure to come with annual fees which you are obliged to pay for the privileges of a 0% APR credit card. These annual fees usually run from $15 to $20 or sometimes, even higher. Having a 0% APR credit card doesnt mean that you can pay your dues whenever and whichever way you intend to. It IS necessary to make your payments on time, or else, you will have to pay for high overdue fees. For each late payment, the 0% APR credit card holder has to pay fees that may range from $20 to $40. With habitual late payments, these meager amounts may accumulate to a hefty total!

It should be remembered that 0% APR credit cards are usually offered for only a stipulated period of time. This credit card interest may hold good for only a fixed period of time, usually ranging from 3 up to 15 months. On the completion of this period, a higher rate of interest may come in vogue, usually 12% or higher. You could easily transfer any existing credit card balances to a new 0% APR credit card to get 0% interest on the transferred balance. In this way, the credit card holder has to pay less interest for a stipulated period of time, and thus get a chance to clear outstanding balances as quickly as possible.

When applying for a 0% APR credit card, it is always better to read the terms and agreements of the credit card. Not to overstate an obvious question, but why should one do so? Simply because many credit cards may come with a default rate wherein late payments not only incur a late payment fee, but it would also include a default rate that will be added to the annual percentage rate. This in turn doubles the figures on the existing balances and on the new purchases made on the card moving forward. Ouch!

One very important point to take into account when applying for a 0% APR credit card is to read all paragraphs of the agreement, otherwise known as the fine print. This is because though it is illegal for a credit card company to hide their fees and charges, it is nonetheless legal for them to mention these points in small print! The 0% APR credit card companies thus usually announce in large and bold print about their 0% APR but hide the facts that this is only for a limited period of time and any extra fees which might be included are done so in very fine print.

Another trick that is up the sleeve of 0% APR credit card companies is to install sky-high APRs right after the amount of 0% APR balance transfers are paid down. In other words, the money you first pay to the credit card company is applied to the transfer, and any other purchases you make will be charged a high APR. Sometimes, credit card companies may also go to the extent of sending you a different card than the 0% APR credit card you had initially applied for. In this way, you are not allowed the 0% APR but a different card offer with different terms and conditions. The card issuers typically rationalize this behavior based on the card issuer determining that you do not meet the qualifications for a 0% APR credit card. Qualifications for a 0% APR credit card is usually found in the small print of the agreement, and is usually overseen by applicants!

It can thus be seen that though 0% APR credit cards do seem to be rather inviting, there are some loopholes and tricks to their use. As always, it is highly recommended to read the terms and conditions on the card application agreement for the 0% APR credit card, or any type of credit card application, thoroughly in order to avoid any future problems, headaches or financial surprises.

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