True 0% Apr Credit Cards: Do They Exist?

October 18th, 2010 - 
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Because credit cards are now becoming more and more popular and competition among credit card institutions are getting stiff, credit card issuers are now finding ways to attract more potential clients to apply for their credit card. In fact, some credit card issuers even send emails and traditional postal mails to prospective clients in order to reach out to people and tell them about their credit card offers.

This is a form of marketing strategy which is aimed to attract more potential credit card users. Today, one kind of promotional offer that is definitely working is the 0% APR credit card offer. Although this may seem too good to be true, 0% credit card offers really exists. However, before you rush off and apply for this kind of credit card, you need to understand the offer first in order to make sure that you are getting the right kind of credit card.

An APR (annual percentage rate) is what credit card issuers use to compute the total percentage that will be charged on your purchases, cash advances and other fees. In this case, a 0% APR is definitely a very attractive offer. However, you have to face the fact that this kind of offer is only a promotional offer or a marketing strategy and doesnt last forever. Besides, you have to consider that a credit card company will also want to make money for their services and the APR is one of their main money making strategies.

The 0% APR credit card offers that you usually see are just marketing tools that credit card companies use to attract more potential credit card holders. Besides, if you will be offered with 0% APR, you will instantly get attracted by it because of the benefits it can give you. Here are some of the things you should think about in order to find the best deals.

Since the 0% APR is only an introductory offer and doesnt last forever, it is important that you should determine how long it will last. Ask the credit card issuer first how long the introductory 0% APR will last in order to make sure that you will benefit a lot from the credit card. Usually a 0% APR will only last for three months to a full year.

Next, it is also important to know how much APR it will have after the introductory period expires. You dont want to find out late that the credit card will have a high amount of APR after the 0% introductory period expires. It is best to learn how much the APR will be after the introductory offer in order to avoid surprises that you may after receiving a high amount of monthly bills on your purchases.

Knowing about the different features and benefits is also helpful. Try to know if the credit card allows balance transfers from high interest credit cards during the 0% APR promotional period. If it does, you will be able to pay off your outstanding balances with low interest rates.

These are some of the things you should know about 0% APR credit cards. Although this offer definitely exists, it is only offered in a limited period of time. By finding out about the APR after the promotional offer expires and also by knowing about how long it will last, you can be sure that you will be able to find the best credit card deals.

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The Real Truth Behind 0% Apr Credit Cards

September 29th, 2010 - 
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Take a quick look through your wallet. How many credit cards do you have? Are you one of those credit card fanatics? Are you like one of those individuals who get hold of as many credit cards as possible? Firstly you better make sure you understand that this may get you into a serious financial bind. Sure, credit cards are a great way to deal with unforeseen expenses, and at times can save your butt. On the other hand, these tricky little plastic cards can also trick you into spending carelessly. We all know their typical spiel. Every credit card company knows exactly what you want to hear. Hence thats the reason why your mailbox is constantly filled with offers for 0 apr credit cards. They simply love to pitch that; don’t they? The truth is we all light up at the number 0. It instantly tells us that we have nothing to lose. Ha! Now thats a good one. But, while these 0 apr credit cards start out benign, they soon turn sinister. All of a sudden the apr hits the roof, and you’re shelling out loads of cash for interest rates each month.

Have you checked your mailbox today, did you notice any pitches for 0 apr credit cards? Im sure my guess is there was at least one in the box. Now, the question is; are you going to slit it open and read the whole deal, or simply tear it apart and toss it away? Now don’t get me wrong, sure we all fancy a credit card or two in our wallets and purses. At times those 0 apr credit cards can be helpful if we get in a bind. The trick is using it wisely. In other words, it basically implies not using it unless you really have to. And I mean have to! You dont need to simply stick something on your 0 apr credit cards if have the cash to pay for. No need to constantly fight the monthly credit card payment? Or perhaps, you are one of those exceptional folks who pay their credit cards off completely every single month. If you are, then hats off to you. You’re one of few. Though a lot of us, or probably the majority of us claims that this is how we will do it, we actually don’t. Trust me, the credit card companies depend on this. After a while, you’ll probably want one of the 0 apr credit cards for some emergencies. The trick is staying strong and not using it for casual shopping. There are loads of online resources for those seeking current deals on 0 apr credit cards. Its simple to pop open Google and do a quick search regarding 0 apr credit cards. Nevertheless, be prepared, because loads of them are about to pitch to you.

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How To Keep Your Credit Card Interest Rate At 0%

July 25th, 2010 - 
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How To Keep Your Credit Card Interest Rate At 0%

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We’ve all been tempted by 0% credit card interest rate offers. These offers are usually for short periods of three to 12 months and there are usually conditions attached. For example, the preferential rate may apply to balance transfers, but not to cash withdrawals. The low interest rate may not apply to credit card cheques or purchases either.

People who are carrying a large debt will want to make the most of 0% interest rate offers. Here’s how to keep your credit card interest rate at 0%.

Researching 0% Credit Card Deals

First of all, it is best to research the credit card thoroughly. Consumers need to find out:
- what period the 0% interest rate is for
- whether it is for balance transfers only
- whether it applies to other spending on the card
- what the rate is for cash withdrawals or credit card cheques
- whether there is a balance transfer fee
- what other incentives there are for using the card

Answering these questions will help consumers to decide which 0% credit card is right for them. It is especially important to pay attention to the period that the incentive offer lasts for. To keep paying 0% interest, consumers will need to apply for a new 0% credit card a month to six weeks before the old offer runs out. This leaves time to get the card, activate it and transfer the balance without incurring any additional fees from the current credit card company.

Rate Surfing Benefits

Moving from card to card, or rate surfing, is a common way of keeping interest rates low and paying off as much of a debt as possible. Using a 0% card means that any money paid is reducing the outstanding debt rather than paying interest. This is good news for consumers’ long term financial stability.

Of course, there’s no guarantee that consumers will be able to get another card. This will depend on their credit profile. The best way to maintain a good credit profile is to have some credit card debt (but not too much) and to make all payments on time. This will show credit card companies that you are a good credit risk.

Watch Out For Balance Transfer Fees

Credit card companies do not like credit card tarts, another term for rate surfers, because they lose hundreds of thousands of pounds’ worth of income that they would normally gain from interest. As a result, many credit card companies take their money up front by charging a balance transfer fee of around 2% of the balance transferred. Even with this fee, savvy consumers should be able to shop around for the best rates and pay much less interest than they would normally have done.

In addition to the incentive of a 0% interest rate, consumers can also benefit from other rewards. These include points that can be used for travel, earning vouchers, cash back and charitable contributions. This means that consumers can reduce their outstanding debt and gain a reward as well.

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Have You Fall For The 0 Apr Credit Card Yet?

June 22nd, 2010 - 
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Have You Fall For The 0 Apr Credit Card Yet?

You probably have heard about 0 APR credit card? This is the most common thing that people have heard or read in the advertisements of most credit card companies. If you have been called by some bank representatives offering you this promotion, you might get lured by the seemingly juicy offer.

After all, it could be a lot of savings in the end as you no longer have to pay the APR (stands for annual percent rate). But before the bank representative gets successful by making you lured into applying for their credit card, stop there first and clear things up before signing up with them.

Credit cards with 0 APR are often too good to ignore. They usually come with the agreement that you transfer your balance from another credit card you are using and get the APR with zero interest; or you have the 0 APR on the first year of using the credit card. Added to that juicy offer, the bank will also give you fast approval, plus some other perks. Thinking you would get all tons of savings from this new credit card, before you know it, you let this representative procure your information, as well as your existing credit card information, and let them consolidate your debts to the new credit card company which offered you the 0 APR.

Now, after signing up with them, it could be too late for you. You have not learnt of the hidden charges of your new credit card, so here you are: about to receive future bills with even higher statements. This thing could have been avoided if you have been wise enough to carefully think of the offer thoroughly.

Such offers like 0 APR is indeed very interesting, but that happens too good to be true. The truth about this thing is that credit card companies typically start the offer being effective after people have accumulated so much debt from the holiday rush season shopping spree. And after this 0 APR thing has taken effective, the credit card company may cancel it at anytime of the year. The sad thing about this is, you do not normally notice that the offer is over leaving you with exorbitant prices with the statements.

Some may think the 0 APR offer lasts for years and years. But the fact is, it only lasts for six months or so, but not more than a year. And since, you do not know your 0 APR is over, you still believe you save even when the next bills are higher than the previous ones.

Another thing you should know about 0 APR is the offer which says inclusion of the amount of your balance transfer. Often, the credit card company actually applies the promotion for the purchases you made on your new credit card and not on the balance transfer. This is often something that clients overlook because it is usually not included on the flyers.

If you would not be careful enough, you can be trapped with this fraud claims. While it can be effective on the first season of using your new credit card, it will still get extremely higher and once again you will find yourself in the stream of high debts. To avoid these mistakes, make sure to read all details of their terms and conditions before signing up with them. It would not hurt as well if you can raise all possible questions in regards to the true nature of the 0 APR credit card.

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About 0% APR Credit Cards

April 30th, 2010 - 
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APR, (which stands for annual percentage rate), is an important factor when deciding what credit card you want to sign up for. Specifically defined, APR is simply the rate of interest you will be charged by your credit card company. Credit cards offer a variety of approaches to APR. Some will offer you a fixed-rate APR, so youll be paying at a particular interest rate for the whole time you have a balance. Others will offer you an introductory APR. You start off with a very low interest rate then after a certain period of time, it would change to a higher rate. However, what you should try to look for are 0% APR credit cards. With 0% APR credit cards, you do not have to worry about an interest rate at all for a defined period of time. In fact, the average time period that most credit cards will offer a 0% APR is usually 6 months to 1 year. There are even a few 0% APR credit cards that may offer this rate for as long as fifteen months!

So, why do 0% APR credit cards exist? Its simple. By offering 0% APR credit cards, companies hope that their customers are going to embark on a spending frenzy. When the phenomenally low APR rate ends, 0% APR credit cards turn into credit cards charging a normal interest rate. The customer has to pay at this rate until their balance is paid in full.

For this reason if youre considering signing up for a 0% APR credit card, it is very important you do whatever you can to pay your balance before the 0% APR term is up. For example, if you get a 0% APR credit card that has a 0% APR for 1 year, you will have exactly 1 year to pay whatever balance you have before you get charged interest. To try and avoid having a balance that you cant afford, its best to spend small and pay it off as soon as you can. You may even want to make your own personal payment plan where you set aside some money thats to only be used for paying your credit card.

With that being said, if youre still interested in obtaining a 0% APR credit card, you should look no further than the Internet. Of course, it may be tempting to use one of the offers that come in the mail, but if you do that you may not get the best 0% APR credit card available. This is because there are some 0% APR credit cards that, in addition to offering a non-existent APR, also offer additional rewards. These can include: special points that can be redeemed for merchandise, travel rewards or even cash back. This means if you spend carefully enough, a 0% APR credit card can actually earn you free stuff or cash to help you pay your other bills. But if you sign up with just any 0% APR credit card offer you might receive in the mail, you may not get these advantages.

So, set the mailing aside and go on the Internet first. Visit a credit card comparison website, choose a card and follow the prompts to sign up for the offer. When you are finished, most 0% APR credit card sites will let you know in a matter of minutes if youre approved or not. If youre not approved do the process again. Keep doing it until you find the right 0% APR credit card. If you cant find anything, only then should you send in any mail-in offers you may have received.

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0% APR Credit Cards – What You Need to Know

January 18th, 2010 - 
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0% APR Credit Cards – What You Need to Know

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0% APR credit cards are an appealing option for frequent shoppers that rely on having a low monthly interest rate when they cannot pay off the entire balance of the credit card in any month. But what you really need to know about 0% APR credit card offers, often times is never discussed.

For starters, the APR is the commonly-used acronym for “Annual Percentage Rate,” which is the annual month-to-month rate that you can expect to get for your credit card balance. Naturally, if you frequently carry your credit card balance over from month-to-month, it is important for you to have a low or even 0% APR credit card.

How it Works

Every credit card company makes money when shoppers use the card, but do not pay off the balance at the end of each month. Because the credit card company has lent shoppers money so that they can make their purchases, the credit card company will charge interest on the balance until the entire balance is paid off. The credit card company has the potential to make a generous profit from the balances of their customers each month. Naturally, as a consumer, having a 0% APR credit card means that your balance is carried over from month-to-month without any charges applied.

Beware of High Interest Rates

It may seem like credit cards actually lose money by investing in a 0% APR credit card promotion. However, the 0% APR credit cards actually help credit card companies find customers. For example, if there is a shopper that has a high APR (some are up to 20%) and he or she is having a hard time paying down the balance of the credit card, the purchaser is in an ideal situation to transfer their balance to a 0% APR credit card for a period in which they can focus on working down their debt. The situation is ideal for someone who is in short-term debt. However, to balance the 0% APR credit cards against the credit card company’s need to make a profit, as soon as a trial period expires, many credit card companies will increase their rates drastically. As a consumer, you need to read the fine print so that you are aware of the deadlines associated with this change-over.

Where to Find a 0% APR Credit Card

It may seem harder than it really is to find a 0% APR credit card. It’s advantageous to find a card that doesn’t require you to pay a month-to-month rate on the unpaid balance. However, credit card companies frequently enact 0% APR credit card promotional deals, so take a look around for what deals are available to you currently.

0% APR credit cards can make managing your debt very easy. While most of them do not require annual fees, it is important for you to understand what you are agreeing to before you sign a contact with a company. While most 0% APR credit cards eventually increase the rate after a set period of time, the duration of the promotional period varies by company. As with any credit card agreement, a little research and education into the details of a 0% APR credit card can go a long way towards helping you make a decision that can positively effect your finances. Choose wisely!

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