Credit Cards, How To Lower Your Credit Card Interest Rates
Lately high interest on credit cards are pretty normal. Most all my clients I talk to have interest rates between 20-30%. Very rarely does someone have a single digit interest rate these days! The national average for interest rates is between 14-16% right now. So if you are one of those people that do have an above average rates, there are things you can do. To do this you will need to make some phone calls to your banks. Use your customer service number on the back of your credit card or credit card statement.
First things first, make sure to round up any new card offers you may have got in the mail recently. Also go your banks website to see what the current interest rates are on the credit card you currently have.
Example: If you have a CitiBank Platinum Select Credit Card your interest rates can be between 11.99%-21.99% based on your credit worthiness. So if you are sitting at a higher rate, you must have either had a late payment, maxed out your credit line, have gone over the limit or maybe did a cash advance at some time. All these factors can trigger a higher than average rate. If you have not had any of these factors before, you need to find out why you have such a high of interest and ask for something lower.
Call your customer service number and get a customer service representative on the line. Let the CSR know you checked out their website and you’re above the interest rate rage quoted for your credit card. Then ask if there is a better interest rate available for your account. Take whatever lower rate they give you for now. If the CSR cannot do any for you, let them know about your new credit card offers you received in the mail. Also, tell the CSR you are considering moving the balance somewhere else if they cannot help if needed.
Still if all this fails, ask to speak with a supervisor. This is not to say anything bad about the CSR, but to speak to someone at a higher level. The supervisor can do things that a CSR cannot do. You may have your best luck this way. Repeat the same thing to the supervisor that you just did with the CSR.
Take whatever deal they give you for now. Even if they only drop it 1 point, take it! This is a starting point for you and you can call back every month until you get it closer to where you would like it to be.
Tip1: Do not be afraid to move your balance somewhere else and do business with another bank. If your current bank is not meeting your needs, find someone who will. You do not have to close any accounts; just move the balance to another bank. Take advantage of a 0% promotion offer to pay down account faster.
Tip2: If you do the balance transfer and pay off the high rate card completely, here is what you do! Call back your bank you have the high interest rate with once you get the next bank statement. The statement should show a $0.00 balance or close to it. Then call back the CSR and Supervisor if need to ask for a better rate. You tell them you want to use this credit card again “BUT”, the interest rate is too high and higher than all your other cards. With your balance being paid off, you’re in control now because you don’t owe the bank anything now. The bank generally wants your business and they do not make money from you with a paid off account. So they should do something for you at that time.
Now if your bank does not cooperate with you and your request, you might want to do business with someone else. Do you really want to stay with that bank anymore?
To learn more about how to lower interest rates on credit cards, visit us at http://www.CreditCardNegotiations.com
Go ahead and ask your financial planner, what is the easiest credit card to get, because you might just be surprised with his answer!
Tips on Improving Your Credit Through Credit Cards
It has been repeatedly pummeled to the knowledge of many people the importance of good credit. However, you can only do this if you commit yourself to using your credit card wisely. In fact, you do not need to have a credit card in order to qualify for home mortgage. It may be difficult but it is not impossible. Here are some important steps on using the card to improve your overall credit situation.
Cut down on credit cards
One credit card is enough. One source of loans is enough. This includes all kinds of credit card. Having too many cards can reflect poorly on your report. It would be best to keep yourself from spending. The fact is that credit cards and companies know how to entice customers with great features. However, you have to be very strict with how you use the card. Letting go of the cards may be difficult but it is the first step to boost your rating. Also, since your goal is to boost your rating, you do not want to be vulnerable in borrowing money. It would be best to go safe with one card for all your needs.
Low credit limit is better
At least, for now. If you can handle $500 to $1000 limit, that is great. This will help you keep your spending in control. If you use your card every month, this will definitely curb your spending to the bare necessities. Only focus n necessities while undergoing credit fixes. Think of this as a form of diet. Let go of too much purchasing and spending and focus your money on more important things like emergency money as well as the simplest necessities.
Pay in full and Pay on time.
The reason for this is you do not want to pay extra for the purchases that you made. Let’s face it; a 14% interest rate is very big. If you do not pay in full, the balance will accrue interest and it will be bad news for your finances. Paying late is also not good. Your payment delinquency will also do some damage on your all important credit rating so as much as possible, if you cannot commit to paying in full, skip it. You might be better off buying in cash. While aiming to improve your credit, you have to make these sacrifices to make the most out of your credit rating and improve it.
For more information about credit card score, you can visit the author’s website on credit card scores.
Some people with poor credit histories just need a fresh start when it comes to credit cards. So the question of what is the easiest credit card to get is of vital importance.
How To Transfer Credit Cards
If you are looking for the best balance transfer credit cards, you can find a number of companies that offer 0 interest on balance transfers on the internet. Some of the websites offer cards from various banks and financial institutions. You can find better deals on this type of website than just looking for bank websites with limited choices.
You may also receive offers for these types of credit cards in the mail on a weekly basis. Yes, many companies offer these cards but not all of them are credible. Some will offer zero interest cards that only apply the zero interest for the first few months. If you really want to find the best balance transfer credit cards, you will have to find trustworthy credit card companies.
It is important to deal with honest companies and apply for cards that really provide 0 interest on balance transfers for at least a year. Banks and credit companies often advertise these benefits as an introductory offer to lure more people to get cards from them. Make sure that the credit company still provides low interest even after the promo period expires.
You can save a lot of money by using these kinds of cards. If your card’s interest rates are high, you should consider switching to a card that offers no interest for at least 6 to 12 months. Find out if your present credit card company already has this offer. If they don’t, you can try to look for a new company that is offering zero interest. Many new companies do this to attract more clients.
Be aware that some companies may advertise to have the best balance transfer cards but apply hidden fees like annual fees and enrollment fees that are actually pretty steep. They may also have very high fines for delayed payments. Getting a card with 0 interest on balance transfers but applies incredibly high fees for other things will not save you money.
Read the fine print and waivers on their contracts before applying for a card. If the terms sound a bit confusing, ask someone who understands them better to find out what they really mean and if the terms will make you pay more fees and interests after all. The objective of getting these types of cards is to save money, not to pay for more fees.
Other cards also offer rewards or sign-up bonus points. Look for a card that you can get the most from, from 0 interest on balance transfers to rewards. Don’t act impulsively and get blinded with fantastic offers. When an offer is too good to be true, it probably is. Before getting a new credit card, make sure that you have read the fine print very well and are aware of fees that come with the card.
Find out if the card company will charge high penalties for late payments or if their interest rates will spike after the promo period. Some companies will ask for a back interest on the whole unpaid balance at the end of your promo period. Study your options carefully to get the best balance transfer cards.
If you need to find credit cards with 0 interest on balance transfers check BestCreditOffers.com for the best balance transfer credit cards.
With more and more banks going global, and consumers with more choices now, what is the easiest credit card to get, is now a question they entertain with a customer service approach in mind.