Tag Archives: credit card
Being Careful With Credit Cards
When it comes to getting equipped with a credit card, many people are aware of the advantages and disadvantages, but few are aware of how to ensure that they are getting the best deal through being careful about the credit card provider they use, and ensuring they have read the terms and conditions, and are therefore aware of all the cost centers that will affect them during their contract.
Watch out for:
Annual Fees Not all credit card providers will charge an annual fee, but by the same token not all those who do charge an annual fee will necessarily be the least cost-effective. Keep in mind that different credit card providers will charge in different ways, and being away of the ways you are charged means you get the best deal, and can budget for these expenses.
Late Payment Charges Should your credit card payments be later than expected then as well as the interest still being due you will have to incur a late payment fee. This is justified by the credit card providers through the consideration that it could cause cash flow problems, and may mean that their financial planning could be off-set or not as projected. Late charges should be a consideration when costing a credit card; a great way to avoid this is to set up a direct debit so your payment is taken directly out of your bank account.
Exceeding Your Limit When you exceed your credit limit the likelihood is that you will be charged, unless you make prior arrangements with your credit card provider. You should be aware of what these charges are before you enter into a contract with a credit card provider. To avoid these costs, many choose to take out another credit card to finance clearing the limit, whilst others may look towards short-term solutions like an overdraft or long-term solutions like a bank loan. Please be careful not to spend money on a credit card unless you can afford it.
Avoid:
Small Companies Avoiding small companies can ensure that you do not come across problems that would not face well-known, reputable house-hold names. Should a company be a public limited company/listed company or be owned by such then the inherent risk of unfair contract terms and a shift away from best-practice are significantly reduced by PR factors and media pressures/influences.
High APR/0% initial APR Choosing to contract with a credit card company that offers a great introduction rate and a higher rate in the long term is relying on your lack of financial control to make money. If you are not in total control of your finances and ultimately earn less than you make then please avoid these at all costs.
The Basics of Credit Card Balance Transfers
There simply isnt one of us out there who enjoys paying the high interest rates on credit card balances, no matter how much money you have in the bank or make at your place of employment. I dont know about you, but I always promise myself that whatever I charge during a billing cycle, I will pay off when the bill comes due. But when I open up the envelope from my credit card company, I realize that there are many other places my money could be well spent- and that means my balance doesnt get paid in full, thus resulting in loads of pounds paid in interest. Thats why so many residents of the UK are taking advantage of the financial benefits of transferring their balances on a high rate credit cards to one with significantly lower (or even 0%) interest.
Credit card companies are in a desperate fight for your business, so they offer alluring programs (such as 0% interest on balance transfers for 6 months or so) so that youll take your old credit card balance and place it on one of their new cards. This is all done with the hopes that you will use your new credit card instead of your old one- hence the new company generates any interest on new purchases, not to mention the charges on your transferred balance when the special program expires. They want you to give them your business, never look back, and never again transfer your balance to another credit card company. Their begging can work to your advantage as long as you understand the basics.
There are mainly two types of credit card balance transfers, the first of which involves a very low interest rate, usually 0%, for a fixed amount of time, perhaps from 5 to 9 months. At the expiration of this time period, the companys normal interest rate charges will apply, generally upwards of 15% or more. So be sure to stay on your toes, keep accurate records and switch your balances when the introductory rates expire to get the most out of these enticing rates and programs.
The other type of credit card balance transfers involves a low interest rate, maybe 5% or less, but maintains this same, nominal rate for the entire time required to pay off the transferred balance. Any new purchases will be subject to the cards regular, significantly higher rate (again, around 15% or so), but if you have the self-discipline to not add any additional charges to this card, it can save the hassle of transferring your balances at every 6-month mark and still save you hundreds (or even thousands) of pounds over the life of your credit card balance.