By Larry Lane for InvestorZoo.com Now more than ever, credit card companies are making more money in late fees and penalties. Should you miss a payment, you will open yourself to a number of issues. Your credit score will suffer, hampering the possibilities of obtaining credit in the future. You may not be eligible for the lowest possible interest rate should you plan to purchase a house or car because you have a low credit score. If cash is too short to make your minimum payment, redirect your payments from other places. For example, there is usually no fee for paying a utility bill or cable TV bill late. Do not neglect these bills for too long. You do not want to have your electricity disconnected. If you have a decent credit rating and your interest rate is higher than 10% you should pay it off in full ASAP. If you can’t manage to pay your balance off in full, call your credit card company and ask for a better rate. If you do not get satisfaction on your first call, hang up and call again. If you are not receiving a better rate, tell the representative you’re going to cancel your card. They will transfer you to the â€save teamâ€. If you’re still not receiving a rate reduction from your current company, it’s time to look for a new credit card. Search on the web for â€0% balance transfer credit cardsâ€. You will come up with thousands of different offers from other credit card companies. Most will come with a 3% balance transfer fee. Although the 3% charge sounds like a big fee, you will save a considerable amount of money long term. When shopping for a new credit card, compare the amount time of your 0% interest rate. Some credit card offers will extend your 0% rate 3 months, some 6, and others all the way out to a year. Do not miss a payment. Your 0% rate is predicated on you making your payments on time. Miss a single payment and your 0% will disappear and will soar up to 31%. After your introductory balance transfer special, your rate will increase to a higher predetermined rate. It is imperative you either find another card to give you another 0% offer. To make sure you’re not being gouged, you need to create a reminder on your computer and write your expiration date 30 to 60 days before it occurs. This will give you plenty of time to either negotiate a better rate with your current credit card company or find a new one. Don’t be a victim, be pro active. Do not pay annual fees. There are enough credit card companies vying for your business. Exceptions would be special â€perk cardsâ€. For example, for a $60 annual fee, Alaska Airlines Bank of America Visa will give you 20,000 free miles (almost good for a free flight) as well as allowing you to buy one flight at regular price and get the 2nd flight for $100. There has been much written about the evils of credit cards and sneaky tactics. Before you choose a credit card company to do business with, do your homework. Avoid credit pitfalls and take advantage of financial offers. When used correctly, credit cards can be a tremendous tool. They can be used to fund your vacation, giving you free frequent flyer miles in lieu of your purchases. There are some credit cards which will provide you with cash back on purchases. Others will give you free gift cards when you purchase a certain amount on your card. Pay your credit cards on time. Shop for the best credit card rate which suits your needs. Take advantage of offers when presented. A little shopping over the phone or internet may result in a $50 per month or more in savings. Use this $600 to fund your 401k or IRA. Larry Lane is the editor for InvestorZoo.com, a social networking site specializing in personal finance. Email questions and comments to Larry.Lane@InvestorZoo.com
Please Rate this Article 5 out of 54 out of 53 out of 52 out of 51 out of 5
Not yet Rated
