Thursday, December 14, 2006

Tips And Tricks About Balance Transfers

Using balance transfers to pay off credit cards is a strategy that many
people use. When using this tactic cardholders should use both the old and
new card responsibly.

When you use one credit card to pay off another you are doing what is known
as a balance transfer. Many consumers use the balance transfer as a way to
keep from becoming delinquent on their credit card payments. Theoretically,
you can keep transferring balances between credit cards indefinitely as long
as you have a credit card that allows the transfer.

Different credit card issuers have different terms regarding a balance
transfer. The most important of these terms are the interest rate to which
the balance transfer is subject, the total amount that can be transferred,
and any fees associated with the transfer. When you are making a decision
about transferring a balance to a credit card these are the primary factors
that you should consider. Each of these factors has an effect on the amount
you will end up paying for transferring the balance.

The ideal credit card for transferring balance is one that has a zero
percent APR, a high limit allowed for the balance transfer, and no fee
associated with the transfer. With these conditions in place, you are able
to transfer a credit card balance for free.

If you are looking for a way to pay down some of your credit card debt,
using a free balance transfer is the best way to do so. By transferring your
credit card balances to a credit card that does not have associated interest
rate or fees, you can pay off balances easier. You can find a lot of help
here http://www.balance-transfer.com/.


When you do a balance transfer, you should close out the old credit card
account immediately. Doing this will curb your spending, ensuring that you
do not become deeper in debt.

Another rule of thumb to follow when you are working with balance transfers
is not to use the new card to make any purchases. Once you have transferred
the balance to the credit card, you should put it away. Don't use the card
until you have completely repaid the amount of the balance transfer. If you
use the card to make purchases, you have nullified the benefits of
transferring the balance to a new credit card.

If you use a zero percent APR credit card for the balance transfer, you must
make sure you are aware of the terms and conditions of the credit card. In
many cases, you lose out on the advantage of not having an interest rate if
you make a single late payment.

You should be aware that transferring balances might not necessarily improve
your credit rating or standing with the credit reporting agencies. Since
credit bureaus look at your total balances and available credit, juggling
debts does not improve your credit score. In fact, if you have too many
credit cards open at one time, your credit score could be negatively
impacted.

There are pros and cons to using balance transfers with credit cards. Using
them responsibly can help a great deal. Abusing the privilege might put you
in a worse situation than you began with.


About The Author: Fruzsina Csery is a freelance copywriter. She occasionally
writes for http://www.balance-transfer.com/.

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