The credit card transfer season
The impact of the infamous 'Credit Crunch' of 2008 still has a grip on the UK economy as we head into 2009. The financial forecast is peppered with warnings of further downturns and of hard times ahead, particularly for customers with outstanding debts on credit cards. But a New Year can give you an opportunity to hunt down a bargain that may help you weather the financial storm a little easier and guide you into smoother monetary waters.
Tempting 0% offers on credit cards have been noticeable by their absence this year as credit card companies tighten their belts in anticipation of another lean year. But they are out there, with some banks even joining in the frenzy to tempt wary high street customers into their branches with 'Sales' on financial services, including balance transfer credit cards. The smart consumer can take advantage of this desire to please by the credit card companies and snap up a bargain on balance transfers. Many credit card companies are now reducing their exposure in the marketplace by only accepting customers with very good credit histories. Any small blip on your record could stop your chances of taking advantage of the few 0% offers that are available, so a worthy New Years resolution might be to check your credit history records. If there are any discrepancies on your record (even something as insignificant as an incorrect postcode) they could affect your ability to gain credit. By checking that all your details are correct and up to date, you have a far better chance of taking advantage of the offers that are available.
If your credit history is all in order, there are still a few things to think about before choosing a balance transfer card. Firstly, a transfer fee is usually required to move an outstanding credit card balance onto a new card. This fee is normally around 3% of the total transferred, but some cards do have a minimum fee no matter how small the transferred amount. You will need to include this amount in your calculations of exactly how much transferring to another card will cost.
Secondly, not all 0% balance transfer credit cards are interest free for purchases as well. This backs up the golden rule of credit card transfers " never use the card for purchases as well as transfers. The amount you pay off each month on the new card will go to pay off the most recent transactions, rather than the initial balance transfer. So if you use the card for purchases as well you could find yourself running out of time to take advantage of the 0% offer on the initial transfer. It also means that you could end up paying interest on your transfer " something you wanted to avoid doing in the first place.
Some cards offer a tempting combination of 0% on balance transfers and 0% (usually for a much shorter period of time) on purchases. In a direct reversal of the above scenario, with these cards once the 0% on purchases has run its course your payments go to the amount attracting the lowest interest rate first, namely your balance transfer. This is known as 'negative payment hierarchy' and results in the customer paying the full interest amount on purchases (usually a minimum of 18% on most cards) and costing more in the long run. To reiterate; the best advice is to have two cards " one exclusively for your balance transfer and one for your purchases.
If you are planning to transfer your balance onto a low or zero interest rate card, work out exactly how much you will be have to be paying each month to clear the balance before the interest kicks in. Factor into this any late payment charges that may be incurred, transfer fees and other fees such as insurance (which should be optional). By knowing your figures before you submit your application, you are taking charge of your finances from the outset, putting you in a much better position to weather the financial storm that is currently battering the economy. Even in the depths of a financial winter, smart consumers can still find monetary havens and credit card deals.
Tempting 0% offers on credit cards have been noticeable by their absence this year as credit card companies tighten their belts in anticipation of another lean year. But they are out there, with some banks even joining in the frenzy to tempt wary high street customers into their branches with 'Sales' on financial services, including balance transfer credit cards. The smart consumer can take advantage of this desire to please by the credit card companies and snap up a bargain on balance transfers. Many credit card companies are now reducing their exposure in the marketplace by only accepting customers with very good credit histories. Any small blip on your record could stop your chances of taking advantage of the few 0% offers that are available, so a worthy New Years resolution might be to check your credit history records. If there are any discrepancies on your record (even something as insignificant as an incorrect postcode) they could affect your ability to gain credit. By checking that all your details are correct and up to date, you have a far better chance of taking advantage of the offers that are available.
If your credit history is all in order, there are still a few things to think about before choosing a balance transfer card. Firstly, a transfer fee is usually required to move an outstanding credit card balance onto a new card. This fee is normally around 3% of the total transferred, but some cards do have a minimum fee no matter how small the transferred amount. You will need to include this amount in your calculations of exactly how much transferring to another card will cost.
Secondly, not all 0% balance transfer credit cards are interest free for purchases as well. This backs up the golden rule of credit card transfers " never use the card for purchases as well as transfers. The amount you pay off each month on the new card will go to pay off the most recent transactions, rather than the initial balance transfer. So if you use the card for purchases as well you could find yourself running out of time to take advantage of the 0% offer on the initial transfer. It also means that you could end up paying interest on your transfer " something you wanted to avoid doing in the first place.
Some cards offer a tempting combination of 0% on balance transfers and 0% (usually for a much shorter period of time) on purchases. In a direct reversal of the above scenario, with these cards once the 0% on purchases has run its course your payments go to the amount attracting the lowest interest rate first, namely your balance transfer. This is known as 'negative payment hierarchy' and results in the customer paying the full interest amount on purchases (usually a minimum of 18% on most cards) and costing more in the long run. To reiterate; the best advice is to have two cards " one exclusively for your balance transfer and one for your purchases.
If you are planning to transfer your balance onto a low or zero interest rate card, work out exactly how much you will be have to be paying each month to clear the balance before the interest kicks in. Factor into this any late payment charges that may be incurred, transfer fees and other fees such as insurance (which should be optional). By knowing your figures before you submit your application, you are taking charge of your finances from the outset, putting you in a much better position to weather the financial storm that is currently battering the economy. Even in the depths of a financial winter, smart consumers can still find monetary havens and credit card deals.
About the Author:
James Noon is a financial writer who enjoys breaking down financial and credit card jargon for the consumers. He writes for various popular websites. You can find out more about credit card balance transfer here.
posted by Debt Consolidation Loan at
12:12 PM
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