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Loopholes and Tips When Dealing with 0% APR Credit Cards
Filed Under (Credit Card) by APR Credit Card on 06-04-2009
Life is a matter of surviving. Being aware of the things around you is the only way to survive and cope up with the many changes and hidden facts of the world. You don’t want to feel that you lose the game at the end of the day. You can only win over things if you know how to play the game and you know how other people play their own.
Like when dealing with 0% APR credit Cards, you need to study everything first in order not to get frustrated at the end. There are tricks regarding this thing and if you just let your eyes and mind close, you will not be able to handle them properly.
0% APR credit cards were introduced in the late 1980’s and to this day has still proven to be one of the most sought-after credit card types available anywhere. However, potential applicants need to be aware of the tips and tricks surrounding 0% APR credit cards.
With the help of a 0% APR credit card, it means that you need not only pay the outstanding balance; and what more you could even charge up to the limits without having to sustain any monthly interest charges. But come to think of it, how these credit card companies can afford to provide 0% APR credit cards, and make a profit out of this very generous deal? Or are they really generous enough to maintain this kind of agreement?
Although 0% APR credit cards may not comprise any monthly charges, it is sure to come with annual fees which you are obliged to pay for the privileges of a 0% APR credit card. These annual fees usually run from $15 to $20. But sometimes, there are fees everywhere that run higher than this. It doesn’t mean that you can pay your dues whenever and whichever way you intend to if you do have this kind of credit card. If you don’t want to pay for high overdue fees, make your payments on time. For each late payment, the 0% APR credit card holder has to pay fees that may range from $20 to $40. With habitual late payments, these meager amounts may accumulate to a hefty total!
It is also important to know that this kind of agreement is for limited time only. This credit card interest may hold good for only a fixed period of time, usually ranging from 3 up to 15 months. On the completion of this period, a higher rate of interest will then come and may surprise you. You could easily transfer any existing credit card balances to a new 0% APR credit card to get 0% interest on the transferred balance. In this way, the credit card holder has to pay less interest for a stipulated period of time, and thus get a chance to clear outstanding balances as quickly as possible.
Many credit cards may come with a default rate wherein late payments not only incur a late payment fee, but it would also include a default rate that will be added to the annual percentage rate. This in turn doubles the figures on the existing balances and on the new purchases made on the card moving forward. It’s very dramatic isn’t it? But it’s true. It is always better to read the terms and agreements of the credit card when applying for a 0% APR credit card.
The next thing that could really be very important to you comes in bold letters: READ THE FINE PRINT. You must read all paragraphs of the agreement if you don’t want to be fooled. This is because though it is illegal for a credit card company to hide their fees and charges, it is nonetheless legal for them to mention these points in small print! It is actually one of the business strategies of all the companies. The 0% APR credit card companies thus usually announce in large and bold print about their 0% APR but hide the facts that this is only for a limited period of time and any extra fees which might be included are done so in very fine print.
Installing sky-high APR’s right after the amount of 0% APR balance transfers are paid down is also another trick that you should always check. But what does it mean? the money you first pay to the credit card company is applied to the transfer, and any other purchases you make will be charged a high APR. Sometimes, credit card companies may also go to the extent of sending you a different card than the 0% APR credit card you had initially applied for. You are then not allowed the 0% APR but a different card offer with different terms and conditions. The card issuers typically rationalize this behavior based on the card issuer determining that you do not meet the qualifications for a 0% APR credit card. Qualifications for a 0% APR credit card is usually found in the small print of the agreement, and is usually overseen by applicants! Always make your eyes and mind open.
We all wanted to avoid frustrations and disappointments right? Make sure you will read everything and understand everything first before jumping into any kind of agreements. You can only survive if you use your senses well.






