It's Easy To Find A 0 Apr Credit Card
By: Christopher Luck
Millions of Americans have credit cards, using them almost every day for everything from mundane things like groceries to exciting purchases like vacations. But unless you already have a 0 APR Visa, Mastercard, or Discover credit card, chances are you’re still looking for one. Who wouldn’t want a credit card that offered 0 percent APR?The APR is the annual percentage rate, and it determines how much interest you pay on your credit card. No-interest credit is the best, obviously; a credit card with no APR means you’re paying back only the amount you borrowed, with no additional charges. When the bank makes you a 0 apr credit card offer, you’re liable to jump at the chance! But you don’t need to wait for the bank or credit card company to come to you. You can get a 0% APR credit card yourself.
First you’ll need to check your credit score. The credit card companies are more likely to give you a low-repayment credit card as a “reward” for being a low-risk consumer. Get a copy of your credit report from one of the online sources available -- you’re entitled by law to one free credit report per year -- and see if there are any blemishes that might prevent you from getting a 0 APR credit card. You should check your report even if you’re sure you’ve never done anything to earn bad credit, because mistakes can creep into your report. The last thing you want is to be denied an interest-free credit card because of something you didn’t even do!
Once you’ve confirmed your credit report is solid, or done what’s necessary to clean it up, you can apply for a credit card with confidence. There are two ways you can go about getting no-interest credit. One is to approach your currentcredit card companies and request a lower interest rate. Tell them you’d like to do a balance transfer, point out your positive credit history, and ask for zero APR credit. Many times, they will give you 0 APR for a period of six months or a year, which is fine: Before the time is up, you can set up 0 percent APR on a different card and transfer the balance. If your credit stays good, you could move your balance from one card to another indefinitely, thus keeping 0 APR credit for the life of the loan.
Another option is to open new credit cards that have 0 APR offers. These are easily found online, and the 0 APR credit card is usually an “introductory” offer, which means it switches to a higher APR after six months or a year. The same procedure applies: Take advantage of the offer, and then transfer the balance to another 0 APR credit card before the time is up. Before you get any new credit cards, though, be sure to check into their policies on balance transfers. Some have different APRs for balance transfers as opposed to purchases.
With a little work and careful spending habits, it’s possible for anyone with good credit to get a 0 APR credit card. Why should the credit card company get all your hard-earned money with its fees and APRs? No-interest credit is the way to go. Good luck, and happy spending!
About: Christopher M. Luck has have many years experience with 0 apr credit cards and is now offering his priceless advice free to you. If you are at all interested in Christopher's top picks, you may find 0 apr credit cards here. You can also keep up to date with the latest news at Christopher M. Luck's Finance Blog. Source: Ezinearticles.com
The Truth About 0% APR Credit Cards
By: Morgan Hamilton
The competition between credit card companies is getting fierce. Many credit card companies are offering special incentives to get you to sign up for their card. 0% APR is one deal that many credit card companies are using. These 0% APR credit cards often spell trouble for the consumer, though. There are special rules and limitations that apply which are usually hidden among legal wording in the small print.While it is illegal for a credit card company not to disclose all fees and charges for their credit card, it is not illegal for them to put it in small print. Credit card companies are aware that many consumers do not even bother reading these paragraphs so they stick the truth about 0% APR deals in there. They make sure they announce in large, bold print that the card has 0% APR. This is very appealing because it is the APR or interest rates that often cause consumers to have credit card problems, so no interest seems like a great deal. Hidden in that small print, though, you will often find out that this is for a limited time or only applies to new purchases, not balance transfers. Once the limited time is up the APR usually sky rockets to a huge rate. Even worse, some consumers transfer balances thinking they will get a nice break from interest and be able to pay the balance down quick, only to find out the offer does not apply to the amount they transfer. Reading all the information provided with an offer is extremely important to avoid such problems.
There are other tricks to the 0% APR offer, too. Some cards offer 0% APR on balance transfers, but once that is paid off the APR goes up. The trick here is that any money you pay is applied to the transfer first so it is paid down quicker. Any other purchases you make are charged a high APR. Some credit card companies make up for the 0% APR by charging high annual fees or other high rate charges or they add a transfer fee charge. Many 0% APR deals are voided if you are late on a payment. Some companies have lowered the grace period which makes it easier to be late on a payment. Another quick trick is sending you a different card then the one you applied for and not offering the 0% APR on that card at all. Often in the small print on your application it will state the company can do this if you do not qualify for the card being offered. These are some ways the credit card companies can get out of the 0% APR offer.
The truth about 0% APR credit card offer is not as great as it may seem. Avoiding this trap is easy if you know where to look for the catches and exceptions. It is all up to you to weed out the good offers from the bad ones. Read everything before signing up for a credit card and should be able to avoid any problems.
About: Morgan Hamilton offers expert advice and great tips regarding all aspects concerning Credit Cards. Get the information you are seeking now by visiting 0% APR Credit Cards. Source: Ezinearticles.com
