0 APR credit cards are Not Just for Christmas

By:free-credit-guy

0 APR credit cards are here to stay. Now that we're well into the New Year we've learned (again) the lessons of the festive season. Zero interest credit is a nice idea, but why not extend it beyond your present credit card to the next, and the next. This seven point checklist will assure the clever consumer of having that constant low APR credit for years to come.

1. Read the small print. Make sure it matches the offers on the credit card's advertising copy. In particular, check for clauses that differentiate between purchases and cash transfers, or even cash withdrawals. Check that the card doesn't stipulate a ratio between purchases and cash, charging an excess if the cash activity rises above the purchase activity (that is usually the way it is biased, but check to make sure).

2. Keep to the agreed credit limit as specified in the agreement. Do not exceed the balance limit as specified on your original agreement, or that'll be the trigger for extra charges.

3. Pay at least the minimum charge in full. Even better, set up a standing order or direct debit with your bank. You can arrange to have the minimum paid directly and electronically from your bank account every month.

4. Avoid late fees by paying on time. There is a danger with people who have the benefit of a 0% APR credit card that they will tend to become complacent about it and forget to pay it. Yes, it does happen. But every time a payment is received late credit card providers can and will charge a late fee. This can add up, especially if someone is habitually late. Again, an automatic direct debit from your bank account is the best answer.

5. Factor in any extras in the agreement, as stated in the small print (which you will have read). For example, an annual charge may be applied to offset the 0 APR. Some 0% APR cards do this but others do not. Bear in mind that the whole APR concept was meant to level the playing field as far as extra charges were concerned. By paying an annual charge for your card you are not truly getting a 0 APR card.

6. Make sure you have in mind a new low interest or 0 APR credit card waiting by to which you can transfer the balance of your present credit card. Why have 0 APR credit for 6 months or 12 months when you can have it for years and years? Always check the press and financial columns for new deals and credit card offers with this in mind. Join an Internet forum that specialises in such matters.

7. Make sure that you transfer the balance of your existing credit card to your new credit card in full and on time. In particular, allow for time to process the balance transfer and for all the paperwork involved (yes, even in the age of the Internet there is still a certain amount of paper involved!) and be careful to check that the opening balance allowed on your new 0 APR credit card is at least the same or exceeds the balance that you wish to transfer from your existing credit card, or the shortfall will cost you money!

Digg del.icio.us Blink Stumble Spurl Reddit Netscape Furl

Article keywords: 0% APR credit card, 0 interest free credit cards, 0 APR credit cards, low interest credit cards, no

Article Source: http://www.articles2k.com

Gordon Goodfellow is an Internet technologist who lives and works in London. His credit card sites automatically alert customers when their interest free period is about to end.
credit card transfers US and the UK site is
credit card transfers UK

Top Credit Articles
1). What Is a Good Credit Score – How Can I Raise Mine? By : Peter Crump What is a good credit score? When you request a free copy of your credit report, you will find a score assigned to your credit history. This score will determine whether or not creditors will grant you the loan or credit that you want because it gives them an idea of your risk to repay. Generally, the answer to the question “what is a good credit score?” is the higher the better.
2). Paying Off Your Credit Card Balances: Running The Numbers By : Stephen L. Nelson, CPA Ever thought about paying off your credit card balances? Maybe you would like to be debt free just to reduce your stress. Or perhaps you need to be debt free to retire. If you have Microsoft Excel running on your computer at home or work, you can use Excel’s NPER function to calculate how quickly you can pay off a debt such as a credit card balance.
3). Credit Card Faq - Credit Card Security And Authentication By : Joseph Kenny With the ever rising reports of credit card fraud, fraudulent use, internet phishing and identity theft, people are rightly concerned about credit card security. Fraudulent credit card use can be an annoyance at best, and seriously damage your credit at worst. It's only reasonable that people have questions about credit card security and authentication methods.
4). Online Credit Card Application: The Easiest Way To A Customer’s Heart By : David Riewe Many credit cards are offered in the market today thus, making companies more aggressive in advertising and marketing their card services. These companies (e.g. banks, department stores, specialty stores, airlines, hotels, etc.) have found a powerful tool in catching the attention of prospective card holders: online credit card application. What advantage/s does online credit card application offer? The bottom line of online credit card application is “convenience”.
5). How To Build Up Your Credit By : Ken Snow There are many effective ways to build credit. In order to keep creditors from bothering you, and in order for you to get a loan with a reasonable interest rate, you need to learn how to build your credit. The best place to start is to not buy things that you don’t need. If you always make impulse buys, you will find yourself in deeper debt very quickly.
6). Best Rewards Credit Cards By : Richie Chapin It's almost a guarantee when you check your mailbox you will have a couple pieces of mail offering you a pre-approved credit card. Now most people will casually discard them without any regard to the offer that is inside. But before you throw away that credit card offer you may want to take a peek at it. Many credit card companies are now offering you FREE rewards just for using your credit card.
7). How to Choose the Right Credit Card For You By : Richie Chapin So your thinking about getting a credit card but your not exactly sure what to look for right? Well there are a lot of different things to consider when applying for a credit card. Some things to think about are the interest rate, annual fees and features the credit card may offer. Here are a few tips that will help you choose the best credit card for you.
8). Instant Credit Approval - Avoiding Fees By : Robert Alan This article describes how to avoid paying fees on instant credit approval
9). Credit Bureaus Adopt New Credit Scoring System By : Rick Hendershot The three major consumer credit bureaus in the U.S. have recently created a new credit scoring system that will give financial institutions a more consistent evaluation of the credit worthiness of applicants. The three agencies -- Equifax, Experian and Transunion -- have introduced the new system called "VantageScore". The new scoring system will be used immediately for reporting to banks, lenders, and credit card companies, and will be available to consumers later in the year.
10). The Travails Of The Pros And Cons Of A Small Business Credit Card By : Sohel Katir For small business credit card getting a sense out of a deal is, in some instances, the most difficult thing to do. This is because most people could not instantly figure out the benefits they can derive from obtaining it. Take for example the case of small business credit card. Some people contend that business credit cards are crucial in the growth of a business, while other s contend that it is just one way of losing their investments.

New Credit Articles
1). Free Credit Reports, Where You Can Get Yours Today and Keep a Blazing Eye on Your Credit! By : Tom Jerico Everyone can get a free credit report. It is one of the most important things anyone can do to keep their credit in shape.
2). What You Need To Know About Legal Credit Repair Service By : Paul Johnson Legal credit repair service is a lucrative industry that is heavily based on making claims that suggest that they will be able to repair your credit without a hassle.
3). Chase Free Cash Rewards Visa Credit Card - Pros and Cons By : George Allen The Chase Free Cash RewardsSM Visa® Card, issued by Chase, is designed for those with very good credit who would like a card that offers a cash back reward program.
4). When Considering Credit Card Benefits, Are Reward Cards Really A Bargain? By : Gregg Hall Now credit card companies are using reward systems to get people to sign up for their card. For the consumer this is great. You can now get rewarded just for using your credit card that you were going to use anyway.
5). Can Your Repair Credit Yourself? By : Paul Johnson Many companies that want to make a good deal of money exchanging your credit information will advise you against repairing your own credit.
6). Get Your Free Credit Repair Help By : Paul Johnson At first glance, free credit repair help may seem too good to be true.
7). Newbie Credit Repair Advice By : Paul Johnson You have credit rights and they are likely being violated.
8). How your Credit Rating Affects your Credit Card Application By : Jon Francis When you apply for a credit card, one of the factors that come most into play in whether or not you are approved is your credit rating.
9). Credit Repair - Where to Start? By : Paul Johnson Getting started in your path to credit repair can be mind-numbing. Read on to take that numb right out of your mind and get your credit repair process started.
10). Paying The Price Of Credit Card Jumping By : Joseph Kenny Having a debt and paying no interest on it seems almost too good to be true. But many consumers use their credit cards to do just that. The process is known as rate surfing or credit card jumping.