Balance Transfer Cards - An Introduction

By: Vishal S | Posted: 20th March 2006

Most credit cards offer the balance transfer facility. Balance transfer implies transferring the outstanding or balance amount payable on one credit card to another credit card with a lower interest rate. Before you go ahead and opt for a new credit card, solely because of the balance transfer facility, keep the following pointers in mind.


  • Low introductory rates on credit cards last anywhere between 6-12 months. Most of the major credit card companies have zero percent rates on balance transfers. However, one late payment is all the invitation your credit card company needs to increase the interest rates.


  • Some low-rate cards levy a transaction fee, to avail of the balance transfer facility. Run in the opposite direction (without the credit card being offered) when you hear of a transaction fee.


  • Ensure that your old credit card company has sent you a billing statement which states that you have cleared your outstanding balance. Make sure this tallies with the billing statement issued by your new credit card company, which confirms all the balance has indeed been transferred. Only then should you close your old credit line.


  • Keep making minimum payments on your old card, while availing of the balance transfer facility, which may take anywhere between 2-4 weeks. Do not make the mistake of not closing the credit line on your old card. You might succumb to the temptation of charging credit to your old card and will soon be left with 2 cards and very high debt.


  • Ensure that the rock bottom rate being offered is applicable to you also. Offers may boast of rock bottom rates, which shoot up by a large margin after an introductory period. You could qualify for a 5 percent initial rate which increases to 20% after 6 months. Some one else might qualify for a 4 percent initial rate that increases to 15 percent after 8 months. Drive a hard bargain for the best rate.



    Other Balance transfer credit card features include:


  • APR rate ranging between 9 - 11 %
  • Typically 3 other interest rates offered (Introductory, Monthly, and Annual). The Introductory rate is usually 0%, the monthly rate varies between 0. - 1.5 % percent, and the annual rate varies between 9-11%.
  • Minimum and Maximum credit limit
  • Cover against online fraud when purchasing on the Internet
  • Card replacement in case of loss
  • Customer service support 24/7/365.



    Inspite of the host of credit card related features on offer, the best protection against getting sucked into the whirlpool of credit card debt is to reform your spending habits. Make a keen distinction between needs and wants before your next purchase.



    Visit Smallbusiness-creditcard.com to get more information on credit cards and to compare features of balance transfer cards About the Author
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    Tags: temptation, pointers, transaction fee, credit cards, 12 months, interest rate, billing statement, introductory period, balance transfers, minimum payments, rock bottom, introductory rates, tallies, balance transfer credit card, zero percent, initial rate, rate cards, card features