Google
 

Wednesday, October 17, 2007

Zero Interest Credit Cards

There are many different types of credit cards to choose from including low interest, balance transfer, instant approval,reward, airline, corporate, prepaid, and even student credit cards. Obviously, you consider many factors when determining the best offer for you. Chief among these factors are all the different rates associated with each offer including the APR (annual percentage rate), the annual fee if there is one as well as other cardholder benefits.

Bear in mind

-Low interest credit cards have either a low APR or a low introductory APR. A low interest rate credit card can be a good choice for people who tend to either leave an outstanding balance on their credit cards or tend to pay their bills late.
- Low interest credit cards can also help save money by reducing interest and finance charges.
- Cardholders who tend to carry an outstanding balance on a credit card with a high interest rate may also benefit by applying for a low interest credit card for balance transfers. Simply put, with balance transfer credit cards, you can transfer a balance from an existing high interest credit card to a low 0% APR interest rate credit card.

Benefits that 0% cards should include

- There ought to be 0% introductory APR for at least the first 12 months and no annual fee. A typical example would be the HSBC Bank Platinum MasterCard
- special schemes like a rebate program, whereby cardholders earn a cash award that varies according to the amount spent annually. For instance, a cardholder may be awarded a 0.25% rebate for the first $1,000; 0.5% for amounts over $1,000 and up to $3,000; and 1.5% for purchases over $3,000 up to $10,000. An additional rebate may be added for any billing period in which the account carries a balance, so that only those who spend up to $10,000 a year and carry a balance will be able to take advantage of the 2% cash back rebate. A good example of this is the Chase Bank Cash Plus Visa
- If you have a good credit history, the introductory rate for purchases should be long-term, say 15 months.
- Look for benefits like purchase protection, smart card technology, discounts at certain merchants and retailers, a year-end financial statement, and various travel and emergency assistance services.
- Watch out for schemes like optional free rewards programs. For every dollar spent on your card, for example, you earn one point. Earned points can be applied to a variety of services and products. There is no yearly limit or expiration on points earned. As an example, Blue from American Express offers you this benefit. Looks like a good deal
- Several zero interest cards offer merchandise rewards on items such as toys, DVDs, clothing, jewelry, household items and gifts. You can also receive travel rewards on items such as theme park tickets, hotel stays, and cruises. Plus, of course, there will be 0% introductory APR for a certain period on card purchases and balance transfers.
- There are cards that offer a 0% introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers for up to 12 months, a high credit limit and no annual fees. You can also get a customized card with your business name plus online account management benefits
- Many card companies offer zero interest cards for those with "bad credit". So you can spend within limits and re-establish your credit. Usually, such cards do not run credit checks and avoid credit turndowns. There is also usually no application fee involved. Moreover, on-time payments are reported to one or more than one major credit bureaus on a regular basis.
- Other cards offer unsecured cash advance loans up to a certain amount. Along with that, there may be offers of "guaranteed emergency cash" that you never have to pay back, and guarantees of no turndowns, no annual fees and no credit checks
However, it is important to read the fine print before you make a decision, so that you aren't caught in a loophole later!

About the author:
Author - Marcus Grant Credit Card Debt
www.credit-cards-for-teens.net

Zero Percent Credit Cards

When searching for a 0 apr credit card, one with 0% annual percentage rate (apr) for a trial period, one of the best ways to find a good deal is to compare the credit card rate of several sites. One way to find reliable sites is to start with a bank credit card. Bank of America, Citibank, and many others offer endless resources online for credit card comparisons. You can find out annual fees, interest rates, balance transfer rates, and interest-free periods for each card to get the best credit card rate.

If you want to apply online for a 0 apr credit card, you will find the convenience of Internet shopping a great benefit. No need to wait for offers to arrive in the mail or to call various lenders for their current terms and policies. All the information you need is at your fingertips on the computer. The bank credit card offers should be up to date with current interest rates listed and all the policies and terms available to read online.

With new safety features, a bank credit card website is usually secure enough for your personal information that you must include on an application. But always look for the little gold lock symbol in the lower right hand corner of your computer screen to be sure that a site is secure before you enter anything on a form.
Applying online for the best credit card rate is great for people who don't have a credit history or who haven't established a good history. These people may not receive credit card offers in the mail and need a place to look for good deals.

Also, you can compare rates until you find that 0 apr credit card you're looking for. This type of card is great for balance transfers. You wind up with one payment instead of several each month, and you get a grace period of anywhere from six to twelve months during which you do not have to pay any interest on either your transferred balances or your new purchases.

But beware. Many lenders offer a 0 apr credit card as an incentive to get you signed up. Be sure to note when this trial period ends; usually after the rate rises you're stuck paying much higher interest than with most other cards. Remember that you can find a credit card that has lower interest after your trial period ends, so do not stop making notes about cards you like just because you have found your no interest card. You will need another one in less than a year usually.

Some no interest cards even come with cash back rewards. These cards give you a percentage of your purchase amount back each month. So you not only get no interest, but you earn points with every dollar you spend that you can use toward purchasing name brand merchandise, travel perks, and entertainment.
Overall, when looking for a 0 apr credit card or just trying to find the best credit card rate with your credit history,remember to keep trying until you find one that suits all your needs.

About the author: Thomas Ohlum is the owner of http://www.find-solid-credit.com a website providing information about credit card offers and finance aspects to consider when applying for a credit card.

Zero Percent Interest Credit Cards - How To Get Approved

Zero percent interest is a very attractive credit card feature that gains a lot of attention. Although credit cards have the potential of becoming a dangerous tool, they do have practical uses. For example, credit cards allow easy transactions when purchasing items online. Furthermore, credit cards are great to have when having cash flow problems. However, because of high interest rates, many consumers avoid using credit cards. Fortunately, there is a way to take advantage of credit cards without getting hit with a high interest rate.

What are Zero Percent Interest Credit Cards?

Perhaps you have seen a credit card offer featuring 0% percent interest. These types of credit cards are offered by several big name credit card lenders including Citi, Discover, and American Express. If you have good credit, a 0% interest credit card has many perks. Of course, the rate does not always remain at 0%. This is called an introductory rate. In other words, you can expect to pay 0% on all purchases for the first six or twelve months. At the conclusion of the interest-free period, applicants will pay a higher rate.

How to Get Approved for a Zero Percent Interest Credit Card

To get approved for a zero percent interest credit card, you must have good credit. Each lender has a different definition of good credit. Before applying for a zero percent interest credit card, contact the creditor and inquire about their credit approval guidelines. This way, you avoid unnecessary credit inquiries. Also, before submitting application, carefully read the terms of agreement. This section includes pertinent information such as late fees, over-the-limit-fees, penalties for late payments, etc. If acquiring a 0% interest credit card, do not submit late payments. By doing so, the creditor may immediately end the interest-free period. Moreover, being late on another credit account provides creditors just cause to end a 0% interest agreement.

Advantages of Zero Percent Interest Cards

Zero percent interest credit cards are ideal for financing large purchases in which you plan to payoff in a few short months. These cards are more practical than using high interest credit cards or obtaining a personal bank loan.

About the Author: Visit http://www.abcloanguide.com/creditcards.shtml for a list of zero interest credit card companies. View our recommended sources for Zero Interest Credit Cards online.

Source: www.isnare.com