All About Balance Transfers
What is a balance transfer?
A balance transfer can be explained simply as a balance transfer! When a balance is transferred usually from a credit card, but possible from a bank account or loan to a credit card with a offer interest rate (usually 0%) for a set period. It does not have to be the entire amount. The card receiving the balance will an interest rate for a set term, normally 6 months, but can be 9 months or even a year. Take a look at the current balance transfer deals currently available at http://www.search4-credit-cards.co.uk/balance_transfers.html. This will give you a flavour of the typical kind of deal available.
Should I apply for a balance transfer?
It is important to remember that a balance transfer does not mean that the debt has gone away. It just means you are not paying interest on it. You will still have to maintain payments.
This may seem obvious but many people do not get this straight in their mind.
The basic criteria for getting a balance transfer is when you regularly have an outstanding balance after making your monthly payments. This is the amount you should look to transfer to another card. This will mean that for the period of the offer you will pay no interest on the balance (provided you make the minimum payments).
You should be very wary of taking up a balance transfer, if your overall debt is increasing. A balance transfer is not a green light to spend more money. The money you save should be used to decrease your debt.
What should I look for in a balance transfer?
You need to be aware of the following when looking for a balance transfer card
Good things
Length of offer period.
Offer Interest Rate.
The zero or low interest rate charged on the balance.
Possible transfers from loans and overdrafts.
On some cards you can transfer from existing loans and overdrafts and still get the offer.
Bad things
Cut-off period for the balance transfer offer.
Hidden Charges on transfers.
Some banks will charge a handling fee on the balance transfer.
How long the offer is valid for?
There is usually a cut off point from the account opening when the offer is no longer valid. Be very aware of this otherwise you could end up transferring a balance to a higher rate!!
What about new purchases?
Unless there is also a 0% interest rate on new purchases then you should avoid making new purchases on a balance transfer card. This is because the banks will look to reduce the balance transfer debt quicker than the new debt. Provided your credit history is reasonable, there is nothing stopping you having several cards for different purposes. A good way is to have a card, which specialises in 0% on new purchases (see http://www.search4-credit-cards.co.uk/purchase_apr.html) and another card for balance transfers.
What happens when the balance transfer period finishes?
When the balance transfer offer period finishes the debt will revert to the typical variable APR. The lenders hope at this point that the cardholder will retain the card and some of the debt, so they can then start charging interest and making some money! So take into consideration the low interest rate credit cards (http://www.search4-credit-cards.co.uk/low_apr.html). However, there is nothing stopping the disciplined credit card holder from switching to another balance transfer deal and closing the account. The cycle then starts again. Always allow 6 weeks to 8 weeks before the end of the offer period to apply for a new card. This means you can get the balance transferred to the new card before the lender can start charging the higher rate. You have to be organised to do this, but if you are it does work. People who regularly switch balances are know as card tarts.
The Golden Rules
There are three things to look out for with a balance transfer card
As mentioned previously, the unsuspecting can get caught out when spending on a balance transfer card.
Maintaining regular payments. If you miss a payment you incur some penalty, so be aware. To be safe set up a direct debit.
The interest rate applied when the offer period finishes.
Good luck with your choice.
About The Author
Neil Brown is a freelance financial journalist who regularly contributes to http://www.search4-credit-cards and http://www.chooseacreditcard.co.uk.
MORE RESOURCES:
 Reuters | Washington Mutual stock down on credit concerns Reuters - Citing the thrift's financial statements for the period ending June 30, Gimme Credit analyst Kathleen Shanley wrote that "many creditors have quietly been ... WaMu Drops Second Day as Gimme Credit Cites Liquidity Concern UPDATE: WaMu's Stock Down As Investor Confidence Drains WaMu spokesman: no need to rely on outside funding sources |
FCStone Group increases size of credit facilities Forbes, NY - AP 07.24.08, 3:55 PM ET FCStone Group Inc., a commodity risk management firm, said Thursday it has reached deals to increase the size of its credit ... FCStone increases credit lines Kansas City Business Journal FCStone Group, Inc. Announces Syndicated Margin Call Credit ... |
Credit-card firms investigate fraud at Canadian airport kiosks Computerworld, MA - By Jaikumar Vijayan July 24, 2008 (Computerworld) Low-cost Canadian airline WestJet has temporarily stopped the practice of allowing customers to use credit ... Does using your credit card to check-in expose you to fraud? Expert says it's not surprising airport kiosks possibly targeted ... Credit card fraud at Pearson International Aiport has people worried |
New state law ties amount of tax credit with the level of ... Newsday, NY - The legislation caps redevelopment tax credits and increases incentives for the cleanup of affected areas. While the Brownfield Cleanup Program was created ... |
Cicero gas station reports attempt to disrupt credit card system Chicago Tribune, United States - An operator of a Cicero gas station called police Tuesday after finding that two men had climbed the roof of the business to cover up a credit card ... Rooftop gas theft scheme foiled |
 Sify | Unsolicited credit card is no more your headache Sify, India - Had a bad credit card experience? Help is at hand. On Thursday, the Reserve Bank of India cracked the whip on credit card issuers by setting out some ... Credit cards get RBI boost RBI warns banks on credit card interest charges Stop excessive credit card charges: RBI |
 Wall Street Journal Blogs | Extra! Extra! Credit Concerns at New York Times! Wall Street Journal Blogs, NY - The NYT front page does not include a story about its credit default swaps. (nytimes.com) Shares of New York Times Co. are down 4%, but the newspaper ... Extra, Extra: New York Times (NYT) About To Get Downgraded To "Junk" |
Executive says bank has more than enough capital to endure credit ... MarketWatch - The company has been one of the harder-hit banks during the credit storm, but analysts said it has effectively boosted its capital reserves to protect ... |
 India Infoline.com | Asian Stocks Fall on Credit Concern; National Australia Slumps Bloomberg - ``Investors are out there thinking everything's fine and another bank comes out and increases its provision for credit-related losses. ... Asian Stocks Fall Most in Six Weeks on Credit, Profit Concerns Asian Stocks Fall on Credit Concern; National Australia Slumps Asian Stocks Gain for Fourth Day on Easing Oil, Credit Concerns |
Credit cards Superprime slime Economist, UK - As the credit boom reached its peak, the firm’s credit-card business was growing by a dizzying 20% or more a year, with younger consumers with scant track ... |
How A Prepaid Debit Card Can Help You Rebuild Your Credit
Consumers today are up to their eyeballs in debt. And many people don't realize it until their good credit has been devastated.
Applying for Credit Cards Online
In the olden days, about 10 years ago, before the internet, consumers would have to fill in applications for credit cards, loans, mortgages and so on by hand. It's hard to believe now, but this lengthy process was the norm, with requests for extra documentation and references going backwards and forwards, until finally the application was accepted or rejected.
Useful Tips On Avoiding Credit and Charge Card Fraud
Credit and charge card fraud costs cardholders and issuers hundreds of millions of dollars each year. While theft is the most obvious form of fraud, it can occur in other ways.
10 Tips To Prevent Credit Card Fraud
Imagine opening your credit card statement one morning and discovering to your horror that you suddenly owe thousands of dollars - on purchases that you never made.Impossible?Credit card fraud on the rise, so you need to treat your card and its information with extreme care.
My Credit Card Application Was Rejected! Now What?!?
No doubt, you've probably gotten literally hundreds of credit card applications in the mail and online, and each and every one of them has said that you've been "Pre-Approved".Of course it's natural that this would lead us to believe that the application process is simply a formality.
What You Should Know About Credit Counseling
Credit counseling is a free service that many people with money problems have turned to in the face of financial ruin. Credit counseling companies negotiate with your creditors to reach financial solutions that benefit both you and your creditors.
Trying to Land a Job? Poor Credit Scores May Hurt Your Chances
Many employers are now looking at an applicant's credit report for hiring purposes. During an interview process a potential employer may request your written consent to access your credit report.
New Credit Scoring Model Could Help Millions
Mark and Beth, a young married couple in their twenties, established a goal to buy a home within the first three years of their marriage before starting a family. They budgeted and used their money wisely in order to save for the down payment.
SuperCharged Secret 4, Credit Card Utopia
YOU SCRATCH MY BACK, AND I'LL BUY SOME MORE BEER!Let's just take a brief moment to recap:If you've been following along on this journey with me, learning the 5 Super-Charged secrets to Credit Card Utopia, then you now know 3 very important things:You now know how to take advantage of zero to low interest credit card offers.You now know that there is safety in numbers, and you know the magic "Who's Who" of the major credit card companies.
How Healthy Is Your Credit
There's only one way to discover the "health" of your credit. You need to examine your credit report.
Why Credit Cards are a Bad Idea
Credit cards are just so convenient, aren't they? There's no need to carry any money with you ever again: you can just take one with you to the shop and pay the exact amount just by handing it over. If you haven't been paid yet, then you don't need to worry, because the money will still be there.
Credit and Banking Money Saving Services
The first rule when applying for banking and credit services is to always read the fine print and to understand all of it. Read up, take it home, and analyze it, ask the banking manager questions.
Credit Card Debt: One Way To Avoid It
One of the biggest problems people have in these modern times is Credit card debt, and worst is USA. Simply because there have always been so many laws and regulations before you could have a card in the rest of the world, you can't for instance borrow someone elses card and go shopping because you always have to show some ID before they accept cards in Europe.
How To Choose Your Credit Card Application
The articles and tips provided on this site are intended to help you access credit card offers that suit your lifestyle. By providing you with some basic information, we are confident that you will be able to easily identify which are the best credit cards for you.
Getting Your Credit Report and Understanding Whats On It
If you intend to apply for a loan, you need to obtain your credit score. Understanding what this score means will allow you to make the loan process easier and quicker.
Stop Credit Card Offers
You can stop receiving credit card offers in the mail! It's really easy to do - just phone 1-888-567-8688 and follow the prompts and provide the requested information including Social Security number, date of birth, etc.Do this for every adult member of your household, including college students.
How to Get Credit Reporting Agencies to Help You
The process of clearing credit can be laborious and frustrating. Understanding your rights empowers you and saves you time and effort.
What is Credit Repair and How Can It Help You?
There are millions of consumer credit reports on file from mainly three major reporting bureaus which include Trans Union, Experian, and Equifax. These credit gathering agencies store huge amounts of data about every person that takes out a loan, credit card, or any other line of credit.
Special Credit Information for Married Couples
If you are married, establish separate credit accounts.Try to finance real estate in just one partner's name to increase your investment financing potential.
What Is a FICO Score and How Do I Make It Work for Me?
Whether or not you receive a loan and what interest rate you get on your credit card may be determined by something called a FICO score. Named for Fair, Isaac & Co.