OFFICIAL CREDIT INFORMATION
Fix your credit, bad credit, good credit, credit repair

Site Map
| Home
RichStevens.com | About Rich | Top 10 | Radio | TV & Film | Info Alert | Fun Stuff | Pictures
Elite Screen | Deals | Comments | Links

 


Negotiating Rates with Your Credit Card Company


Ok, let's face it, everybody hates high credit card rates, and they drain hard earned money out of your wallet. As a valued consumer, it is apparent that you learn how to negotiate to get the absolute best rate that you possibly can. The good news however is that it doesn't have to be a difficult or time-consuming process. In fact, it can be very easy indeed if you know what you're doing. In this article we will discuss the ins and outs of credit card negotiating to ensure that you get the best possible rate with the least amount of effort.

  • First and foremost, you should figure out if you even want to continue using your current credit card company ( http://www.the-credit-card-centre.co.uk/best-credit-cards.html ). Are you pleased with the overall service that you are receiving? Do you like their benefits? If the answer is yes then you can proceed. If not, you should stop reading this article and start looking for a better company.

  • Second, you should evaluate your paying history and make sure that it is positive before you call to negotiate. If it is positive then you have power and if it isn't then you'll be negotiating from a position of weakness and that might not be good. Instead, you should wait until it is more positive before you call them to negotiate rates.

  • Third, if you have a good history then remember this when you call. In essence, you'll have extremely high negotiating power. The company needs your business in order to be successful and with clients they lose big time. Therefore, you should always display this "take them or leave them attitude" while conducting your negotiations.

  • Draft up a script and memorize it. It can be as simple as "Hello, my name is Bill and I have been a cardholder for X years and I consistently pay my bills on a time. Well recently I have been receiving all types of credit card offers from XYZ bank indicating that I qualify for an extremely low interest rate of X and am considering leaving you and going there if you can't offer me a lower rate. Is this something that you can help me with?

  • Practice, practice and practice some more with your script until you are completely and totally used to it. Once you are, contact the company. Read your script and see what happens.

  • If you get a hard nose customer service representative then don't threaten her. Be agreeable and ask to speak to his/her supervisor. If that is not possible, be nice to her and try again she may have some leeway. If you like your present company, you can even try negotiating interest rates, annual and even those yucky late fees.

  • However, if you're fed up, have an alternative company in the wings, and your current company won't budge with their rates then be willing to take your business elsewhere. After all, you hold the power so don't be afraid to use it! They key however is to not bluff but to follow through with your threat. Close the account, ask for them to send you notification in the mail, cancel the credit card and use another card.

    In conclusion, you can be successful with the negotiating process if you follow the above mentioned tips. If your current company is unwilling to cooperate then you should simply take your business elsewhere. You're better off with another credit card company that values your savvy negotiating skills!

    About The Author

    Claire Bowes is a successful freelance writer and owner of The Credit Card Centre ( http://www.the-credit-card-centre.co.uk ) where you will find further advice and tips on the best credit card deals ( http://www.the-credit-card-centre.co.uk/best-credit-cards.html )and 0% credit cards ( http://www.the-credit-card-centre.co.uk/0%-credit-cards.html ).


    MORE RESOURCES:

    Telegraph.co.uk

    Citigroup Posts $2.5 Billion Loss on Write-Downs
    New York Times, United States - Jul 18, 2008
    By LOUISE STORY Hobbled by the credit crisis at home, Citigroup has limped through nine months in the red, reporting a $2.5 billion quarterly loss on Friday ...
    Credit Costs Weigh on Citigroup Wall Street Journal
    Citigroup credit default swaps narrow 15 bps-Phoenix Reuters
    Credit Costs Weigh on Citigroup Wall Street Journal Blogs
    Washington Post - Bloomberg
    all 515 news articles


    The Money Times

    Ackermann says credit crisis end in sight
    Financial Times, UK - Jul 17, 2008
    Josef Ackermann, Deutsche Bank’s chief executive, on Thursday said the credit crunch was at “the beginning of the end” as banks and regulators have taken ...
    2nd UPDATE: JPMorgan 2Q Net Down 53% On Credit Woes, Markdowns CNNMoney.com
    JP Morgan: The Legacy of the Credit Crunch Wall Street Journal Blogs
    Why No Outrage? Wall Street Journal
    Bloomberg - The Age
    all 514 news articles


    Studying up on credit scores
    Chicago Tribune, United States - 12 hours ago
    In matters of money, a credit score assesses your financial responsibility. And just as with taking your first practice test, your score may be low when you ...
    Given a Shovel, Digging Deeper Into Debt New York Times
    all 3 news articles


    Dollar Rebounds From Record Versus Euro as Credit Turmoil Eases
    Bloomberg - 14 hours ago
    The US currency also rose versus the yen on signs US investment banks will withstand credit-market losses and the Federal Reserve and the Treasury proposed ...


    BBC News

    Credit crisis: Merrill Lynch to sell Bloomberg stake and keep HQ after
    Tehran Times, Iran - 20 hours ago
    The loss was due to write-downs of $9.4bn on the value of mortgage holdings, credit-related derivatives and instruments guaranteed by crisis-hit monoline ...
    Merrill Drops After $4.65 Billion Second-Quarter Loss (Update2) Bloomberg
    Quarterly loss at Citi smaller than expected, but Merrill disappoints FinancialWeek (subscription)
    BlackRock shares soar on earnings, Merrill stake move Reuters
    Financial Times - Bloomberg
    all 646 news articles


    $10m W/Bank Credit: Boom time for small-scale mining
    The Punch, Nigeria - 15 minutes ago
    This was the scenario, which the World Bank set out to help Nigeria change in 2005 when it granted the country $120m credit under the Sustainable Management ...


    Mortgage sales pressure fuelling credit crisis: ACTU
    ABC Online, Australia - 2 hours ago
    The Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) has accused banks of fuelling the credit crisis by forcing staff to push mortgages onto people who cannot ...
    Banks 'pushing' families into debt The Australian
    Banks lean on staff to push loans The Age
    all 6 news articles


    No deals for debits at the pump
    Detroit Free Press, United States - 3 hours ago
    I would have paid the same price if I used a credit card. Bring the Benjamins and you'd get that super-low price -- OK, low by today's standards -- of ...
    Gas stations turning to using 'gift ABC12.com
    all 4 news articles


    Teton County development plagued by credit crunch
    Fox 12 Boise, ID - 9 hours ago
    Developer Bill Reid said a nationwide credit crunch prevented him from winning more financing for the 1350-acre Huntsman Springs project. ...


    Deals and takeovers are being done despite the credit crisis
    Telegraph.co.uk, United Kingdom - 3 hours ago
    So, tapping the credit market for a cool £10bn to finance the acquisition of companies such as Alliance Boots or J Sainsbury is simply out of the question ...

    Credit - Google News

  • Site Map | Home
    RichStevens.com | About Rich | Top 10 | Radio | TV & Film | Info Alert | Fun Stuff | Pictures
    Elite Screen | Deals | Comments | Links


    2006 RichStevens.com