Wednesday, May 12, 2010

How to Lower the Credit Card Interest Rates?

Credit card interest rates are the price that you pay for your credit card balance. These interest rates are shown as APR (annual percentage rate). The credit card issuer gives you a grace period after your credit card purchase to pay off the full balance without getting interest charges.

The grace period consists of 20-30 days normally. If you fail to pay off the balance before the end of the grace period then you’ll get a finance charge on it. This finance charge is calculated by multiplying the interest rate with your balance. The resulting amount that is called the finance charge is added to your main balance and then you have to pay it. Interest rate and finance charge are directly proportional to each other such if you have high interest rates on your credit card balance then the finance charge will be higher too.

Reasons That Increase Credit Card Interest Rate

Your credit card interest can increase anytime even if you start with lower interest rates then there is no guarantee when it increases. There are several reasons that cause increase in credit card interest rates are: if you pay your payment late or after the determined limit then this will lead you to higher interest rates. Your creditor will increase the interest rates by applying the default interest rate on your balance. This nasty plenty can charge you more than 28%. Besides this various credit card agreements contain a universal default clause according to which your creditor can increase the interest at any time. The reason for this sudden increase in credit card interest could be any.

Your creditor informs you about the increase in interest rate before 15 days of this implementation. In this case you have two options, either you close your credit card or continue to pay the balance at lower interest rates. If you choose the second option then inform your creditor in black white before the end of the 15 days.

Credit cards such as department store or gas credit card scores contain higher interest rates. It is wise to pay off balances on such cards to avoid high finance charges. If you want to keep you credit card interest rates low then maintain a good credit score. This is because credit score is inversely proportional to the interest rates such as higher credit score will lead to lower credit card interest rates.

How to Get Lower Interest Rates?

To get lower interest rates the best suitable option is “ask your creditor”. But before asking your creditor, make sure that you have paid off your balance on time and haven’t exceeded from the paying off limit. This step will lead you to the lower credit card interest rates. Contact your creditor and ask him that you want lower credit card interest rates. Don’t forget to tell them that you’ve been receiving lower credit card interest rates offers and you could use these offers if your rates are not lowered by the current creditor. Use a polite way and be determined.

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