Only two out of three credit card customers pay their balances off every month, paying more than they should (and could). If youre one of them, do not despair; with a credit card balance transfer you could easily do a balance transfer and save! If you recently made a big purchase but you cant possibly make your payment on time, try using a balance transfer credit card that would allow you to you could save a lot of money transferring your balance to other balance transfer credit cards that will allow a very low or even a 0% APR on balance transfers.

Sounds confusing? Not at all! Heres how this can be done. You fill out an application for a new balance transfer credit card; enter your other credit card accounts and the amount you want transferred from the old account to the new one. Your balance switches accounts, and your interest costs plummet. Generally, you will have up to a year to pay this balance off with a zero percent (or very low) interest rate.

Some other traditional credit cards will even offer a low interest rate over the lifetime of the balance until its paid off. If you are not sure if you could pay the whole balance in the prearranged zero-interest time-frame, this may seem to be a better option for you. But, using balance transfer credit cards would never be a risk if you plan effectively in advance for balance transfers and, in turn, will help you to save a lot more!

A balance transfer credit card would prove to be a great advantage if you have several cards with outstanding balances. Balance transfer credit cards permit you to do credit card balance transfers all into one account, and pay zero interest for the introductory months. Here are some things you should know, however, before you take the leap.

1. You should end up with a smaller payment amount.
Balance transfers would allow you to bring your interest costs way down, allowing you to make monthly payments, eliminating your debt gradually over the zero interest period.

2. A balance transfer does not mean debt elimination
NEVER regard balance transfer credit cards to be the answer to all your prayers; it is NOT a way to run away from debts! If you are not able to pay off your balance in full during the introductory period, you may be charged interest on the entire amount of the consolidation, which would prove to be much, much more.
Be sure you check the terms and conditions of the card you apply for. Also, some customers see the new credit cards (or the newly paid-off old cards) as free money, and they continue to spend on them, with the result that they will have just as much debt as they did when they started plus the balance on their new balance transfer credit cards. Yikes!

3. Transfer at the right time
If you transfer a balance from a card right before the finance charge is accrued and calculated for that month, you will get almost a months free of interest expense. If the balance transfer is done before the interest and finance fees get placed on your statement, you should not have to pay those costs!

4. Cutting back = GOOD; Overspending = BAD
Some credit card companies will charge substantial over limit fees if you go over your assigned credit limit. A balance transfer credit card can give you some wiggle room if you have emergency expenses. Transferring high balances to new accounts can avoid these fees.

5. How do credit card balance transfers really work?

A credit card balance transfer is just like making any charge on your other credit card accounts. The difference is that the debt obligation moves from one credit card issuer to another, rather than from your credit card to a retailer. When one credit card is debited, the other is credited. Make sure you research your options, so that you know the balance transfer steps for the cards that you are using. It may be good to contact your existing creditors to find out if there are specific requirements on their cards regarding balance transfers. Sometimes companies make this a difficult process to navigate so make sure that you are absolutely clear about how the process works for each specific balance transfer offer.

As long as you use your balance transfers in the right way, it can be an excellent tool for financial management in difficult times.

Credit card debt can push people over the edge and cause them to do things they wouldnt normally do. They dont see any light at the end of the tunnel and resort to desperate means to try to fix their credit problem.

Amount of debt determines, in part, how stressed and desperate a person is as a result of financial problems. However, what caused the debts and how one deals with these financial obligations tells more than amount of debt about a persons reliability, trustworthiness, and judgment.

If a person is not at fault for the financial problems and is dealing with them in a reasonable manner, security concern is substantially alleviated. On the other hand, debts caused by irresponsible or impulsive behavior or by gambling, alcohol abuse or drug abuse are a serious concern. A person who is irresponsible in fulfilling financial obligations may be irresponsible in fulfilling other obligations, such as following the rules for protecting classified information.

Financial stress is common among a large segment of the population. Many immature young persons go through a period of difficulty adjusting to the temptations of easy credit. Most people with financial difficulties do not view crime as an appropriate means of solving their problems, but the few who do are a serious concern. Of recent spies who betrayed their country for money, about half were motivated by some real or perceived urgent financial need, and about half by personal greed. Greedy individuals often have a compulsive need for money or goods as a measure of success or as a source of self-esteem, influence, power, or control.

Financial problems can cause people to resort to the extreme. This has happened numerous times in the military and government. An individual gets into debt and resorts to stealing military or trade secrets and sells them to other governments for fast cash. Most don’t receive enough to pay their bills, continue to provide the information, and eventually get caught and imprisoned.

If you have reached what you think is the end of your rope, dont take such drastic actions. There are ways to get out of debt and it starts with getting organized, creating and sticking to a budget, and chipping away at the debt little by little.

Your financial problems will not be resolved over night. But, with persistence, you can get out trouble.

Credit card companies nowadays offer business credit cards with lucrative schemes. A study of these credit card companies reveals that using these cards is advantageous for you in many ways. To begin with, compare business credit cards and you will soon realize how you can use them to save money.

Business credit cards come with a comparatively low APR (Annual Percent Rate), starting at around 8%. A standard business credit card also comes with an introductory period of 0% APR. With most cards providing a quarterly and annual balance summary, they serve as good tools to balance business expenditures efficiently. Some cards reward the users with offers like free frequent flier miles, that directly help a business. You can reduce your business specific expenses by choosing the right card.

Compare Business Credit Cards

Companies offering business credit cards prominently advertise different schemes. These schemes:
* Earn Points- These points can be used at different vendor locations for buying supplies.
* No Spending Limit- Cardholders often enjoy this facility because here, they are not bound by any purchase limits.
* Low Interest Rates- This allows business owners to pay only a nominal interest rate fee.
* Flexible Pay Back This saves the business owners the worry of paying the balance on their business credit cards.

Advantages of a Business Credit Card

There are several advantages of owning such cards:
* Business users are offered flexible credit limits. Thus, business owners have enough time to consolidate their cash and sustain the business. Extra credit provided to the users is required to be paid by the end of the fixed term giving them ample opportunity to stabilize their business.
* Business credit card holders get relevant rewards like frequent flyer airline miles, cash back incentives or free hotel accommodation. Other benefits include 0% APR in the initial period, nil annual fees; lower APR rates and discounts on purchases.
* Expense reports generated by business credit cards provide the business owners with the facility of keeping a record of personal and business expenditures. Employers can track the expenses of their employees and some corporations are even allowed to group rate discounts on their business credit card which are further passed on as employer benefits.
* Bad credit can be dealt with efficiently by paying the outstanding balances promptly in time, thus avoiding huge debts. Business cards users should maintain a good credit record for gaining larger credit limits in the future
* Such cards have made business travel easier. Businesspersons dont need to carry cash for paying their travel expenses.
Business owners enjoy the benefits of the incentives offered by the credit card companies. Hence, they need to choose the best business credit card among the whole lot of credit cards available in the e-market. If a credit card offers huge travel incentives, but the user does not need to travel at all then such a credit card fails in fulfilling the needs of the business owner. Choosing a card that efficiently fits all their business needs is an important decision.

Incentives offered by credit card companies are myriad. Users should compare various credit cards and their incentives and carefully select a card that best suits their needs. This plays a crucial role in to developing strong and long-lasting business associations and reputation.

Tips for Selecting Cards

Select and compare business credit cards that offer long-term and low interest rates. Choose those cards that offer such low rates for the whole life of the business card.
* Confirm the duration for which the lower interest rates are applicable.
* Compare various cards and determine which one meets your needs. Cards with an introductory 0.00% APR can, however, be great for a business owner that anticipates being able to pay the balance in full every month after the introductory period is over. Search for cards that have a no limit on their cash back program. Some cards allow business owners to pay back their debt over a period time or pay off their balance in full.

In summary, while hunting for a business credit card that satisfies your needs, first study the different companies offers rates and benefits that suit your business. Search for sites that provide competent comparisons of the various credit cards. Best business cards are those which satisfy your business specific needs at a lower APR for a longer duration. Business credit cards have made many business specific activities easier due to the incentives given by the issuers.

Credit card debt has been an ongoing problem ever since the credit card was created in 1950. People were going into debt at an astounding rate. It wasn’t very long before the people were in so much debt that they couldn’t possibly pay it all back.

The federal government noticed that Americans were in over their heads. So they invented a plan and called it “Credit Counseling”. Credit counseling was created as a means for the average American to find out what steps he could take in order to relieve his debt. The credit counseling companies were supposed to set up a payback plan that would get the average American out of debt within 10-15 years. This plan failed miserably.

Nobody has ever gotten out of debt using a credit counseling plan. In fact, those that joined the plan found themselves in the same amount of debt 10 years later. Credit counseling had failed. So the federal government steps in again.

The federal government paved the way for debt consolidation companies to join the mix. Debt consolidation allows you to take out a loan, using your equity, to join all of your debt into one lump-sum loan with one payment. Sounds great right? WRONG!

Debt consolidation allows you to take out a loan against your equity to pay for a non-equity debt. Sounds great at first, until you miss a payment. Now you’ve lost your house. You used your credit cards to buy non-equity items, and now you’ve lost your equity to pay these things off. You’ve given everything you had to become debt-free, and now you have nothing, but your debt still exists.

The debt problem in America is ongoing to this day, and has gradually gotten worse. It seems that nobody has a way to help. It seems that nobody is able to clear your debt. And now, with the new bankruptcy laws in place, you are in even more trouble trying to become debt-free. So what is the answer?

DEBT SETTLEMENT! You have the option of choosing a debt settlement company to settle your debts for you. This option provides debt relief like no other program can. Instead of paying 100% of your debt total and running the risk of losing your equity, you can now pay about half that amount and not have to worry about the difference.

Credit card companies are very aware of the debt problem in America. They know that nobody is able to pay back these debt accounts. They also realize that if they don’t collect any money, then they will go broke. They need to be able to collect payments to stay in business. With the debt problem being so big, they have to take a few cuts in order to help resolve the problem.

Debt settlement companies settle your unsecured debt (credit card debt) for a fraction of the total debt amount. For example, if you owe $20,000 to a creditor, then a debt settlement company will offer $10,000 to pay that debt off without owing the other $10,000.

Credit card companies are reluctant to take this type of offer if they think that they can collect the whole amount. They use “scare tactics” to try to get consumers to pay in full. They will threaten to take your house, your car, your kids, and garnish your wages. These are all smoke and mirror threats, but they don’t want you to know that.

A debt settlement company intervenes and works directly with the creditors, taking the calls for you. They are not scared by these tactics, and they know how to respond to them. That is how they are able to settle your debt for a fraction of the debt amount.

If you need to contact a debt settlement company that will fight for your right to become debt-free, then see www.superiordebtrelief.com for more information.

Balance transfer credit car offers have been a popular means of literally transferring a balance from one credit card to the next. The primary reason that someone would enact a balance transfer is so that he or she could obtain a lower interest rate than his or her current credit card offers. Balance transfers are relatively easy moves, provided that you find a balance transfer credit card that can accept you into the lucrative balance transfer program at a lower rate than your current company. There are a few essential items that you should know about balance transfers before you begin the process and “join the wave”.

What Is a Balance Transfer?

A balance transfer is a simple strategy that many people use in order to obtain the most appealing interest rate. Quite literally, a credit card balance transfer requires that you take the balance on your current credit card and roll it into a balance transfer credit card program with a competing credit card company. It is important to note that while many credit card companies offer appealing balance transfer credit cards, you should first ensure that you are eligible to perform a balance transfer and lock in at a low rate before you initiate the procedure. If you have a low credit score, you may not find a credit card company that will offer a balance transfer credit card to you until your score increases.

How Balance Transfers Effect Your Credit Score

Whether you think it’s fair or not, if you frequently switch from one balance transfer credit card program to the next, you will not proceed unnoticed. Credit card companies will eventually catch on to your migrant tendencies and thus, decrease your credit score and increase the available rate for you. Therefore, if you are a chain user of balance transfer credit cards, you run the risk of negatively effecting your credit score in the long-run. Credit card companies will be weary of an individual that has a history of performing balance transfers, and therefore, may lock you into a higher interest rate to ensure that they do not lose money by taking you on as a client.

When Not to Initiate a Balance Transfer

If you are lucky enough to be locked in with a credit card company at a good interest rate, then it is a bad idea to engage in a balance transfer. Like any other balance transfer, a credit card balance transfer will most likely clear your credit card account with your original company and, thus, lock you into a relationship with a new credit card company. That new company may raise your rates to a level that is higher than your previous company after the initial low interest rate trial period. Therefore, before you initiate a balance transfer, it is important that you read the fine print on the company offering the balance transfer credit cards.

It can feel like finding a pot of gold when you find a balance transfer credit card that offers a low interest rate and other incentives to encourage you to make the switch. However, as with anytime you engage in a balance transfer, it is essential that you do ample research into exactly what the new credit card provides. Chances are good that any company that offers balance transfer credit cards is using the tried-and-true credit card balance transfer strategy to get a quick influx of clients. Educate yourself so that you can make an informed decision about your own balance transfer possibilities.

Do you have a hard time paying your credit card bills? Starting to get notices from waiting creditors to pay? Worried that you might lose your properties like your house because of credit debt? Chin up: Dealing with credit card debt is not as hard as you may think.

If there’s any consolation, you’re not the only one facing such situation. At some point, many people like you face financial crises with credit card debt. But you must remember that your financial situation doesn’t mean it should go straight to the dogs, making it worse than as it is.

Here are some tips to help you cope with your credit card debt:

Make a Budget. If you want to have a grab of your financial situation before you lose everything, making a budget is what you should do first. Assess how much do you get from your income or other means and your expenditures. For example, if getting that posh apartment means you have to limit your meals to once a day, then it is not a great and sound budgeting decision. Your goal is ensure that you can answer for all the basic necessities: food, housing, clothes, health-related costs, among others.

Contacting Your Creditors. Remember: Running away from your creditors is not the answer. It is not a solution, and may in fact lead you to bigger problems. If you are having trouble paying off your debts, address this immediately with your creditors. State to them sincerely and fully the reason why it has become hard for you to pay these debts, and check if they could give you a revised payment arrangement that will put you at ease on your payment terms. Do not let creditors turn over your situation to someone or an agency to do the collecting for them, as this means that they have given up on you.

How to address Debt Collectors. There is a law that gives certain conditions for debt collectors as to when and how they should ask you to pay. The federal law, Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, clearly states that those collecting debts may not bug you, give false assertions, or do practices that are not fair when they are getting to collect money from you.

Credit Counseling. You could also consider getting the aid of groups or institutions that will help you in your problems. If you managed to have an improved payment arrangement of your debt with a good credit counseling organization, creditors may approve of your proposition and accept your modified arrangement plan..

Bankruptcy. Generally, personal bankruptcy is known as the last choice to fix your ballooning credit debt. A bankruptcy unfortunately stays on your financial information report for years. Getting additional credit, buying a house, sometimes even getting a job might be hard for you. Technically, however, it is a legal way of addressing your credit debt.

Airlines Credit Card Guidelines to Choose the Right Card

An airlines credit card earns credits or points whenever the card is used. Simple enough, right? Choosing the airline card will not be difficult, if you travel frequently with a certain airline. If you use various airlines, then it is wise to select the airline cards that give more flexibility in its redemption and reward system. The bottom line is that, in most instances, an airlines credit card is very well suited for frequent business travelers.

Since selecting the right airline card is an important task, you need to ask yourself some preliminary questions before considering an airline credit card.

1. Which is the airline you frequently fly or prefer to fly?
The first question is to determine your most frequented airline. If you prefer to travel by a selected carrier, it is better to check whether they have their own airline credit card. Since most of the airlines today have partnered with credit card companies, the chances are that they will have their own card. However, if you tend to fly by the cheapest or easily available carrier at the time of your travel, you will have to consider an airline card that offers greater flexibility. Some cards have alliance partnerships with various airlines, offering greater flexibility to you.

2. What is the frequency of your air travel per year?
These cards are based on a point accumulation system with the accumulated points expiring after a certain period. If you are not a frequent flyer, then you may not benefit from these cards, as you will not be accumulating enough points to earn reduced or free travel. Conversely, if you are a frequent flyer, then ensure that the card you have chosen has no blackout dates and no cap or limit on the number of points that can be earned.

3. What are the benefits versus fees on the card?
In general, airline cards have high interest rates and annual fees. It is important to evaluate the annual fees paid versus the reduced or free mile travel earned per year. An airlines credit card is not attractive if the annual fee is more than what you will earn as free or reduced travel. In addition, you could be paying hefty finance charges, if you are not able to pay the balance on the card in full every month. In which case, it is better to choose a credit card with a low interest rate and no frills attached than the rewards program.

It is important to research the number of points required to accumulate in order to qualify for free air travel. To get maximum benefits from your airlines card, you should also consider the following points prior to making the choice:

4. Flexibility of the Card – Your card has to be flexible to be used in many places including restaurants and shopping malls. Points are added everytime you make a purchase using the card but sometimes certain purchases add more points.

5. Cap on Accumulated Points – Most cards have a cap on the number of points that can be accumulated. If you are a frequent flyer, it is better to read this fine print. Most of these cards have rewards based on predetermined level of points.

6. Redemption Criteria – Mostly during peak travel season, airlines and hotels do not encourage redemption of miles or use of free or reduced travel pricing.

7. Annual Fees – It is essential to do a cost benefit analysis on the various airlines credit card offers before selecting one. If you do not travel a great deal, it is better to go for a card with lower annual fees and a modest rewards program. If you are a frequent flyer, you can choose one with higher annual fees and benefit from the unlimited travel rewards that are possible.

8. Other Services – Certain cards give travel insurance and discounts on car rental and hotels. Some also provide cash advances in emergencies. You have to compare various cards on these to get the best one suited to your lifestyle.

Competition in the market forces credit card and airline companies to frequently change their Airlines card product offering. However, it is recommended that once the right Airline card is chosen, it be not changed unless there are huge benefits in doing so. If you consider signing up for an Airlines credit card, it is better take informed decision based on long-term benefit, rather than be carried away by the marketing and promotional gimmicks of these companies.

If you’re one of those people who like to “charge it” to their plastic, chances are you’ve piled up a mountain of debt. And like most people who have spent their way into a financial corner, are probably don’t have the money to pay off your debt.

Credit card debt is a serious problem – a problem that won’t just simply go away on its own. Unfortunately, many people compound their financial problems by doing just that – ignoring it, because it’s such a scary and humbling experience to face it head on.

This is unfortunately a bad thing considering that people who are in debt need to snap back to their senses and assess whatever it is that they’ve still going for them and be ready to face their debt no matter how overwhelming a problem it appears to be.

Ok, it’s time to get real and face the cold, hard reality that you’ve stumbled a bit and now it’s time to pick up the pieces. Not fun, but the sooner you start the sooner the oppressive weight of debt can be lifted from you life and you can go back to living again.

Clearly, the first step is stop using your credit cards to buy stuff. Give them a rest for goodness sakes, exercise a little discipline and go back to only buying stuff you can afford, which of course translates into paying for things the old-fashioned way – with cash.

Surrendering your credit cards won’t be easy, especially for shopaholics like yourself, but then again if you would simply remind yourself that if you don’t do something soon you debt will balloon out of control and before you know it you’ll be filing for bankruptcy. It’s like the old car commercial that talked about getting your oil changed and doing a little preventive maintenance. The tag line was something like: “you can pay me now or pay me later” with the clear implication that you exercise a little discipline now (preventive maintenance) or pay me later (a much costlier bill like a new engine).

On the other hand, excessively high credit card debt, no matter how much it actually is, is not the end of the world – although it feels like it. A lot of people who have had the same problem have been given a second “financial” life after they stopped irresponsibly using credit cards. Of course, they also put in the effort to setup a budget and prioritized paying off their and changed their spending habits to better reflect their income and most importantly – they did something completely foreign – they started to actually spend less than they made. So you see, all is definitely not lost but it will take some effort.

Once you decide to start taking financial responsibility it’s time to take action. Be friendly with your creditors and by friendly I mean asking for their advice on how you can restructure your debt into a plan that you can actually afford without having to starve yourself for years and don’t be afraid to ask for a big reduction in the interest you’re being charged and a little “forgiveness” in the amount of debt you owe – 50% reduction is good target.

Knowing that you’re actually interested in taking responsibility for your credit card debt shows a lot of maturity on your part and your creditors will most probably be more than happy to help you out because 50% of whatever you owe at a lower interest rate is better than the hope of getting 100% of nothing – as in you filing for bankruptcy. Not that bankruptcy will eliminate all your debt, it won’t but this is not only a hassle for you it’s also a big hassle for your creditors.

Although your creditors won’t give you the money to pay for your credit card debt, they can educate you in what you really need to know about fixing your finances: From learning how to discipline yourself from overspending, having a monthly budget as well keeping track of one’s expenses is extremely important. If you don’t know these things it’s nearly impossible to exhibit proper financial responsibility and to bit the bullet and make the necessary changes.

Once you’ve finally been given a fresh start with regards to your financial life, don’t even think of falling back to your same old habits ever again. If your job doesn’t let you enjoy some of life’s luxuries then you better make a choice between having a lifestyle change or finding a better paying job or getting a second job. You have to make sure that your income, no matter how much it is, is more than you’re spending.

Remember, credit cards are not the problem; it’s your lack of discipline. Learn to exercise discipline and having a credit card or two is not a bad idea. Just be sure to payoff the balances each month and only use them as an alternative to always having to carry around a bunch of cash.

At one time, there were not many airline credit cards available for you to choose from. The first of the airline miles credit cards was the Citi AAdvantage MasterCard, which is still available today. Though this card had plenty to offer, it wasn’t necessarily the best airline credit card for everyone.

The Evolution of Airline Credit Cards

Over time, airline miles credit cards began to evolve. Soon after the Citi AAdvantage MasterCard hit the market, the United Airlines Mileage Plus card was offered by through a partnership with United Airlines. Shortly after, Continental Airlines followed suit with the Continental Airlines World MasterCard. These leaders in the airline miles credit card industry started what has become a widespread credit card option for frequent travelers.

Partnering with Airlines

The partnerships formed between credit card companies and airlines put a new face on airline credit cards. Today, there are just as many airline credit cards to choose from as there are airlines. The majority of these airline credit cards pretty much the same, though the subtle nuances can vary from card to card. With all of these cards, the miles you earn are good for use with just the airline named on the card. The only exception to this is if the airline has sister companies. In this case, the miles may be good with the sister airlines as well.

Generic Airline Credit Cards

In addition to the vast number of airline credit cards that are formed in partnership with airlines, there are many generic credit cards. In this case, the word “generic” doesn’t stand for off brand or low quality. Rather, these cards allow you to earn airline miles that you can use with any airline of your choice. Usually, these cards work by assigning each airline mile a monetary value, usually 1 or 2 cents per mile. You can then use these miles to purchase a ticket through the credit card company that the company has acquired from the airline at a discounted price.

With generic airline credit cards, you are provided far more freedom in deciding which airline to use. This allows you to select the airline that is running a flight at the time and location that is best for you. It also allows you to take advantage of market fluctuations in ticket prices from one airline to the next.

Additional Perks

In addition to the number of miles it takes to earn free travel with airline credit cards, you should consider the additional perks offered. For example, so airline credit cards only provide special discounts for air travel. On the other hand, some cards allow you to redeem your points for other travel related necessities, such as car rentals, cruises, hotel stays, and vacation packages.

You should also pay attention to the special incentives offered by airline miles credit cards. Some allow you to earn bonus miles through certain purchases. For example, you might be able to earn bonus miles with a credit card that has partnered with a specific airline if you make purchases from that airline on the credit card.

In addition to incentives, some airline credit cards provide sign up bonuses. It is fairly common for an airline credit card to offer 5,000 bonus miles after using the card for the first time. The Gold Delta Skymiles Credit Card and American Express Credit Cards offer 10,000 bonus miles. Of course, you need to look out for how many miles it takes to earn a free ticket. The average number of miles needed with airline credit cards is 25,000, but you should always read all of the fine print first before making a decision.

There are a number of balance transfer credit card facts and myths that are important to be cleared up. Understanding these facts and myths will help you to better keep your finances under control.

Myth: I can get arrested for continually transferring my credit card balances.

Legally, you can transfer your credit card balances as often as you want. So long as you are making your payments and not attempting to defraud your lender, the law does not concern itself with how you choose to handle you finances. It is, however, a bad practice to continually move your balance transfer credit card to another. This is because, in order to do this, you need to open up several credit card accounts. When it comes to your credit rating, having a large number of open accounts can lead to a bad credit rating.

Credit cards utilize what is known as “revolving credit.” This credit is different from something such as a car payment, which is paid back in installments. Too much available revolving credit puts you in the high-risk category. The basic thought process behind this is that it would be too easy for you to acquire a great deal of revolving credit, use it all up, and then default on your payments. Therefore, using balance transfer credit cards to consolidate bills one time is a good idea, but it shouldn’t be a routine practice.

Myth: The best balance transfer credit cards have a 0.00% APR.

While it is true that the best balance transfer credit cards should offer a 0.00% APR, there are more factors to consider when choosing the best card. For starters, you need to learn more about this special APR. Do you need to complete the balance transfer at the time of application in order to qualify for the 0.00% APR, or do you have a window of time during which you make transfers? Does the 0.00% APR last for the lifetime of the balance transfer, or will it rise to an above average APR within a few months? Does the balance transfer credit card offer other benefits, such as travel insurance and fraud protection? Does the card offer a low APR for purchases, as well, or is it best to use the balance transfer credit card only for transfers?

Myth: Balance transfer credit cards are the key to getting out of debt.

While balance transfer credit cards can assist you in taking control of your debt, they should not be considered your primary means of getting out of debt. Instead, you should look at the balance transfer credit card as one tool in your tool belt of obtaining financial freedom. You can consolidate all of your higher interest rate credit cards onto one balance transfer credit card, thereby paying less in finance charges. It also makes it easier for you to keep track of your debts and your bills because all of your payments will be made to just one credit card. Nonetheless, it takes responsibility, diligence, and proper planning to get out of debt – not just getting a balance transfer credit card.

Myth: Balance transfer credit cards are hard to find.

Many people mistakenly believe it is difficult to find a great balance transfer credit card, but this is not true. Many credit card companies offer special introductory rates in order to entice people to apply to their card. After all, the more money you transfer to their card, the more money they can potentially make on the finance charges you have to pay. In fact, you might even be able to make a card you currently have into a balance transfer credit card by calling the credit card company and asking them if they would be willing to give you a special deal. Many companies will waive fees and lower interest rates to keep you with them.