The Benefits of Balance Transfer Credit Cards

By katie George | January 8, 2009 | Popularity: 1% (?)

Balance transfer credit cards can be a lifesaver for a person looking to get out of debt. Balance transfer credit cards allow the cardholder to transfer balances free of charge and provide low interest rates on the money that is transferred, helping the cardholder potentially save hundreds of dollars.

Balance Transfer Fees

Typically, credit cards charge balance transfer fees to transfer the balance from one credit card to another. These fees are usually a percentage of the total amount being transferred, which is generally 2-3% of the amount. In addition, there is usually a minimum on the amount of the fee, such as $5. Sometimes there is also a maximum, such as $75, but this is not always the case. As you can imagine, these costs can add up and basically negate the benefits of transferring the balance in the first place.

With balance transfer credit cards, these fees are waived. Depending on the card, these fees may only be waived for a certain period of time. Sometimes, balance transfers need to be initiated at the time of applying for the card in order to have the fees waived. With other cards, the balance transfer may need to be completed within the first six months or within the first year in order to be eligible for waived fees. Yet other cards never charge fees for balance transfers because they are more than happy to take on a debt and receive the subsequent finance charge payments. In fact, if you negotiate with a card that has balance transfer fees, you might be able to convince them to drop the fees. After all, allowing you to transfer your balance to their card does make money for the credit card company in the long run.

Finance Charges

Another obvious benefit of a balance transfer credit card is the low interest rates. The best balance transfer credit cards will have a 0.00% APR for the life of the balance of the transfer. This means you will not pay interest on the transferred balance – ever. Even after the interest rate goes up on other charges made to the credit card, your transferred balance remains interest free.

When comparing balance transfer credit cards, you need to take a close look at the interest rate. Some balance transfer credit cards offer the low interest rate for the life of the balance while others do not. Be sure to find out how the interest rate is determined after the introductory period is over. Also, make sure you are fully aware of what you need to do to be eligible for the low introductory rate. With some cards, the balance transfer needs to be initiated when applying for the card in order to be eligible for the lower interest rate. With other balance transfer credit cards, you have the luxury of transferring the balance any time during the introductory period, which generally lasts anywhere from a few months to a year.

Consolidating Debt

Another perk of balance transfer credit cards that many people fail to consider is the fact that you can consolidate your debt on these cards. Having all of your debt in one place makes it easier to keep track of your finances and make payments. In addition, you can save a great deal of money by putting all of your debts on one card with a low interest rate as opposed to having it spread out over several high interest cards. Just avoid the temptation to continuously open new accounts with balance transfer credit cards, as having a large number of open credit card accounts can reflect negatively on your credit rating.

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