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A Complete Guide on Credit Card Balance Transfer

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Summary: Worried about your credit card debt? Well, balance transfer is a good option, provided you know the ins and outs of the process. Credit card debt relief programs help you get to know the balance transfer process better.

Credit card relief program You can keep better track of your debt by transferring your balance from high interest credit cards to a lower interest one. This also facilitates paying off your debt faster. But most of the time there are hidden charges incurred during the transfer process which could make the deal turn costly for you. That’s why it is mandatory to understand the intricacies of credit card balance transfers before opting for one. Debt management experts recommend credit card relief programs as the best source for learning more.

Here are some tips on credit card balance transfers which will help you get the most out of your credit payment.

Check out the introductory rate duration Most credit cards offer introductory annual percentage rates (APRs) for balance transfers. But the offer is for a specific time period, and, once the period is over, you will be charged with normal interest rates. Hence credit card debt program experts recommend checking the validity of the introductory rate offer before you decide to go ahead with it.

Calculate the transfer fees Normally the savings from a credit card balance transfer are more than the cost of the transfer fee. But debt management experts still suggest that you calculate the transfer fees to ensure that it will be profitable for you. According to credit card relief program counselors, you are charged either with 4% of the transferred amount or a minimum of $10 as the balance transfer rate. Check if you can pocket more savings with this provision than with regular rates.

Build a solid credit score The low-rate balance transfer option depends on your credit score. The higher your score, the better chance you have for lower interest credit payoff. Do you know that 35% of your FICO score is based on your payment history? That’s why debt management experts suggest paying your monthly balance on time to strengthen your credit score.

Take advantage of a balance transfer Credit card balance transfers generally take around two weeks to complete. Here is a debt management strategy: don’t fall behind in your regular monthly debt payments during this period as it will compromise your credit score. A late fee of any sort can impact your credit score negatively, which could ultimately affect your balance transfer process.

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Consumers Could Pay More if the European Commission Caps Credit Card Fees

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The European Commission (EU) has threatened to cap the credit card processing charges that banks impose on businesses and shops. In turn, the banks have threatened to add higher fees and other charges onto cards used by consumers. When it all finally boils down, it’s likely that UK households will take another hit in their billfolds.

As it stands now, credit cards like MasterCard and Visa charge businesses a 0.9 percent charge on all credit card purchases. This credit card fee costs businesses 850 million annually. The charge in debit cards is 0.2 percent. The EU wants to set a flat service charge fee of 0.3 percent.

On further examination, this matter gets more complex. The fees that businesses pay to banks are known as interchange fees. These fees cover the bank’s costs of processing credit card transactions such as fraud insurance and administration. Shops and businesses give banks different interchange fees based on size. Big retailers generating tons of sales tend to pay a smaller interchange fee. A mom and pop store will pay a larger interchange fee. These fees can vary from 2.5 to 0.1 percent.

The European Commission (EC) estimates that this fee payment market has a value of 112 billion. The EC is laying out the argument that the credit card sector is expensive and fragmented. Retailers tend to agree with the EC opinion. The British Retail Consortium (BRC) has been hammering the EC for a decade to end what it calls excessive and anti-competitive fees for processing credit cards. The BRC argues that consumers will benefit via lower prices if the fees are capped. At present, retailers eat these fees and charge them back into the business.

“We’re delighted with this landmark proposal,” said Helen Dickinson, the BRC director. “Capping these excessive and anti-competitive fees will support the UK retail industry by 362 million a year, boosting the industry’s ability to invest and innovate while continuing to deliver lower prices and value for customers,” Dickinson added in an interview at Daily Mail.

MasterCard Europe contends that if this EC cap goes through, consumers will be hit with a 25 annual fee per credit card. Marion King, president of MasterCard, warned that lower fees will result in less income for issuing banks, and that will force banks to charge consumers for using cards.

The EC fee proposal will force credit card companies to separate their payment card schemes from the business division that processes transactions. Essentially, this would destroy the current credit card model. The Financial Times (FT) describes this matter as the final battle in the long war between EU bureaucrats and payment providers. The Commission proposal calls for a 0.2 percent cap on debit transactions. Credit card fees would be capped at 0.3 percent. The EC estimates that EU debit card fees will be cut to 2.5 billion from 4.8 billion. Credit card fees will tumble to 3.5 billion from 5.7 billion.

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