Why are Zero Percent Credit Card Offers so Common?

By James Strathman

Zero percent credit card offers are consistently popping up in mailboxes all over the country. In fact, these types of credit card offers are so common that many households receive several offers from companies on a monthly basis! Has your child ever received one of these offers in the mail? Well, this is probably because the companies send out mass mailings in order to attract new customers.

Credit card companies extend these types of offers for a variety of reasons which include attracting potential business and gaining a new customer that will transfer a higher interest rate balances. More often than not, these offers are a successful advertisement and the company will gain new business. The customer gets to take advantage of a great interest rate and the creditor gets more money. It can be a win-win situation for both parties involved.

For anyone who owns a high interest credit card, these types of offers are very attractive. However, these offers also attract people who are considering applying for a credit card. Keep in mind that many of these zero percent interest rate offers end after an introductory period of time. The time frame for these introductory offers is generally between 3-6 months.

Consumers that use these credit cards on purchases should always attempt to pay off the total statement balance before the end of the promotional period. Typically, once the promotional period ends, the card then reverts to very high interest rates. After you do your research on the available zero percent credit card offers, you will more than likely only find a few that are truly reasonable. It is very important to pay attention to the details of the credit offer in question as balance transfer fees may apply.

Now that you have some general knowledge of zero percent credit cards, do you know when to use them? Well, if you are going to be financing a large purchase and intend to have it paid off within a few months, a zero percent credit card would be perfect to use. You will avoid accumulating interest charges on the purchase which will allow you to make direct payments towards the 'actual' cost of the purchase. If you wait to pay the purchase off, you will be paying more money over time due to the interest.

About the Author:

You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
Powered by Blogger