0% APR Credit Cards: How Can They Do That? By: Ed Vegliante During the days when the federal bank interest rates were at its lowest, back in 2002 and 2003 to be specific, countless credit card providers offered 0% APR credit cards to many consumers. Needing only to pay the outstanding balance, smart consumers were able to charge up to their limits without incurring monthly interest charges. The question that some people were asking when these cards were at their peak of popularity was this: how do credit card providers make money off of this type of plan? Well, good question! Let’s examine 0% APR credit cards and the way they really work and if they are still available to you today. You just might be surprised at the answers! Annual Fees. Depending on the credit card provider, some card holders have been charged an annual fee for the privilege of having a 0% APR credit card. Annual fees for some of these cards generally run from $15 to $20, even higher. Late Fees. You would think that if customers had a 0% APR credit card that they would always pay them on time, right? Well, many do not. So, every time a payment is received late credit card providers would assess a late fee. With fees ranging from $19 to $39, that can add up especially if someone is habitually late. Default Rate. Oh, that 0% rate is nice on the surface. Read the “member’s agreement” and you will quickly learn that late payments will not only incur a fee, but a “default rate” would be charged bumping up the annual percentage rate to double digit figures on existing balances as well as on new charges! If you are late you can say, “bye, bye” to your 0% APR credit card in no time. Short Term Offer. 0% APR credit cards are still offered today. Almost always they are cards for new card holders that offer a 0% rate for a limited period of time, such as twelve months, before a higher rate kicks in, which usually is around 12%. Some cards will allow you to transfer existing credit card balances over to the new card and receive the 0% rate on transferred balances. What a great way to cut your costs and save money too! Don’t worry about credit card providers having difficulty making money even with low or 0% APR credit cards. Rates have since increased, in some cases dramatically, making it more difficult to find a low interest rate credit card. Still, great offers exist, but you must know where to find them. Searching online for your 0% APR credit card is a great way to quickly find and compare the best 0% APR offers available. Copyright 2006 Ed Vegliante. About the Author: Ed Vegliante runs the website http://www.credit-card-surplus.com, a directory enabling the consumer to compare and apply for a variety of credit card offers including 0% APR Credit Cards. View more Credit Card Articles.

Inside Finance Saving Money   Start saving money for the future. Making more money is easier said than done. Most people only get a salary increase that barely covers inflation and the increased cost of living. Add in the increased cost of healthcare, and many people actually have less money in their paycheck! Establish Credit   Let's discuss about how to establish your credit. In order to qualify for a credit card, you must me at least 18 years old (or 21, if you're a permanent resident of Puerto Rico). From then on, the rules get more complex and are subject to interpretation by credit card issuers. Risks - Mortgage Lenders Online   What are risks mortgage lenders face is been discussed in this article. Online high risk home mortgage lenders specialize in offering loans to people with adverse credit due to bankruptcy or other financial problems. By analyzing online quotes, you can find a reasonable mortgage loan even with poor credit. Loan approval is then just a matter of filling out your online application and reviewing some final paperwork. Debt Consolidation Loan   Let's discuss About debt consolidation loan. Unfortunately for too many, sooner or later reality sets in and when it does it hits them like a Category 5 hurricane and they wake up they realize (hopefully not too late) how deeply they've buried themselves in an oppressive amount of debt. And they also realize that they have absolutely nothing to fall back on in order to get themselves out. Boosting Your Credit Card Works You   Boosting your credit card, after that they works for you. Even relatively low cost essentials, such as a vacuum cleaner or television set, can be too expensive if a way of spreading the initial cost is not available. Borrow only what you can, and pay back the debt as quickly as possible.