Credit Card Balance Transfer offers??? ---- anyone got some input? ----

[user98511001541]

So this semester I dropped over $800 on books, and since my financial aide was late in arriving, this all went onto my credit card... yada yada yada, i need to find a good offer for a low APR balance transfer.

I dont want to transfer my entire balance, but I want to transfer 70-80 % of it. I used to get flooded with junk mail about this crap, but of course now when i really want to do it, i cant figure out which one to do.

Anyone have any experience with this? Last offer i saw was 3% initial transfer fee, and then 0% APR financing for 18 months, at which point the APR goes up to 15.99%.

thanks in advance!

[rizzog466]

How's your credit score?

[JC-orginalbdass]

Those are good deals, if you get approved. The main thing to remember is that if you are late even once during that initial low rate period, the rate will jump up to the higher rate. You have to be sure to be on time with your payments.

Also, some of them will charge a fee for transfering the balance. Make sure to read the fine print.

[Beejis60]

Those are general terms for 0% balance transfers, usually. The "regular" APR is based on your credit score, but 16% really isn't horrible, I suppose. I would look into doing that ASAP.

[_J-BONE_]

So this semester I dropped over $800 on books, and since my financial aide was late in arriving, this all went onto my credit card... yada yada yada, i need to find a good offer for a low APR balance transfer.

I dont want to transfer my entire balance, but I want to transfer 70-80 % of it. I used to get flooded with junk mail about this crap, but of course now when i really want to do it, i cant figure out which one to do.

Anyone have any experience with this? Last offer i saw was 3% initial transfer fee, and then 0% APR financing for 18 months, at which point the APR goes up to 15.99%.

thanks in advance!

I've done it before and they work really well if you need some extra time to pay off the bills.

BUT...depending on how many cards you have opened and when your last one was opened, opening a new account could bite into your credit score.

I've never paid interest on my credit card in the 3 years I've owned it(pay it in full every month) but 15.99 is not a bad rate.

[user98511001541]

How's your credit score?

720

Those are good deals, if you get approved. The main thing to remember is that if you are late even once during that initial low rate period, the rate will jump up to the higher rate. You have to be sure to be on time with your payments.

Also, some of them will charge a fee for transfering the balance. Make sure to read the fine print.

yeah i made one late payment on my current card (first in over 2 1/2 years, and yeah i called them and they said no they couldnt forgive me) and it jumped literally 10%

Those are general terms for 0% balance transfers, usually. The "regular" APR is based on your credit score, but 16% really isn't horrible, I suppose. I would look into doing that ASAP.

i figure i'd have it all paid off before the term was up, and then just keep the card with an extremely low balance

I've done it before and they work really well if you need some extra time to pay off the bills.

BUT...depending on how many cards you have opened and when your last one was opened, opening a new account could bite into your credit score.

I've never paid interest on my credit card in the 3 years I've owned it(pay it in full every month) but 15.99 is not a bad rate.

i have two credit cards open... one card i used from a retailer to buy my bigscreen tv (paid off in 3 months, keep it with a 10-25 dollar balance)

the other card is the one i've used too much that recently went from 12% to 22.99%... Taman how did you find the offer? I went on google and searched but a ton came up

[golfwolf]

there are sites, such as creditcards.com that allow you to compare all card offers and pick which one seems like the best to apply for. Most likely these days you'll have to pay a fee to trasfer the balance. It's usually 3% of the transfer amount, and some companies cap the fee and some leave it uncapped.

The most important thing is to make sure you never miss a payment, or your rate will get jacked up. Also card companies now look at payment history with other lenders, so if you exibit bad behavior with one issuer another can see that and still increase your rate. Also most importantly do not make a purchase with the card you transfer your balance to. Until the new proposed laws pass, your payments goes toward your lowest rate balances first.

For example if you transfer $1,000 at a 0% APR, but make a $200 purchase with a non promo rate of 14.99%. Everytime you make a payment it goes towards your $1,000 transfer until it's paid off. In the mean time you keep accruing interest on your $200 purchase.

[JC-orginalbdass]

720

Holy schneikies! I need to steal your i.d.

[_J-BONE_]

720



yeah i made one late payment on my current card (first in over 2 1/2 years, and yeah i called them and they said no they couldnt forgive me) and it jumped literally 10%





i figure i'd have it all paid off before the term was up, and then just keep the card with an extremely low balance



i have two credit cards open... one card i used from a retailer to buy my bigscreen tv (paid off in 3 months, keep it with a 10-25 dollar balance)

the other card is the one i've used too much that recently went from 12% to 22.99%... Taman how did you find the offer? I went on google and searched but a ton came up

With a 720 credit score, and only 2 cards open, you should be fine to open another if needed.

My very first offer came from Citibank when I had a Citicard Visa open. They wanted to offer me a Mastercard and threw out a great offer similar to yours about 6 months after I opened my card.

The second came from my bank- WaMu. They had just created a credit card line and were offering balance transfer specials. I find the best way is to search deals from your existing credit card company as they have a history with you and are more likely to open up offers.

Chase also has offered me deals in the past and I took up that offer once long ago. I've since whittled down my accounts but between the Jewelry stores and such, I've had about 8 accounts opened over a 4 year period.

My score is sitting at a pretty 824 right now though.

[fitnfirm]

Pool boy at my house earns $800.00 a day .......... Just sayin

[user98511001541]

there are sites, such as creditcards.com that allow you to compare all card offers and pick which one seems like the best to apply for. Most likely these days you'll have to pay a fee to trasfer the balance. It's usually 3% of the transfer amount, and some companies cap the fee and some leave it uncapped.

The most important thing is to make sure you never miss a payment, or your rate will get jacked up. Also card companies now look at payment history with other lenders, so if you exibit bad behavior with one issuer another can see that and still increase your rate. Also most importantly do not make a purchase with the card you transfer your balance to. Until the new proposed laws pass, your payments goes toward your lowest rate balances first.

For example if you transfer $1,000 at a 0% APR, but make a $200 purchase with a non promo rate of 14.99%. Everytime you make a payment it goes towards your $1,000 transfer until it's paid off. In the mean time you keep accruing interest on your $200 purchase.

yeah i knew most of that stuff... thanks though i appreciate it

Holy schneikies! I need to steal your i.d.

you wouldnt be the first to try

i get credit monitoring though and they are on top of it, well worth the $12.95 a month i pay for it

With a 720 credit score, and only 2 cards open, you should be fine to open another if needed.

My very first offer came from Citibank when I had a Citicard Visa open. They wanted to offer me a Mastercard and threw out a great offer similar to yours about 6 months after I opened my card.

The second came from my bank- WaMu. They had just created a credit card line and were offering balance transfer specials. I find the best way is to search deals from your existing credit card company as they have a history with you and are more likely to open up offers.

Chase also has offered me deals in the past and I took up that offer once long ago. I've since whittled down my accounts but between the Jewelry stores and such, I've had about 8 accounts opened over a 4 year period.

My score is sitting at a pretty 824 right now though.

very cool, i'll be browsing the chase website later today and my chase mastercard is the card i have the high balance on

[user98511001541]

Pool boy at my house earns $800.00 a day .......... Just sayin

i make money, i just want to KEEP money

[fitnfirm]

i make money, i just want to KEEP money

you fail at my trap NEGGED

[user98511001541]

you fail at my trap NEGGED

i'll still clean your pool

[Push Press Potts]

Pool boy at my house earns $800.00 a day .......... Just sayin

can i have a raise for the holidays?

[fitnfirm]

i'll still clean your pool

FINE


If you want a serious answer here it is :


If you can find one that meets your needs ( a new card ) make sure to read all the small print ! They reserve the right to raise the rate at ANY time, if they do this make sure it has the option to close the account and pay off the remaining balance at the same rate you applied for, you must each month read all the retarded stuff they send you in case there is a terms change ( they like to trick people ) and be prepared to send letter immediately that you are closing your account based on the terms change and will continue to pay it off at the rate in place at the time of the terms change.

And do not be late, no even one day, do not be late on any accounts as that could make you lose the special rate too.

You should set up automatic payments if you end up getting a new account, and have it pay the bill about 5-6 days before the due date, thats another trick, they like to change the due date so you will be a day late. If you do it enough in advance it will not matter.

[user98511001541]

FINE


If you want a serious answer here it is :


If you can find one that meets your needs ( a new card ) make sure to read all the small print ! They reserve the right to raise the rate at ANY time, if they do this make sure it has the option to close the account and pay off the remaining balance at the same rate you applied for, you must each month read all the retarded stuff they send you in case there is a terms change ( they like to trick people ) and be prepared to send letter immediately that you are closing your account based on the terms change and will continue to pay it off at the rate in place at the time of the terms change.

And do not be late, no even one day, do not be late on any accounts as that could make you lose the special rate too.

You should set up automatic payments if you end up getting a new account, and have it pay the bill about 5-6 days before the due date, thats another trick, they like to change the due date so you will be a day late. If you do it enough in advance it will not matter.

interesting, THOSE BASTARDS!!! there are so many freaking cards out there, seems like the basic offer I am finding is 0% APR on balance transfers for 12 months... and then a variable rate of 12% after that... but most likely the balance will be paid off by then, or damn near paid off.

k so i am applying for a CITI platinum select mastercard... 0% for 12 months, no annual fee, 3% transfer rate, variable rate of 7.49% after the 12 months

[user98511001541]

Thank you Alec Conrad. We have received your application and further processing is required at this time. We will contact you within a week via email regarding our decision. Thank you for requesting a Citi? Platinum Select? MasterCard?.

thanks for the help everyone!

[_J-BONE_]

Thank you Alec Conrad. We have received your application and further processing is required at this time. We will contact you within a week via email regarding our decision. Thank you for requesting a Citi? Platinum Select? MasterCard?.

thanks for the help everyone!

I'm pretty happy with Citi except they try and sell me some new balance/identity protection crap everytime I call for customer service..

[fitnfirm]

Thank you Alec Conrad. We have received your application and further processing is required at this time. We will contact you within a week via email regarding our decision. Thank you for requesting a Citi? Platinum Select? MasterCard?.

thanks for the help everyone!

this means you are declined, serious.

[user98511001541]

this means you are declined, serious.

really?

hmmm i'll see if they run my credit, i thought with 720 credit i'd be accepted for anything/everything

my credit monitoring is pretty quick, i should know in a few days if they soft hit appears

[fitnfirm]

really?

hmmm i'll see if they run my credit, i thought with 720 credit i'd be accepted for anything/everything

my credit monitoring is pretty quick, i should know in a few days if they soft hit appears

sorry . with times the way they are they will be crawling up peoples butt, I would think normally online a instant approval would be given. If they have to get more info, its a nice way of saying, your decline is in the mail.

I dont like citi bank, I would of chose a diff comp. what were your choices ?

[fitnfirm]

I would of went for the Blue https://www201.americanexpress.com/c...%2FS254V%2FQB8

[theshrink]

When I applied for a Citi card I also got the contact me in however many days message and got a card for 3,000 so I wouldn't necessarily take that as a denial.

[fitnfirm]

When I applied for a Citi card I also got the contact me in however many days message and got a card for 3,000 so I wouldn't necessarily take that as a denial.

If Im wrong he can neg me

[golfwolf]

When you apply for a card online, only a small percent are actually instantly approved (meet very strict criteria).

Losses for credit cards are the highest they've been in years and forecasted to increase even more. Credit card compainies have begun to use stricter approval processes as of late.

[user98511001541]

sorry . with times the way they are they will be crawling up peoples butt, I would think normally online a instant approval would be given. If they have to get more info, its a nice way of saying, your decline is in the mail.

I dont like citi bank, I would of chose a diff comp. what were your choices ?

there were a dozen i looked at, i chose the CITI one bc it was one of the few that offered 0% APR for balance transfers that required "good' credit and not 'excellent' credit

I would of went for the Blue https://www201.americanexpress.com/c...%2FS254V%2FQB8

if citi denies me, i will check this out

When I applied for a Citi card I also got the contact me in however many days message and got a card for 3,000 so I wouldn't necessarily take that as a denial.

okay cool

If Im wrong he can neg me

i'm gonna run a train on you if you're wrong!!!

When you apply for a card online, only a small percent are actually instantly approved (meet very strict criteria).

Losses for credit cards are the highest they've been in years and forecasted to increase even more. Credit card compainies have begun to use stricter approval processes as of late.

good to know, although lame haha

[bigguy29]

the interest you'd pay on a 800 dollar credit card balance is pretty small, even with a default 30% rate... a few dollars a month for you at 15%.

[TinyMan]

the interest you'd pay on a 800 dollar credit card balance is pretty small, even with a default 30% rate... a few dollars a month for you at 15%.

At 15% you're already looking at $120/month on an $800 debt, at 30% it's $240... no small chunk of change when you're already having trouble paying off the original $800. Now add how that interest compounds over the next few months, and it increases fast. It's definitely more than a few dollars a month.

[kwietone]

IMO, it's only $800. I'd just pay it off and try looking for another card with a lower interest rate. Or, you could simply call your credit card company to lower your rate. You can have them reevaluate your credit history to see, if they can. I tried that once, and they bumped it down from a percentage point. Yeah, it was only a percentage point, but my balance was over $5K. Do the math; that was a huge savings in interest charges.

Score doesn't solely determine whether you get approved for credit or not. They also look at your credit history, the ratio of balances to credit limits, and any other activity going on with your other credit cards.

Good luck!