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How to Take Advantage of Credit Card Balance Transfers

By: TaoCredit Staff Published: March 31, 2011

Credit card balance transfers can help individuals better manage their debt.  Balance transfer offers allow debt holders to transfer their standing debt to an account with better measures.  Before applying for a balance transfer offer, one should make sure the second card provider allows such actions and that the newer card has a high enough credit limit for you to transfer the complete balance. 

Balance transfers are typically offered to consumers in the form of balance transfer checks.  These checks can be used to make payments on existing credit card accounts.  Once the checks are cleared, the amount is accumulated to your new credit card balance.

Even thought the card provider may have already sent you the balance transfer checks in the mail, using them are still subject to approval by the company.  Various fees are also typically implemented to the credit card balance transfer offer.  These fees usually amount to approximately five percent of the balance being transferred.  Administration fees may also be added to some offers as well. 

A majority of individuals use balance transfer offers to take advantage of low introductory interest rates.  The promotional offers typically last for twelve months so it is important for individuals to plan to pay off the debt within this time.  After the promotional interest rate is over, drastic increases may be implemented.