Bad Credit Card offers

By deSita Anwarhee

Bad Credit Card. Most people receive more credit card offers than they can remember. These offers come in  brightly-printed text with extraordinary offers of low percentage rates. Whether it’s being pre- approved for $10,000, or the promise of earning free airline tickets, there’s always something that  lures us in.

Before applying for these offers, it’s important to know what they actually mean. Since usually  the offers are not as beneficial to the consumer as they appear and can be considered as bad credit card offers.

Introductory Offers Limitations

The main problem that people don’t notice about these deals is that they seem to be all well and  good. These offers that is printed in large type are typically only introductory offers that valid for a  set amount of time.

Many low introductory APRs are only for the amount that is transferred from other credit cards. It  is important to know if the lower interest rate is for any purchase that is made during the  introductory period or only for transferred balances.

Oftentimes 0% APR offered is only valid for 12 or 15 months. After that, the percentage rate goes  back to a normal rate that is usually based on a person’s credit rating. Cash advances also  usually do not get the same low introductory APR as purchases. If a cash advance is taken during  the introductory period, it is commonly subject to a higher percentage rate.

Terms and Conditions

The bottom line on introductory offers for credit cards is to understand what exactly the offer  entails. To get the best deal, you should know what the main terms mean.

APR (Annual Percentage Rate): Yearly percentage rate charged when a balance is held on a  credit card. This rate is applied each month that you carry a balance (the lower APR, the better).

Grace Period: A period of time during which you’re allowed to pay your credit card bill without  being charged for a late fee. This period is usually 10-28 days.

Annual Fee: Yearly fee associated with having the credit card. Unless you are getting rewards or  miles, or something extra, you may want to look for a card without an annual fee.

Default on Payment: Missing a payment, that also usually means that the introductory period  comes to an immediate end. The percentage rate for the total outstanding balance goes to a  default interest rate that is usually about 20%.

It is also important to note that these limitations on introductory rates do not necessarily make  them as a bad credit card offers. If a person is trying to pay off high interest credit card debt that  can be done within the time of the introductory APR, then it can be a very good thing.

Chek out our other credit card guide on Bad Credit Cards.