Many cards offer a 0 % APR promotion, which can save new cardholders hundreds of dollars on interest
during the introductory period if they carry a balance or make a balance transfer.
Failure to pay them off
during the introductory period means that balances remaining after the introductory period expires will accrue interest at a new and usually much higher rate.
«In most cases, balance transfers represent an interest - free
loan during the introductory period, but if consumers use that relief to simply continue uncontrolled spending, they will easily get deeper in debt.»
Newsweek reports that some credit card issuers are lowering rates they
charge during introductory periods and extending the length of the introductory periods, which can vary from six months to a year or more.
During an introductory period of sixty days, there are $ 0 in balance transfer fees; afterwards, the rate reverts to the standard $ 5 or 5 % (whichever value is greater).
Just because you transferred your balance to a credit card that offers a zero percent interest rate for six months, that doesn't mean that you won't pay a much higher interest rate for purchases you
make during the introductory period.
The guidelines direct lenders to assess borrowers» ability to repay a loan not
just during the introductory period, when rates are at their lowest, but later in the loan term when the rate is fully indexed and fully amortizing.