10 Secrets Banks Don't Want You to Know About Credit Cards
Military.com
- Interest Backdating. Most card issuers charge interest from the day a charge is posted to your account if you don't pay in full monthly. But, some charge interest from the date of purchase, days before they have even paid the store on your behalf!
- Two-Cycle Billing. Issuers which use this method of calculating interest, charge two months worth of interest for the first month you failed to pay off your total balance in full. This issue arises only when you switch from paying in full to carrying a balance from month to month.
- The Right to Setoff. If you have money on deposit at a bank, and also have your credit card there, you may have signed an agreement when you opened the deposit account which permits the bank to take those funds if you become delinquent on your credit card.
- Fees Are Negotiable. You may be paying up to $50 a year or more as an annual fee on your credit card. You may also be subject to finance charges of over 18%.
- Interest Rate Hikes Are Retroactive. If you sign up for a credit card with a low "teaser" rate, such as 7.9%, when the low rate period expires, your existing balance will likely be subject to the regular and substantially higher interest rate.
- Shortened Due Dates. Most card issuers offer a 25 day grace period in which to pay for new purchases without incurring finance charges. Some banks have shortened the grace period to 20 days--but only for customers who pay in full monthly.
- Eldiminating Grace Periods. That fabulous offer you received in the mail for a gold card with a $10,000 credit limit, and lots of features may not be so great. The most common "string" attached is the card has no grace period. You are charged interest on everything from the day you buy it, even if you pay on time.
- Disappearing Benefits. Many banks enticed you to sign up with extra benefits such as lifetime warranty, a 5% discount on all travel, or protection if an item purchased is lost. Now, some banks have cut back on these extras without the fanfare that launched them.
- Double Fees On Cash Advances. Most credit cards impose both finance charges and a transaction fee on cash advances. Interest starts from the day of the advance, and the transaction fee can be up to 2.5% of the amount taken. Beware of cards advertising "no finance charges." Transaction fees may still apply.
- Misleading Monthly Minimums. You may think it is beneficial to have a card where you only need to pay 2%-3% of your balance monthly. It is just the opposite. The bank stands to make far more money from finance charges the longer you carry out payments--and you foot the bill.
Remedy: Find another card issuer, or always pay your bill in full by the due date.
Remedy: Switch issuers or always pay your balance in full.
Remedy: Bank at separate institutions, or avoid delinquencies.
Remedy: If you are a good customer, the bank may be willing to drop the annual fee, and reduce the interest rate -- you only have to ask! Otherwise, you can switch issuers to a lower- priced card.
Remedy: Pay in full before the rate increase or close the account.
Remedy: Ask to go back to 25 days.
Remedy: Throw the offer out!
Remedy: Read annual disclosure of changes, and switch cards if need be.
Remedy: Limit cash advances.
Remedy: Pay all you can monthly.
