If your credit card interest rate is already too much for you to handle, there are four steps you can take to cut it down to a more manageable amount.
- Negotiate Only After You Do Your Homework
While it won’t work to just ask, remember that there is a big possibility that you need to negotiate if you want to lower your rate. Good thing that the odds are working in your favor here. Credit card issuers know how expensive it is for them to lose customers so you can get some room for negotiation if you use this knowledge to your advantage.
Before anything else, make sure the numbers are on your side. See to it that you know your current balances and the amount of interest you paid in the previous year for you explain why the insurer should give you better than the rate you have right now.
- Improve Your Chances
Majority of card issuers would do their best to keep their customers. If your history as a cardholder is a bit shaky, now might be the time for you to step back first and work to make yourself a more attractive customer in the eyes of issuers.
One of the factors that can increase your chances of scoring a lower credit card interest rate is none other than a strong credit score. Having a good credit indicates that you were responsible enough in managing your finances before and it is more likely that you will continue to do so even in the future. 670 or higher FICO score is regarded as good credit so try to aim for this score level or higher before asking for a better rate from your issuer.
- Call and Ask Your Issuer
Once you are ready for the negotiation and you are confident enough in your value as a customer, it is time for you to contact the customer service number you can find at the back of your card to discuss lowering your rate with a representative. Ask for the direct line and name of the representative in case you are disconnected.
Picking up that phone to make a call and requesting the company to lower their interest rate is one of the most important things that a lot of people don’t do these days. With the fierce competition among credit card issuers, taking this simple action might be all that it takes to get what you need.
- Make the Most Out of Other Options
If the issuer isn’t willing to cut down your interest, you might be better off by moving on to the next better option. Make sure you research all available choices to find the best one for you and your needs. Remember that credit cards are not made equal that is why it pays if you take your time in choosing a new credit card. You can use different online comparison tools so you can evaluate several credit cards at the same time based on the features you need or want.