Balance transfer credit cards can be an effective solution, properly used, for consolidating existing debts and avoiding a high APR on an existing card. However, customers should be aware of what to know before applying for a card, as well as what problems balance transfer cards will not solve. Customers should be aware of whether or not the balance transfer card’s introductory rate increases over time, canceling out the benefits of the balance transfer card offers in the first place. They should also be aware that previous bad credit history can complicate the use of a balance transfer credit card, and that only prudent overall financial habits in conjunction with occasional balance transfer use makes for a lasting solution.
Anyone who’s used a credit card for any period of time has likely found himself or herself faced at least once with the specter of debt: perhaps a paycheck doesn’t clear in time, a friend’s assistance fails to come through, a last-minute furniture sale attracts no customers. The outstanding balance is high, and an interest rate that at first seemed only theoretical (“I won’t have to worry about that,”...