If a consumer carries a balance on their credit card beyond a single billing cycle, they will be charged for it. This is called a finance charge and is associated with the APR on the consumer’s account. The amount charged will be affected by the card’s APR, how the card was used, and how much was charged. It is important to know that rates, even on Low Interest Credit Cards, vary according to how a credit card is used, so a new purchase will have a different APR than a cash advance or balance transfer.
Credit cards can be a bit overwhelming, and the fees associated with them are understood by very few people who use them. This can be dangerous can lead some people into a debt spiral that can be very difficult to get out of. Although creditors should be clearer when presenting their services, it is the consumer’s responsibility to do the necessary research before entering in to any kind of financial agreement. One of the more confusing aspects of credit cards is how interest is calculated.
The two most common methods of calculating credit card interest are:
The Two Cycle Average
The Average Daily Balance
The Two Cycle...