For Pennsylvania consumers with heavy credit card debt, using a balance transfer credit card to pay it off may seem enticing. Often, companies that offer these cards charge no interest on transferred balances for a certain amount of time. So, for those who qualify for balance transfer credit cards, switching over seems like the perfect solution. After all, if they’re paying 16% interest (the national average) or more, 0% sounds pretty good. Yet, most studies show that Pennsylvania consumers with credit card debt seldom benefit from balance transfer schemes. Of course, opting for a balance transfer credit card can work out in your favor. But only if you take a very disciplined approach.
Why Pennsylvania Consumers Fail to Eliminate Credit Card Debt with Balance Transfer Credit Cards
First and foremost, most consumers in Pennsylvania who sign up for balance transfer credit cards receive 0% interest rates for 6-18 months. Therefore, if your motivation for transferring your balances is paying them off, you have 6-18 months to eliminate your debt. Unfortunately, after the introductory period ends, interest rates go up. In fact, the “regular” interest rate on many of these credit cards is higher than the national average rate of 16%.
So, unless credit card users in Pennsylvania attack transferred balances vigorously and pay them off quickly, they end up right where they started. Namely, they’re still paying interest charges on high credit card balances. Granted, some Pennsylvania consumers try to continuously transfer credit card balances. After a promotion ends, they look for a new balance transfer credit card that comes with a 0% interest offer.
Yet, these credit cards normally come with fairly strict requirements, and issuers only accept applicants with good or excellent credit scores. 30% of your credit score is based on credit utilization. So, high credit card balances often cause credit scores to drop over time. Therefore, at a certain point, many consumers in Pennsylvania with heavy credit card debt no longer qualify for balance transfer credit cards.
Alternative Solutions for Pennsylvania Consumers with Heavy Credit Card Debt and Damaged Credit Scores
Pennsylvania consumers with heavy credit card debt and good credit scores may benefit from debt consolidation loans. On the other hand, those with poor credit scores may do well with debt management programs or credit counseling. Or, indebted Pennsylvanians might opt to clear their credit card debts on their own through careful budgeting.
Those who choose a DIY approach normally have more success if they pick a strategy. One such strategy is the “snowball method.” Here, consumers pay off their smallest credit card balances first. Another approach is called the “avalanche method.” This plan requires Pennsylvania credit card users to pay off their credit cards with the highest interest rates first.
How Pennsylvania Consumers Can Protect Improving Credit Scores by Checking their Credit Reports
Finally, all consumers in Pennsylvania should keep close tabs on their credit reports. Both building up and paying down high credit card balances requires a lot of credit report activity. This, unfortunately, means that creditors and the credit bureaus have more opportunities to mishandle and misreport your information.
In fact, about 80% of Pennsylvania credit reports contain flaws of some type. Also, many of these errors are significant enough to harm credit scores. So, protect your improving credit score by checking your credit reports for inaccuracies at least once every 12 months. Under the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACTA), this is how frequently you may request free copies of your credit reports from the three major credit bureaus.
Just go to www.annualcreditreport.com, and get your free annual credit reports from TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian. Then, while reviewing your credit reports, if you find that mistakes and errors have harmed your credit score, contact Credit Repair Lawyers of America in Pennsylvania. Then, our team of credit pros will connect you with an experienced credit attorney who will do whatever it takes to get you clean credit reports for FREE.
The Free and Legal way to Get Better Credit in Pennsylvania
Don’t let errors on your credit reports bring your credit score down. At Credit Repair Lawyers of America, we’ve been cleaning up credit reports for consumers since 2008 for free. How do we do it? The law allows us to collect our fees and costs from the defendants in any successful action. This is why our clients pay nothing for the work we do.
Let’s start the conversation about what we can do for your credit. Set up your free consultation today by calling Attorney Gary Nitzkin at (856) 912-3511 or sending him a message through our contact page.
For more information about Free Credit Repair, please visit https://creditrepairlawyersam.com/pennsylvania/credit-repair/.
