Discover Debt Freedom!

Get Out of Debt and into Wealth

Maintain Good Credit To Enjoy Low Interest Rates

Written by Toi Williams on Mar 31st, 2011 | Filed under: credit score

Many people enjoy the credit perks that are available to them due to having a good credit history and credit score.  One of the biggest perks of having an exceptional credit history are the low interest rates that many of the major lenders will offer to people whose credit rating is better than average.  Low interest rates have the ability to save the credit card holder a great deal of money over time.

How Are Interest Rates Determined?

The interest rates that a person is expected to pay for their credit is determined by the company that is issuing the credit card or lending agreement.  The company that is extending the credit generally looks at several items to determine eligibility for their credit products; the person’s credit history, the person’s credit score, the amount of income that the person earns annually, and the balance between how much credit the person has available and how much credit the person has used.  By taking all of these items into account, the credit card company can determine whether you are eligible for credit from their company and what the interest rates for that credit should be.

Different credit card companies can offer the same person different interest rates based on looking at the same information.  Some credit card companies will be attempting to attract new credit card customers, so they may be willing to offer you lower interest rates in order to entice you to sign up with them for their products.  Other companies offer reduced interest rates to the people that have used their products for a long period of time and have a positive payment history with the company.

How Can I Maintain My Credit?

There are several different things that a person should do to ensure that their credit history remains in good standing and they remain qualified for low interest rates.  In order to enjoy credit perks that come along with a good credit history, the person must maintain their credit history by making all of their payments for their bills and credit accounts on time all of the time.  A single missed or late payment on any of your credit card accounts can have the ability to raise the interest rates to the default rate, often more than 20%.

Another thing that people should do to ensure that they qualify for the lowest interest rates possible is to resist maxing out their credit cards.  Credit card companies and other creditors look at the amount of credit that a person has versus the amount of credit that the person has used to help them determine whether the person is using their credit responsibly.  If the person has maxed out their credit cards or are only paying the minimum payment for the cards, the credit card company may feel like the person may enjoy credit using too much and will not want to offer the person reduced interest rates or any additional credit at all.


Related Content:
  • Get Hold Of Website Design In Adelaide For Your Business People may believe that managing your own business may appear easy, but in reality, it isn't. Many things could change the way your site functions. Among those things is the layout and style of your website. The design of your website is important because this will symbolize your business. Therefore,......
  • How to Improve Your Credit Rating This article was written by Andreas Nicolaides, a personal finance author for Money Supermarket. As a result of the current economic climate, borrowing money has become extremely difficult, and to improve your chance of being approved for credit and not needing to take out a cash advance, you need to......
  • Working your Way out of a Bad Credit Situation If you are struggling with bad credit, take some comfort in the fact you are not alone. Recent statistics suggest that 25% of all Americans are in a bad credit situation. Do not despair though, as there are many ways you can rebuild your credit score. Using a credit card......
  • How Credit Repair Now Can Save You A Lot Of Money Later. Credit repair is a hot topic these days – largely because it is a crucial element of overall financial health. Without maintaining good credit, you are not only likely at the mercy of lenders should you ever need financing, you are also guaranteed to spend more money than a consumer......
  • What is a Secured Credit Card? If you have poor credit, or less than perfect credit, you may be excited by offers in the mail for credit cards that appear to be designed specifically for you. They promise no credit checks, excellent interest rates, no annual fees, and if you have bad credit, it's ok! But......

Comments are closed.