January 15, 2010
The Secret Behind How Credit Card Companies Apply Payments
You may not be aware that you have suitable defenses against credit card companies who adjust your payments according to their whims. Your assumption that your payment is being adjusted against your oldest dues is wrong.
Credit card companies are into this business to earn profits. They will always look for ways to maximize that. You may not be aware as to how they do it but you can ask for the details of how your payments are being adjusted. The credit card companies are legally bound to provide you with these details.
Your first clue in unraveling the complexities of your credit card payments is the “payment allocation provision”. This particular rule will not wholly enlighten you on the exhaustive tricks of credit card companies but you can dig in it to have a fair idea of how they assign payments.
This provision permits the credit card companies to adjust your payments against the charges and principal of the recent transaction or an old transaction or to be more precise, any transaction as they wish.
Since they charge different rates for cash advances and credit transactions, usually higher rates for cash advances, they adjust your payments against the lower interest credit transactions. By doing so, they can earn more from your higher rates.
Of course, they can legally do so but if you allow this to happen, it may take years for you to settle your credit card debts. The credit card companies can be asked to adjust your payments towards debts of your choice. In general, this facility is available to student loans and car loans.
You can take another conscious decision to transfer your higher interest credit card debts to a zero interest card, allowing you some leeway in terms of savings. Of course, this option is suitable only if you have made up your mind to eliminate your credit card debts. You should resolve never to add anymore to your zero interest card with additional purchases, which will definitely push you again into debt trap.
Credit card companies could be quite mysterious about this part of their operations and the only evident thing is that they have their eyes set on earning profits. It’ll behoove you well to come out of your credit card debts as quickly as possible so that you need not pay dreadfully high interests.
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