Tag Archives: interest rates

How To Change APR On Credit Cards

9 Mar

Many people who have credit cards often have the question as to how they can get their credit card company to change their annual percentage rate. This is an important aspect that adds up to your monthly credit card bills increasing a bit every month because this rate is added onto your balance at the end of every month. You can change the interest rate on your cards by asking your credit card company, however, before you just jump in and ask, you need to know a few things first.

For starters, you should do some research and find what the average interest rate is. If your annual interest rate is more than average, you have a better chance of getting your credit card company to change yours because of this. Especially, since it is the competition that is offering lower rates. Your current credit company does not want to lose your business, so in this instance that are willing to lower the annual percentage rate.

Your next step is to choose a rate that you believe would be appropriate. Remember, that the credit card will accept or deny this new rate based on your payment history with them. This means, if you have made consecutive payments and never or rarely have been late, they are more than likely going to agree. If you have a bad payment history with the credit card company do not expect them to change the rate.

Now, you need to call customer service and with your wanted rate in hand and the reasons why this change should be made, plead your case to the customer assistance person. Many times, these people are not authorized to make changes, if this is the case, then ask to speak to a manager. With the manager you need to plead your case once again. Remember to rely on the research concerning annual percentage interest rates that you have done and on your own payment history.

Many times, it will take more than one call to get the rate changed, this should be expected. In all reality, many people try for several months to get this performed. Once the credit card company agrees, make sure to check your statements to verify that the rate has been changed. If it hasn’t, you need to call customer service once again and ask why it hasn’t taken affect.

Changing your annual percentage rate is something that will benefit you greatly. However, do not expect the process to be fast nor easy because more times than not it is far from this.