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Credit cards make it easy to spend money and buy things that you would otherwise have to forgo until you have the cash. They’re a line of credit you have in your wallet that you can tap into at any moment. But, credit cards come at high rates of interest that increase your balance at an alarming rate if you don’t pay it off right away, and the interest rates can fluctuate when you least expect them to.
A little-known fact is that credit card companies will negotiate your interest rate, and you don’t need a third party to help you. All it takes is a phone call, patience, and willingness to keep asking or take “no” for an answer. Credit card companies want to keep you as a customer, provided you’ve been responsible for making payments, and they sometimes give their customer service agents some leeway to negotiate a lower interest rate.
Each credit card issuer is different when it comes how they handle a request for a lower interest rate. You may be required to keep up with your payments for a period of time before or after an interest rate reduction. Sometimes the company looks at how long you’ve been a customer and lowers your rate as a reward for loyalty. Do your research before you pick up the phone and call. The more you know about the process, the more likely your request will be granted. And if your request is denied, ask what you need to do to get that interest rate lowered. As always, if you are in the process of buying a home be sure to speak with your loan officer before opening, closing, or updating any lines of credit.
Source: Credit Karma
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