Managing credit card bills can be overwhelming, especially when balances start to grow. However, understanding your credit card bills and knowing where to get help can make a big difference in your financial well-being. Here’s an in-depth guide to help you navigate your credit card statements and explore your options for assistance.
Let’s Take A Closer Look At Those Credit Card Bills:
Current Charges (Transactions) –
This is a list of all the transactions that have occurred since your last statement (purchases, payments, credits, cash advances, and balance transfers). Some credit card companies group them by the type of transaction, while others list them by the date of the transaction or by the user if there are different users on the same account.
Previous Charges –
This area is for the charges or transactions that were not paid off in the past. These charges remain, and they need to be dealt with. Credit card companies must list the fees and interest charges separately on your monthly statement. Interest charges must be listed by type of transaction. For example, you may be charged a different interest rate for purchases than for cash advances.
For people who are struggling with credit card debt, this section may be the most expensive one of the entire credit card bill. Charges can stay on credit cards for years or decades to come if you don’t pay your bill in full every single month. Some individuals may get discouraged by this section because it makes it seem like getting out of debt is totally impossible and will never happen. If you have this feeling, then it’s time to get some help. Speak to a certified credit counselor at a non-profit credit counseling agency. The call is completely free and 100% confidential. They can break it all down for you and let you know about your debt relief options and what to do next.
Interest Rates –
Virtually all credit cards come with interest rates. Some may have a special introductory rate of 0%, but that will only last a short while (a few months if you’re lucky). Then, the true interest rate will start, and you’ll be charged accordingly. The interest is a percentage of the total debt that is added to the bill each and every month. People also tend to spend a significant portion of their money on interest rate charges.
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The higher the interest rate, the worse the credit card is because it carries a heavy risk of landing you in serious debt if it’s not paid off in full every month.
Depending on the amount of debt individuals have, it might be years before the majority of their payments start going toward the principal amount. Individuals who are struggling with credit card debt may want to call a credit counseling agency to see if they can help lower interest rates on their credit cards.
Fees –
Some credit cards charge exorbitant fees. These fees might come on a monthly basis, or users may have to pay them each year. They could also come with different types of transactions, which means they are included with every purchase. Finding credit cards without any fees is a possibility, but you’ll need a great to excellent credit score to be considered for one of those. Therefore, when individuals are starting to look into different credit cards, they should find ones that will not charge them an annual fee just for having the piece of plastic. The better your credit score is, the better deals and offers you will receive on some credit cards.
You may see fees such as an annual membership fee, late fees, over-the-limit fees, balance transfer fees, and cash advance fees. You want a credit card with the fewest fees at the lowest amount possible. Fees are another huge factor in debt problems.
Payments –
This section will include some previous payments that were made on the account. It may only show the most recent last payment, or it could show a few last payments. This section will most likely also include the total balance due, the minimum amount due, and the date your payment is due. A payment is usually considered to be on time if it’s received by 4 pm on the day that it’s due. However, every lender is different, so make sure you know exactly when your lender considers a payment to be on time. There may also be a late payment warning section close by. This section shows additional fees/penalties and the higher interest rate that may be charged if your payment is late.
Some people make small payments on their credit cards throughout the month. For example, they might want to try to make a payment before the interest charges hit for the month so they can reduce the amount on which they need to pay interest. These payments should be reflected on the bill. If they are not, people should call to find out if they were not processed or if they were somehow missed.
Does It Matter How Your Creditor Calculates Finance Charges? YES!
Take a look at this example of a credit card account and see if it would matter to you:
APR – 19.8%
The account started with a zero balance in the first month. The account holder then charged $1,000 and made the minimum payment. The next month, the account holder charged another $1,000 and then paid off the balance due.
Here’s how much you’ll pay in interest charges if your credit card company uses:
Average Daily Balance Method, including new purchases: $33.00
Average Daily Balance Method, excluding new purchases: $16.50
Two-Cycle Billing, including new purchases: $49.05
Two-Cycle Billing, excluding new purchases: $32.80
As you can see, the calculation method can cause the balance to vary widely. Since your finance charges are based upon your balance, you can end up paying a lot more for your credit because the balance calculation method takes more money out of your pocket.
Just what do those balance calculation method terms mean?
Average Daily Balance: The company averages your daily balance. Let’s say you charged $100 on the first day of September and $200 on the 16th. Your average daily balance would be $150. That number times roughly 1/12th of your annual percentage rate (APR) equals your monthly finance charge. Interest may be calculated on a daily or monthly basis. Most credit card companies take into account any new purchases made throughout the month.
Daily Balance: The credit card company calculates the actual balance you carry each day of the billing cycle, multiplies it by roughly 1/365th of your APR, and adds it together. Not many credit card companies use this calculation method.
Two-Cycle Balance: With the two-cycle method, the average daily balance is calculated from two billing cycles rather than one, and finance charges are typically higher than those of the average daily balance method. This method, in effect, wipes out the grace period for customers who carry a balance. If the bill is not paid in full at the first billing, interest becomes retroactive back to the purchase date. Most credit card issuers use the single-cycle average daily balance method to calculate finance charges.
Previous Balance: Your credit card bill will show your account’s beginning and ending balances. The finance charge is based on the outstanding balance at the beginning of the billing cycle.
How Credit Counseling Could Help You:
It’s important to use your credit wisely and appropriately to avoid any more problems. Successful credit counseling includes learning to be a better budgeter and keeping records of credit use and finance charges. Follow these suggestions:
- Reach out to a Non-Profit Credit Counseling agency like Advantage CCS for professional and expert advice on your options. We’re always here to help! Give us a call at 1-866-699-2227.
- Plan how to pay for an item before purchasing it rather than buying it now and worrying about it later.
- Track credit expenses by keeping a written record so you know how much you charge each month. Paperclip a piece of paper to your credit card and promptly write the date, amount, and merchant. This helps you not to overcharge and provides an easy reference when reviewing your statement for accuracy.
- Keep an eye on your creditors by always reading your statement and all inserts. Make sure you know your due date, credit limit, APR, annual fee, minimum monthly payment, APR for balance transfers or cash advances, etc. Creditors can change your terms of agreement with as little as 15 days’ notice. If you don’t agree with the new terms, consider canceling the account. Before canceling, find out if the company will expect the balance to be paid in full when the account is closed or if you can continue to make monthly payments until the balance is paid in full. Also, ask if the interest rate changes (increases) on the balance if you close the account. If so, wait until you pay off the balance before closing the account.
- Develop a system for paying bills on time to avoid late fees and protect your credit history. Know when bills are due to arrive, and when received, put them in a safe place. If your bill does not arrive when expected, call the company to inquire. Use a monthly calendar to write the amount on the due date, and mail your payment at least one week before the due date. Save credit receipts and payment stubs for future reference.
- Transfer high-interest balance to a card with a lower rate. Watch interest rates and always shop for the lowest rate, while paying close attention to any fees. Make sure there is not a transaction charge to transfer the balance.
- If you can’t pay off the balance, always pay more than the minimum payment. Do not fall prey to the minimum payment syndrome, which is when you squeak by each month by only making the minimum payments.
Take Control Of Your Credit Card Debt:
Dealing with credit card bills and debt can be stressful, but with the right strategies and support, you can take control of your finances. Start by understanding your credit card bills, exploring your options, and reaching out for help if needed. Remember, you don’t have to go through it alone—resources and assistance are available to guide you toward financial stability. A Non-Profit Credit Counseling Agency can help answer any questions you may have and help devise a game plan to get that debt paid off!
Conclusion –
Credit card bills contain an array of figures on them and can be very confusing at times. Individuals should make sure that they know what the different amounts represent so that they can have a greater sense of their current financial situation and keep themselves out of financial trouble. If you don’t know which balance calculation method your credit card company uses, call us at 1-866-699-2227 and ask to speak to one of our certified credit counselors. They will be more than happy to assist you!
