There are a lot of "games" that credit card companies play that can really hurt you financially if you are not aware of them. By not knowing their "games", they continue to make money off of you, becoming richer and richer while you become poorer. How do they get you?

♦Interest Rates: the average interest rate right now is 13%. However, interest rates can vary from 0 to 40% annually.
-You can avoid these interest charges by paying off your
balance every month. Most companies have a 20-25 grace
period beyond the billing date.
♦Late Fees: Here's where credit card companies make most of their
revenue. It is nearly 1/3 of their revenue. Don't make them the extra money by making late payments
♦Teaser Offers: Regardless of what the introductory interest rate is, read the fine print. If you are late once, it will go to as high as 20% and even higher the second time your late. (also be careful of transfer fees)
♦Annual Fees: They can range from $0 to $2500. Depending on the card, you can ask for a waive.

You can always call the individual credit card companies.. and see if any "promotional" offers are going on... that has worked for me in the past

More games that the credit card companies will do.

They will take away the available credit on your account, reducing your total credit line to just more than your balance. This increases your debt-to-available credit ratio, which reduces your credit score, then gives them the right to raise your interest rate.

They will set a time of day that your payment is due on a due date, like 3 p.m., so if you mail your payment in time and it is received on the date due, but after 3 p.m., it is considered late and they will charge a late fee.

They will (those this is being restricted by new laws) change the due date on your bill without pointing it out to you. So if you are used to paying your bill on the 10th each month to have it in on the 15th, they'll change the due date to the 11th, so that it will come in late and you will get hit with a late fee.

Pay attention to your bill and call them on any irregularities.

there is always an offer for debtors as you just ask question..... just ask !

The best way to beat the card companies at their own game is to know how the money system works. What the card companies are doing is NOT lending you money - they don't have any to lend. What they are actually doing is converting YOUR private credit into "public funds," by converting your signed application (a debt instrument - note that you never actually sign the agreement) into "money" via the Federal Reserve. Without your "promisory note" there is NO money for the bank to access.

So - if you were to dispute the debt, and challenge the bank to show WHERE the "money" came from that they supposedly "lent" you - they couldn't do it. Think about it for a second. Banks are EXPERTS at tracking money and financial transactions - right? So IF they had "money" sitting in an account somewhere and they "lent" that "money" to you - there would be a record of the transfer and evidence of money exiting that account. But there is no account - there is no money there, and there was no loan. (If there was - they could prove injury with that evidence.) Just a conversion of your private credit which was put into the public via YOU using your credit card. In this system - if there are no debtors - there is no commerce! They NEED you to fulfill this function, and you are PAYING THEM to do it!

I know it sounds crazy - but just where do you think the money comes from that banks are lending (average credit card customer base is 60 million)? Challenging the card companies can be done - if you know what you are doing. Doesn't mean you will win if sued - but again - if you know what to ask and demand the "proof," your chances go up dramatically.

Good Lord, why play with these darn things. Pay off the credit cards. Build up a cash reserve. Then start building wealth.

Set goals and develop a plan, then execute the plan. If you need help, get a coach.

The best way to beat credit card companies at their game is by following a few simple rules. It involves getting used to learning how to save and pay cash without using your cards unless it is an extreme emergency. I know this might be a bit difficult for some but it sure is possible once you live by the rules and apply them to your day by day lifestyle.
One of my financial teachers once told us in class, "If you want to buy something but you don't have the cash for it and need a credit card to buy it, then you really can't afford it".
Credit card companies want your business and they will do everything by law to get you and feed off of you. We all at one point fall for these tricky games and end up paying for our misuse of credit cards for years till we learn how to live without the financial drain game.
I used to owe 30K due to ignorance and bad handling but I learned and have helped many by passing on what I was taught and catch up and gain their freedom once again.

I've got a great idea. Cut up your credit cards, close the accounts and don't use them. They hate that and you will prosper without them.

Banks are smiling when they hear that news.

The best way is to use only one card, and use it for emergency purposes only. And always pay on or before the due date.

Or better yet, pay off all cards and never use them.

play with snakes and get Bitten. "Dave Ramsey" I choose to never use one again.

I usually comfuse about the various functions that different credit cards offer. So i just use one credit card.

This has really been helpful and good advice! thank you all!

That will also kill your credit and not be very useful in the future.