AU expert on the pitfalls of transferring high-interest credit card debt

According to Lendingtree, Americans have more than $1 trillion in credit card debt, and the average American has around $6,500 in credit card debt. When you factor in the high interest that credit cards charge, it can be a daunting task to get the balance to zero.

Many cards offer 0% APR on balance transfers for certain lengths of time, but is it worth it if you don’t plan to pay off the entire balance during the promotional period?

Wendy Habegger, PhD, a senior lecturer in the James M. Hull College of Business at Augusta University, said people need to be careful when taking advantage of such offers.

“The benefit one would get in this situation is short-lived,” said Habegger. “While one might enjoy no interest for the promo period, when that period is over, the interest rate they are charged could be more than the credit card from which they transferred. My recommendation is that if one does a balance transfer, then only do so if you are able to pay off the balance before the period ends.”

Some may think of doing a second balance transfer, but Habegger said that is not a good idea and could have a negative impact on a person’s credit score. It also gives the appearance the customer is at increased risk of default, which could trigger an even higher interest rate and higher fees.

Not only may one incur higher rates, but it could also certainly impact their credit score, which can have a long-lasting financial impact.

Even a large purchase on a 0% APR card will affect someone’s credit score.

“A large purchase indirectly impacts one’s credit score based on credit utilization,” she said. “If one uses more than 30% credit utilization, it could impact credit scores.”