Learn How to Negotiate With Your Credit Card Company in Good Times and Bad
There are times when you may want to negotiate with your credit card company. Perhaps you’ve been shopping for the best rates and discovered that your company is on the high end of the spectrum. Or maybe you’ve fallen behind on your payments and need all the help you can get to lower your debt.
Either way, you’ll be glad to know that many credit card companies are open to negotiating.
These tips provide helpful information about negotiating with your credit card company. Your chances of getting more of what you want from your creditor are greater when you prepare ahead of time and have all the information you need in front of you.
Negotiating in Good Times
Follow these tips when you have a good credit score and you’re in good standing with the credit card company:
- Have all your information in front of you. Know your credit card number, balance, current interest rate, and the amount of your monthly payments.
- Speak clearly and calmly at all times. Avoid raising your voice with the person on the other end of the phone. If you have difficulty with them, ask to speak to their manager.
- Ask for the appropriate staff member. Speak with someone who has the authority to grant your request. For example, if you want to raise your credit limit, speak with someone who handles credit limits. If you want to lower your interest rate, speak with someone who is allowed to do that.
- Ask for special promotions. Since you’re a good customer, you can ask them if they can give you a promotion or extra points on your credit card. Credit card companies often give extra rewards to their good customers, so be sure to ask them.
- Request an interest rate decrease. When you have good credit and standing with the company, they may certainly consider lowering your interest rate. Do your homework to compare other credit cards beforehand and don’t be shy about letting them know if they charge more than the norm.
