CC Balance Transfer Question...

thawolfman

Lifer
Dec 9, 2001
11,107
0
76
Looking to transfer a ~$2500 balance off of a 17% APR Discover Card to save myself some cash...

My question - Does the balance transfer cancel that account completely or just pay off the balance?

Still undecided on what other card to go for, but that's another thread ;)

thx :thumbsup:
 

DAGTA

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
8,172
1
0
It just pays the balance, your Discover Card account will still be open.
 

Cerpin Taxt

Lifer
Feb 23, 2005
11,940
542
126
If you reduce the balance to zero, you will incur no finance charges, but the account will remain open. If there are any annual fees associated with that account, you will still be required to pay them.

You can take an additional step and close the account once you have reduced the balance to zero. If I am not mistaken, however, it may be better for your credit to leave the account open, and make some small purchases with it every once in a while that you can pay off every month.
 

thawolfman

Lifer
Dec 9, 2001
11,107
0
76
Originally posted by: Garth
If you reduce the balance to zero, you will incur no finance charges, but the account will remain open. If there are any annual fees associated with that account, you will still be required to pay them.

You can take an additional step and close the account once you have reduced the balance to zero. If I am not mistaken, however, it may be better for your credit to leave the account open, and make some small purchases with it every once in a while that you can pay off every month.

Yeah, I'm almost positive that there's no annual fee.

And that's pretty much why I asked - I'd like to leave it open as I have a $9000 limit that I don't want to close :)
 

DaWhim

Lifer
Feb 3, 2003
12,985
1
81
balance transfer is person A will pay for your balance with discover, but you will have to pay that person A.
 

RossMAN

Grand Nagus
Feb 24, 2000
79,047
445
136
Originally posted by: thawolfman
Originally posted by: Garth
If you reduce the balance to zero, you will incur no finance charges, but the account will remain open. If there are any annual fees associated with that account, you will still be required to pay them.

You can take an additional step and close the account once you have reduced the balance to zero. If I am not mistaken, however, it may be better for your credit to leave the account open, and make some small purchases with it every once in a while that you can pay off every month.

Yeah, I'm almost positive that there's no annual fee.

And that's pretty much why I asked - I'd like to leave it open as I have a $9000 limit that I don't want to close :)

Read the fine print, there may be two other loopholes:

1) Some balance transfer offers have a transaction fee of 3% or $75, whichever is higher.

2) Requiring a purchase first, I've had one like this. First you make a regular purchase, immediately send in a payment, then you initiate the balance transfer request. I've only ever encountered this once and think it's a pretty rare stipulation.
 

thawolfman

Lifer
Dec 9, 2001
11,107
0
76
Originally posted by: RossMAN
Originally posted by: thawolfman
Originally posted by: Garth
If you reduce the balance to zero, you will incur no finance charges, but the account will remain open. If there are any annual fees associated with that account, you will still be required to pay them.

You can take an additional step and close the account once you have reduced the balance to zero. If I am not mistaken, however, it may be better for your credit to leave the account open, and make some small purchases with it every once in a while that you can pay off every month.

Yeah, I'm almost positive that there's no annual fee.

And that's pretty much why I asked - I'd like to leave it open as I have a $9000 limit that I don't want to close :)

Read the fine print, there may be two other loopholes:

1) Some balance transfer offers have a transaction fee of 3% or $75, whichever is higher.

2) Requiring a purchase first, I've had one like this. First you make a regular purchase, immediately send in a payment, then you initiate the balance transfer request. I've only ever encountered this once and think it's a pretty rare stipulation.

Mmm citi dividend card from your link:
"The transaction fee for balance transfers is 3% of the amount of each balance transfer, $5 minimum, $250 maximum."

Doh ;)

Any fee free ones still floating around? Searches of previous posts looked like they were disappearing a month or two ago...
 

RossMAN

Grand Nagus
Feb 24, 2000
79,047
445
136
Originally posted by: thawolfman
Originally posted by: RossMAN
Originally posted by: thawolfman
Originally posted by: Garth
If you reduce the balance to zero, you will incur no finance charges, but the account will remain open. If there are any annual fees associated with that account, you will still be required to pay them.

You can take an additional step and close the account once you have reduced the balance to zero. If I am not mistaken, however, it may be better for your credit to leave the account open, and make some small purchases with it every once in a while that you can pay off every month.

Yeah, I'm almost positive that there's no annual fee.

And that's pretty much why I asked - I'd like to leave it open as I have a $9000 limit that I don't want to close :)

Read the fine print, there may be two other loopholes:

1) Some balance transfer offers have a transaction fee of 3% or $75, whichever is higher.

2) Requiring a purchase first, I've had one like this. First you make a regular purchase, immediately send in a payment, then you initiate the balance transfer request. I've only ever encountered this once and think it's a pretty rare stipulation.

Mmm citi dividend card from your link:
"The transaction fee for balance transfers is 3% of the amount of each balance transfer, $5 minimum, $250 maximum."

Doh ;)

Any fee free ones still floating around? Searches of previous posts looked like they were disappearing a month or two ago...

The only no fee balance transfer offers I've received were direct mail promotions from credit card companies.
 

thawolfman

Lifer
Dec 9, 2001
11,107
0
76
Originally posted by: RossMAN
Originally posted by: thawolfman
Originally posted by: RossMAN
Originally posted by: thawolfman
Originally posted by: Garth
If you reduce the balance to zero, you will incur no finance charges, but the account will remain open. If there are any annual fees associated with that account, you will still be required to pay them.

You can take an additional step and close the account once you have reduced the balance to zero. If I am not mistaken, however, it may be better for your credit to leave the account open, and make some small purchases with it every once in a while that you can pay off every month.

Yeah, I'm almost positive that there's no annual fee.

And that's pretty much why I asked - I'd like to leave it open as I have a $9000 limit that I don't want to close :)

Read the fine print, there may be two other loopholes:

1) Some balance transfer offers have a transaction fee of 3% or $75, whichever is higher.

2) Requiring a purchase first, I've had one like this. First you make a regular purchase, immediately send in a payment, then you initiate the balance transfer request. I've only ever encountered this once and think it's a pretty rare stipulation.

Mmm citi dividend card from your link:
"The transaction fee for balance transfers is 3% of the amount of each balance transfer, $5 minimum, $250 maximum."

Doh ;)

Any fee free ones still floating around? Searches of previous posts looked like they were disappearing a month or two ago...

The only no fee balance transfer offers I've received were direct mail promotions from credit card companies.

Aye, suppose I should actually take a look at some of those now as opposed to shredding them :D
 

RossMAN

Grand Nagus
Feb 24, 2000
79,047
445
136
Despite the BT fee, I'd probably do it if you're paying 17% on a $2,500 balance.