There's a lot more to getting the best balance transfer credit card deals than looking at the rate offered. The length of the introductory rate, the rate offered during the introduction, the standard rate imposed after the introduction, the annual fee, the credit level required to be accepted and many other things written in the fine print all must be considered to determine what are really the best balance transfer credit card deals.

Many of us are looking for a way to lower our expenses and free up some of our readily available cash. Transferring the balance on a high percentage credit card or credit cards to one that charges a lower interest rate may be one very good way of doing this. But you must tread carefully, read all the fine print, and generally have good or even excellent credit to be able to take advantage of this opportunity There are many balance transfer credit card deals advertised, and they all claim to be the best. Let's take a look at a few features.

The first come-on is that the rates are rock bottom - and perhaps they are. But being the best in balance transfer credit card deals isn't just about these rock bottom rates. Generally the introductory special that offers these low rates run for five to nine month - sometimes a full year. The rate might be as low as zero percent or as high as three percent. The introductory rate might be offered just on the balance transfers or on purchases made during that time as well. You need to know which.

The biggest problem with a lot of these supposedly best balance transfer credit card deals is that these introductory rates are available as long as you never miss or are late with a payment. Should you be even one day late on one payment during this time period you could all of a sudden be looking at a 20 percent interest rate for the duration of your use of this credit card.

The second thing to keep in mind in determining your best balance transfer credit card deals is the existence of a transaction fee, and its amount. Some credit card companies charge such a fee for letting you transfer your balance from another higher interest credit card. You should tread carefully. It may be, depending on the transfer fee, and the balance you have on your current cards, as well as the difference between the current interest rate you are paying and the introductory offer on the new card you are considering that that card you are considering is not really one of the best balance transfer credit card deals.