What credit card companies lower credit card interest rates?

Yes, asking for a lower interest rate on a credit card could affect your credit score if the card’s issuer needs to do a hard inquiry into your credit history to determine whether or not you qualify for the lower rate.

A hard inquiry will typically drop your credit score by a few points, and it can only affect your score for up to 12 months. So, the potential negative impact is minimal. That said, … read full answerreceiving a lower interest rate may indirectly help raise your credit score if the new rate allows you to pay off your balance faster.

It’s worth noting that interest rates aren’t reported to credit bureaus and have no direct impact on your credit score. A hard inquiry is the only reason your credit score would drop after requesting a lower rate, and asking your card issuer for a lower rate won’t always trigger a hard inquiry. A hard inquiry only happens if they need more detailed information about your credit history to address your request. Card issuers seem to make this decision on a case-by-case basis.

If you are thinking about calling your card issuer to ask for a lower interest rate, and you’re concerned about the impact to your credit score, make sure to ask the rep about it along with your request.

Credit card companies will waive interest on a case-by-case basis, depending on both the credit card company’s policies and the cardholder’s relationship with the company. Cardholders with a long and positive account history have a better chance of getting interest charges waived, especially if the person doesn’t have a history of carrying a balance or asking for fee waivers. But even the best account history doesn’t guarantee that a card issuer will agree to take back an interest charge.… read full answer

The best way to go about asking your credit card company to waive interest charges is to call customer service and explain the situation that caused the interest. Being late on a payment or only paying the minimum amount due will trigger an interest charge, for example. And if you usually pay on-time and in full, the card issuer is likely to grant an interest waiver, as long as their policy allows it.

Credit card companies are in heavy competition for your business, and many will do what it takes to keep you on as a customer - including occasionally waiving interest and fees. For example, over 40% of people who have asked their card issuer to waive a fee have been successful, according to a WalletHub credit card survey, but 1 out of 3 people have never attempted it.

It’s also worth noting that some card issuers are temporarily more lenient about interest charges after major natural disasters or during global events, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. So if you’d rather not pay an interest charge on your credit card bill – especially if you’re in a period of economic hardship that’s out of your control – there’s no harm in asking your card issuer to remove it.

To avoid interest on credit cards, either pay the full statement balance by the due date every billing period or maintain a $0 balance by not charging any purchases to your credit card account. There is no revolving balance for a credit card’s interest rate to apply to in either case.… read full answer

More specifically, it’s impossible to owe interest without buying anything, and even a card with no balance reports positive information to the credit bureaus every month. Alternatively, making purchases and paying off the full balance listed on the monthly statement by the due date avoids interest thanks to the so-called “grace period” that most cards have. That basically means people who consistently pay their bill in full get an opportunity to do so before interest applies to their purchases.

But interest is most often a concern when you need to buy something now but won’t have all the money for a while. And in that case, the best way to avoid interest on a credit card is to get a card with a 0% introductory APR. Keep reading below to learn more about that option and the rest of the best ways to avoid credit card interest charges.

Here's how to avoid interest on credit cards:

1. Don’t make purchases, balance transfers or cash advances. Not using your card guarantees no interest, as long as you pay any annual or monthly fees it may charge. And the issuer will still report positive information to the credit bureaus each month.
2. Schedule monthly payments for your full statement balance. As long as you always pay the full balance listed on your monthly statement by the due date, the issuer won’t charge interest. Set up automatic monthly payments from a bank account for the full balance so you don’t need to remember. Just make sure your bank account balance exceeds the amount you charge.
3. Use a 0% credit card, and get out of debt before the regular APR kicks in. Lots of credit cards offer 0% intro rates on purchases, balance transfers or both for a certain number of months after account opening. Your balance won’t accrue interest during that period if you make the minimum payment each month. After the 0% rate expires, the regular interest rate kicks in.

It’s not too hard to avoid interest on a credit card if you know what to do. If you’re in the market for a new card and need to finance a big purchase, getting a 0% card is the best option. If you already have debt, you can move the balance to a 0% balance transfer card and pay it off before the intro period expires. WalletHub’s credit card payoff calculator can help you.