Skip to main content

Loans On Credit Cards – Say NO

Recently, a number of credit card customers received a pre-approved loan mail, from a leading private sector bank. The customer was entitled to a loan over and above his existing credit limit, at 15 per cent on a reducing balance.

Sounds too good to be true, especially in a market where interest rates are on the rise. Also, for those already burdened with expensive debt (such as credit card debt, which charges over 40 per cent annually), this could be a good way to reduce the burden.

However, if planning to use this debt for other purposes, like buying the latest iPad or mobile, things could go very wrong. The equated monthly instalments (EMIs) are added on the card, escalating the bill. And, the loan is over and above the credit limit. One will over leverage himself/herself. That is, the loan will be treated separately but come as a part of the monthly credit card bill payment.

Bankers said they typically target rotators – ones who pay the minimum or slightly more every month – with such schemes, as it helps such customers reduce their dues at one go. But, if misused, this would worsen your credit score, limiting future chances of securing any credit.

There are similar products in the market which offer a personal loan at a lower rate within the credit card limit. Under one such scheme, if your credit limit is `30,000, you can avail a loan of `15,000 at 17 per cent for one year, 16 per cent for two years and 15 per cent for 36 and 38 months.

Though such schemes can be used to reduce the interest burden and retiring high cost debt, financial planners are not enthused. There are other ways of raising cash. A loan against fixed deposits, which cost two per cent above the deposit rate, can work out cheaper. He even advises using the gold loan route if one does get the right rate. At present, gold loans come at 12-24 per cent.

In the worst case scenario, it is better to retire investments and use the proceeds. Once the debt is paid, you can restart your investments. Ideally, your total instalment-to-income ratio should not be more than 4050 per cent. Many exceed this limit; as a result, they keep on borrowing to retire earlier loans, a classic debt trap.

Once caught in a debt trap, clearing the clutter isn't easy, as you will have little or no cash in hand. You would have spoilt your track record as well.

Loan on credit card is a pre-approved personal loan

Interest charged is 15 per cent and more

Processing fee is minimum sum or a portion of the loan amount

Many banks give prepayment facility but at a cost

The EMIs will be billed to the credit card every month
 

Popular posts from this blog

JP Morgan launches Emerging Markets Opportunities Equity Offshore Fund

Download Tax Saving Mutual Fund Application Forms Invest In Tax Saving Mutual Funds Online Buy Gold Mutual Funds Leave a missed Call on 94 8300 8300 JP Morgan launches Emerging Markets Opportunities Equity Offshore Fund    The new fund offer opens for subscription on 16 th June and closes on 30 th June. JP Morgan Mutual Fund today announced the launch of its open end fund of fund called Emerging Markets Opportunities Equity Offshore Fund. The fund will invest in an aggressively managed portfolio of emerging market companies in the underlying fund - JPMorgan Funds - Emerging Markets Opportunities Fund, says a JP Morgan press release. Noriko Kuroki, Client Portfolio Manager, Global Emerging Markets Team (Singapore), JPMAM said, "Emerging markets have been out of favour for several years, as growth decelerated and earnings struggled. However, in a world of globalisation, we believe that EM will eventually re-couple with DM, leading to the long-aw...
Read more

Nifty F&O

  1. What is a straddle? A strategy using Nifty options usually before a major event or when one is uncertain of market direction. Comprises purchase of a Nifty call and put option of the same strike price. Usually strikes are purchased closer to the level of the underlying index. 2. What is better ­ buying or selling a straddle? It depends.Implied volatili ty of options, or near-term expectations of price swings in an un derlier like Nifty , usually peaks before an event and falls when the outcome plays out ­ like Infy re sults in past years. However, once the event plays out, a sharp rise or fall in Nifty could result in price of the straddle rising ­ benefiting buy ers. But, normally , those who sell or write options charge hefty premiums from buyers in the hope that fall in volatility would ensure the options end out-of-the-money, hurting buyers. 3. So, do straddle sellers end up winning most of the time? Yes. That's invariably the case when market volatility is trending on the...
Read more

L&T Long Term Infrastructure Bond 2012 Tranche 2 Application Forms

Application form for Tax Saving Long Term Infrastructure Bond     L&T Long Term Infra Bond Application form     Submit filled up application     Collection canter near you     --------------------------------------------- Invest Tax Saving Mutual Funds Online Mutual Funds Online   Download Tax Saving Mutual Fund Application Forms from all AMCs Download Tax Saving Mutual Fund Applications   ---------------------------------------------   How to apply to PFC Bonds? Apply for PFC Tax Free Bonds forms below Download PFC TAX Free Bond Application Forms Submit the filled up form to Collection canter near you How to apply to NHAI Bonds? You can download the NHAI Tax Free Bonds forms below Download NHAI Tax Free bond Application Forms Submit the filled up form to Collection canter near you        
Read more

Stocks with a high dividend yield

Buy Gold Mutual Funds Invest Mutual Funds Online Download Tax Saving Mutual Fund Application Forms Call 0 94 8300 8300 (India) Stocks with a high-dividend yield can provide investors additional cash flow. More importantly, it is tax-free   With April 2011 just over, the 'earnings season' is well and truly here. This is the time most companies pay out a portion of their profits as dividends to shareholders. Since dividends are tax-free, they are an attractive income source with a select class of investors, who depend on these for additional cash flow. SIGNIFICANCE A company doing well and generating profits will usually be in a position to declare dividends regularly. Hence, a key parameter one should look at whilst investing in a stock is whether the company has a good dividend record. Typically, dividend yield stocks are large-caps and generally not capital-intensive. This is suggestive of the fact that the downside risk on...
Read more

UTI Equity Fund Invest Online

Invest In Tax Saving Mutual Funds Online Download Tax Saving Mutual Fund Application Forms Buy Gold Mutual Funds Call 0 94 8300 8300 (India)   UTI Equity Fund   Invest Online UTI Equity is a large cap-oriented fund with assets under management worth Rs. 2,269 crore (as on June 30, 2013). The fund was originally launched in May 1992 as UTI Mastergain and is benchmarked against S&P BSE 100. A couple of years back the name of the fund was changed to UTI Equity Fund and many of the smaller funds of UTI were merged into this fund. Performance The fund has outperformed its benchmark as well as the equity diversified category average in the last one-, three- and five-year periods. It has repeated the same in 2013 (as on May 31). Since its inception the fund has delivered an impressive 26 per cent compounded annual growth rate which is superior to its benchmark performance in the same period. Y...
Read more
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...
Invest in Tax Saving Mutual Funds Download Any Applications
Transact Mutual Funds Online Invest Online
Buy Gold Mutual Funds Invest Now