The difference in the quality of credit card offers between 2009 and 2010 is substantial.  Many credit card companies have increased long term interest rates substantially, with some credit cards offering rates as high 17% to consumers with very good credit.  Others are offering rates in excess of 20% to applicants that don’t meet the highest credit qualifications.

Find a good 0% APR credit card is also much more difficult in 2010 than it was a year ago.  Some companies are offering 0% rates for 12 months on balance transfers and six months on purchases, while others are not offering promotional rates on balance transfers at all.  Balance transfer fees have increased as well, as more companies are now charging 4-5% transaction fees.  Even with these fees, 0% balance transfers remain among the best type of credit card deals, especially for people with credit card debt. (more…)