Beware These 5 Sneaky Credit Card Company Tricks

Advertising Disclosure: When you buy something by clicking links on our site, we may earn a small commission, but it never affects the products or services we recommend.

Woman holding credit cards
Rawpixel.com / Shutterstock.com

Credit card companies love to dangle juicy offers in front of you. You might be “preapproved” for a 0% interest credit card or a valuable sign-up bonus. Maybe the company wants to offer you that fancy “gold” or “platinum” card.

Unfortunately, the amazing benefits you see in the bold lettering aren’t always what they seem. The real deal is in the fine print.

To sort out credit card deals from duds, take a closer look before you apply. Keep these red flags in mind.

1. Rates that aren’t guaranteed

A low interest rate is one of the big draws of new credit cards. But you might not notice the subtle caveats to the special rate.

Some offers will have “as low as” printed in small letters in front of the APR. You might also see asterisks and superscripts that refer you to the fine print, where the text explains the best interest rate is only available to applicants with the best credit.

In other words, the rate they’re using to lure you in isn’t necessarily the one you’ll get.

The best defense? Read the fine print, especially the “rates and disclosures” information. It’s not exciting, but it will reveal what is actually guaranteed. Banks are legally required to furnish this information in the easy-to-read format shown on the website of the federal Consumer Finance Protection Bureau.

And if you’re uncomfortable because you can’t tell what the ultimate rate will be, don’t apply.

2. Fool’s gold

“Gold cards” have been around for decades. Credit card companies also have added silver, platinum and even palladium to the list of precious metals used in card names.

While such cards may have indicated prestige in the past — and there are still elite cards requiring exceptional income and expenditures — most precious-metals labeling is meaningless.

Solution? Choose a credit card by comparing the benefits that really matter, like low interest rates, low fees or rewards. We have a credit card page— complete with reviews and a search function — in our Solutions Center that can help you find the right card.

3. Hyped-up business credit cards

Offers for small-business credit cards might seem like a great way to track business expenses and develop a credit history for your company. But these cards seldom live up to the hype, and they offer fewer protections than consumer cards.

With most small-business cards, it’s your personal credit on the line, not that of your business. So, using the card does not create or develop a credit file for your business.

In addition, small-business cards lack important protections that consumer cards have. The Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility and Disclosure (Credit CARD) Act of 2009 applies only to consumer cards, which means your business card can still be hit with fees and rate hikes that would be illegal for your personal plastic.

So, even if a particular business credit card has advantages — such as enabling you to track business expenses separately — you could be sacrificing consumer protections to get them.

4. Big bonuses with a catch

It’s easy to get drawn in by the sign-up bonuses offered on new cards. You might see an offer of $150 back or 25,000 airline miles just for opening an account. But there’s often a catch.

In many cases, you’ll need to ring up a certain amount on your card within a specified time period, like $1,000 in purchases to get that $150, or $2,000 charged to earn 25,000 airline miles. While the details vary, completing these offers as stipulated may be difficult or even impossible, depending on your budget.

Some offers boast “up to 5% back” on your purchases, but that may be only at certain retailers, and not for every purchase you make. Some cash-back deals might be for a limited period after you open the account, and there might be a cap on how much you can earn.

When it comes to rewards cards, understand what it takes to get the advertised perk. Rewards exist to make people spend (and borrow) more than they otherwise would. If that’s a trap you feel likely to fall into, a rewards card may not be for you.

Shop rewards cards and all other cards before you commit. Again, check out our credit card page to find additional choices.

5. Not-so-special offers

Credit card offers come crammed with language that makes you feel like you’re getting a special deal. Envelopes might be stamped with “Important” or “Confidential” to heighten the urgency. Once opened, you might be excited to find you’re “preapproved” for a new credit card.

Unfortunately, being “preapproved” doesn’t actually mean the new card is yours. In fact, it doesn’t really mean anything. You’ll still need to apply for the card and go through the whole approval process.

Be careful about choosing a card simply because it appears to be a special offer made just for you. It may just be another trick to reel you in.

Get smarter with your money!

Want the best money-news and tips to help you make more and spend less? Then sign up for the free Money Talks Newsletter to receive daily updates of personal finance news and advice, delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for our free newsletter today.