Call at the right time: Choosing the right time to call a credit card company is one of the simplest, yet most effective negotiation tactics. Call them early in the morning, as this is the time when people are in the best mood and more likely to be supportive to your case. Don't call at the end of the day, when everybody is tired and grumpy.
Let them know you will pay back your debt: What concerns credit card companies most are people who are trying all sorts of dirty negotiation tricks to get out of paying their debts altogether. It is crucial that you explain to them that you do intend to pay back your debt. What you are asking is some small help. If you do this nicely, you may be surprised how understanding credit card companies can be! This is a very simple, yet effective negotiation technique.
Take advantage of your first time: If you have not asked for a lower interest rate or to have a late fee waived with this credit card company before, make sure you tell them. These companies are usually much more generous with first time offenders than with those asking for extensions on a monthly basis.
Demonstrate your loyalty: If you are a long-time customer or if you have spent a lot of money with the credit card company for years, try to take advantage of it. After all the long term success of these companies depends on people who spend money on their credit cards.
Ask for reduced interest rates: Not many people know this, but credit card interest rates are usually negotiable for those with good negotiation skills. If you have a reasonably acceptable payment history, you should have no issues with requesting a reduced interest rate. Bring across the point that you'll be able to use more of your money paying off your balance rather than your interest rate charges.
Have late payment fees waived: This is such a simple, yet very effective bargaining tactic. Late payment fees can usually easily be waived if you settle your bill within a short period of the due date. Haggling down fees tends to be much easier than haggling price. If you have, leverage a solid credit history on top. An extra phone call, that is likely to be well worth the effort.
Ask to skip a payment: When you are in a situation of financial problems that you think you will be able sort out in the near future, you can try to explain this to the credit card company. If you request to miss one or two payments as an exception, many companies are willing to give you this relief. The downside is of course a likely negative impact on your credit report.
Get to the decision maker as fast as possible: A good negotiation tip is to always attempt to speak to the person who can call the shots. Your initial call will likely be handed to a customer service representative, but you should ask to talk directly to the manager or whoever has the authority to make decisions. Write down the names, titles, contact details and timing for every call you make.
Let them know you will pay back your debt: What concerns credit card companies most are people who are trying all sorts of dirty negotiation tricks to get out of paying their debts altogether. It is crucial that you explain to them that you do intend to pay back your debt. What you are asking is some small help. If you do this nicely, you may be surprised how understanding credit card companies can be! This is a very simple, yet effective negotiation technique.
Take advantage of your first time: If you have not asked for a lower interest rate or to have a late fee waived with this credit card company before, make sure you tell them. These companies are usually much more generous with first time offenders than with those asking for extensions on a monthly basis.
Demonstrate your loyalty: If you are a long-time customer or if you have spent a lot of money with the credit card company for years, try to take advantage of it. After all the long term success of these companies depends on people who spend money on their credit cards.
Ask for reduced interest rates: Not many people know this, but credit card interest rates are usually negotiable for those with good negotiation skills. If you have a reasonably acceptable payment history, you should have no issues with requesting a reduced interest rate. Bring across the point that you'll be able to use more of your money paying off your balance rather than your interest rate charges.
Have late payment fees waived: This is such a simple, yet very effective bargaining tactic. Late payment fees can usually easily be waived if you settle your bill within a short period of the due date. Haggling down fees tends to be much easier than haggling price. If you have, leverage a solid credit history on top. An extra phone call, that is likely to be well worth the effort.
Ask to skip a payment: When you are in a situation of financial problems that you think you will be able sort out in the near future, you can try to explain this to the credit card company. If you request to miss one or two payments as an exception, many companies are willing to give you this relief. The downside is of course a likely negative impact on your credit report.
Get to the decision maker as fast as possible: A good negotiation tip is to always attempt to speak to the person who can call the shots. Your initial call will likely be handed to a customer service representative, but you should ask to talk directly to the manager or whoever has the authority to make decisions. Write down the names, titles, contact details and timing for every call you make.
About the Author:
Martin P Collins is a well known negotiation expert at Geneva Education who often gives very useful advice in his articles and blog posts. Look here to learn some of his most common bargaining tactics. Or visit here for more tips to develop good negotiation skills.
No comments:
Post a Comment