These days, with the high price of oil, credit companies are competing fiercely for your business, spurring on a slew of aggressive advertising techniques in order to entice you to sign up for a gas rebate credit card. With the price of gas quickly reaching $4.00 a gallon, perhaps it’s time to re-evaluate the details of cloned credit cards for sale rewards programs. Not only do you get something in return for the high prices you are paying at the pump, but you also have an incentive to return frequently. These types of credit card rewards programs are becoming quite popular with consumers who see it as a way of taking some of the bite off when filling up.
It’s important to read the fine print on the application in addition to the details of each of the credit card rewards programs carefully. Some offers sound tempting at first glance but often have strict limits on how, when, and where you can redeem the rewards they are offering. Moreover, you will find that the limits sometimes reach the point of benefitting the credit card company more than you. Be wary of credit card rewards programs that charge a higher interest rate. If a credit company is offering credit card rewards programs that seem too good to be true, then they probably are. Many times, the credit card company will pay for these rewards by charging a higher interest rate if you’re carrying a balance. It’s best to pay the balance off every month so that the higher interest rate will not affect you.
Furthermore, most credit card rewards programs don’t kick in until you have spent “up to” a certain amount, like on a gas rebate credit card, for example. Again, be careful to read the fine print because many times, especially on cash back reward credit cards, the reward will not kick in until you have spent over a certain dollar limit threshold. For example, some credit cards may give you a $50.00 gift certificate after spending $10,000 on the card. This really amounts to about a ½% reward. In this case, you would be far better off with a 1% cash back reward. Ensure that you understand how much you are paying for the reward you are receiving.
Additionally, watch for annual add-on fees with reward credit cards. Make sure you do not have to spend a bundle to get decent credit card rewards. Otherwise, it defeats the purpose of the reward as you are really paying for the reward with the annual fee. Other times, credit card companies impose reward limits. You may have noticed many cards offering rewards but only up to a certain amount. For example, a 5% cash back gas rebate credit card may stop paying once you have reached $200 or $300 in gas purchases. Apply for the credit card rewards programs that have no limit or that give you unlimited cash back. Finally, some credit card companies have reward expiration dates. If you have to redeem your rewards for a gift item, make sure you redeem before the posted expiration periods. Usually, you must redeem rewards within a specific period of time.