Revolving credit and its impact

The tide of the future seems likely to carry with it ever increasing waves of revolving credit in the sea of borrower credit extensions. Already revolving credit represents more than a ripple in that sea. The reasons are primarily economic. Think before you spend – if you don’t pay off your monthly bill, the amount can snowball into a pretty big figure as it revolves and gains interest. Here are snippets on the functioning of revolving credit and how it can make you fall into debt traps.
                 

A loan with a difference

Here, you get credit while you go spending or paying bills. You can use the credit limit to purchase anything you desire. Further, you don’t have to pay EMIs or an amount equivalent to that. All you need to pay, to keep your credit card alive, is a minimum amount, which is normally five per cent of the money spent plus interest. Do that and your loan keeps getting revolved in minimum monthly payment cycles.

Unsecured Credit

While an unsecured revolving line does not require collateral. One of the most common unsecured revolving credit lines is a business credit card. Obtaining a business credit card typically requires the business to have a positive credit history and high credit score but does not require an asset to obtain the credit. Another type of revolving credit for a business is an account with suppliers in which you have a set purchasing limit and the company invoices you for purchases. Once you pay the invoice, the amount is available for you to use again.

Understanding revolving credit account

Revolving credit is a type of credit in which the consumer’s balance and minimum monthly payment can fluctuate, and where the cardholder usually has the option of avoiding finance charges by paying the last statement balance within the established ‘grace period’. This type of credit account also has a predetermined credit limit. Credit cards are the most widely used type of revolving credit. Unlike a loan, a revolving account doesn’t automatically close when the account reaches a zero balance. It tends to remain open and available for use until the lender or the consumer chooses to close it.

How it Works

With revolving credit, a bank allows you to continuously borrow money up to a certain credit limit. Every time you buy something on credit, that amount is subtracted from your total credit limit. And every time you pay off your balance, your credit limit goes back up.

The interest rates on credit cards are much higher than that on other loans. At times they can be twice as much. This makes it impossible to repay the bills in minimum monthly pay-outs. A rough calculation suggests that of the minimum payment made every month; only around 1.5 to 2 per cent goes towards repaying the principal amount. The rest goes towards interest payments. So, keep a check on your credit card spending and avoid revolving your credit card balance.

Impact on your credit score

Maintaining a low revolving credit balance has a significant, positive impact on your credit score because your credit utilization ratio is a key factor in your rating. Revolving credit helps in cases where you need to borrow in unpredictable amounts for ongoing projects, education or other needs. The challenge with revolving credit, though, is the temptation to overspend because you have more credit available. Remember, your credit rating is important when you apply for new loans and want to get a good rate. The reason a low revolving balances are important is the perception of lenders. Typically, they assume that if you use a small portion of your available credit, you are in a safe debt position. This makes you seem like less of a risk if they choose to issue new credit to you. Paying down high balances not only helps your score, it puts you in a better position to manage your debt.

Find your credit score at www.cibilconsultants.com

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