 TITLE: Understanding Balance Transfer Fees CONTENT: How to Avoid Balance Transfer Fees\n----------------------------------\nThe only way to completely avoid balance transfer fees is to choose a credit card that waives the fee. Cards without a balance transfer fee may be hard to come by, but you may be able to find these promotions from time to time.\nIf you can't find a card without a balance transfer fee, the key factors to compare are the length of the 0% APR offer, the size of the balance transfer fee, and whether the card charges an annual fee. You should also consider the interest rate you'll pay once the introductory offer expires, as well as any other fees the card may charge, such as late fees, cash advance fees or fees on foreign transactions.\nOnce you know all the fees, do the math to assess how much a balance transfer card will cost you. For example, depending on the amount you plan to transfer, a card with a 5% balance transfer fee but no annual fee might actually cost less than a card with a 3% balance transfer fee and a $95 annual fee.\nTo qualify for most balance transfer cards, you'll need good to excellent credit scores. END