A charge card is a card that requires a full payment every month. The card does not have a predetermined spending limit like a credit card. On approved purchases based on spending and payment history, financial resources, and credit records. This is because the credit card balance must be paid in full on the due date, there is no interest rate or minimum payment. If the bill is not paid on time, late fees and other fines may occur, depending on the conditions set on the card.
In addition, the advantage of charge cards is that they are popular because of the gifts and benefits they offer with every purchase. Cardholders can earn points and even statement credit with their purchases, often with double and triple points for food and travel expenses. Card issuers offer exposure cardholders a wide variety of standard, luxury brand, and travel deals that can be purchased with points accumulated from credit cards. This is different from credit card accounts which have a credit limit and allow the user to carry a balance at an agreed rate of interest, which is why you will only see an introductory offer of 0 percent APR when making a credit card purchase.
How do charge cards work?
Generally charge cards work like credit cards and function in the same way for making purchases. They often have some features in common, including rewards and perks. But on charge cards, they are designed to be repaid immediately. Therefore, they do not have a 0% interest promotion, and they are not an option for balance transfers.
- Charge cards vs. credit card
The terms charge card and credit card are often used interchangeably, but as we all know, there are a few key differences:
- Spending limit
Charge cards don’t have a pre-defined spending limit, but that doesn’t mean your purchasing power is unlimited. Instead, the limit is dynamic and adjusted to reflect the customer’s perceived spending capacity.
- Flower
The charge card must be paid in full every month, so no interest is charged.
- Late fee
In charging interest, the unpaid balance of the charge card incurs a late payment fee which is usually a percentage of the amount of late due.
Annual fee
Charge cards almost always display an annual fee. There are many credit cards, on the other hand, that do not require an annual fee from the cardholder. In addition, many credit card companies make most of their money from interest charges. They charge this fee when people don’t pay in full and carry the balance to the next billing cycle. Since the charge card must be paid in full each month, the charge card company cannot rely on income from interest charges on the card. As a result, they charge an annual fee to help cover operational costs and make a profit.
If you can pay off your balance in full, there isn’t much difference between the two types of cards, although your purchasing power may be slightly higher with a charge card. The top credit cards will give you more choice in terms of rewards, flexible use, and cheaper annual memberships. However, for those who want to avoid interest, get high-end gifts, or need the ability to spend large sums of money, a charge card may be the right choice.