Can we really trust the banks anymore to adhere to the terms they offer us?
Balance-transfer terms aren't quite as sacrosanct as they used to be. A few lenders have boosted their minimum payments, and Chase tried charging a $10-a-month "inactivity fee" before customer outrage forced it to back off.
But the biggest risk with balance-transfer offers right now isn't that lenders will renege on the deals midstream. A greater concern is that the good deals are getting scarcer. It's possible that when the low teaser rate you're offered expires, you might be stuck with a double-digit rate and few options to get a better deal.
If you can pay your debt off before the low rate expires, and you would save money even after taking into account the 3% to 4% balance-transfer fee most lenders charge, then you might want to consider one of those low-rate deals. Otherwise, consider looking for a card with a low regular interest rate.
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