As you check out purchases online or in stores, you may be offered an invitation to open a store credit card. Store cards often include an appealing introductory offer that includes a hefty savings on your purchase, which makes them hard to resist.

While you might be tempted to say “yes,” sometimes a store credit card can be a bad deal. In fact, a recent LendingTree report found that 56% of Americans who have opened a store credit card regret it.

The Interest Rate Is Extremely High

Store credit cards tend to have higher rates than non-store credit cards.

So, check the APR before signing up for a new card — you don’t want to get stuck paying an interest rate of 25% or higher. The retail cards with the highest APRs have rates around 30%, with Big Lots, Zales and Discount Tire credit cards having a minimum APR of 29.99%.

These high interest rates can really hurt you down the line, especially if you open a card to do your holiday shopping, a time when Americans notoriously rack up credit card debt. Having high debt plus a high interest rate could cancel out any benefits of the initial signup deal.

The Card Charges Residual Interest

“There’s something called ‘residual interest’ that happens quite often with retail credit cards,” said Bethy Hardeman, personal finance expert and product marketer at Novi. “This is the interest that’s charged on your balance after your statement date and before you pay your bill. You might think you’ve paid off your balance and forget about it again, only to be hit with a late fee for not paying off the residual interest and then even more interest.”

That means that if you make an initial charge of $2,000 and don’t pay it off right away, you’ll eventually have to pay the full interest on the amount.

The Discount the Card Offers Is Minimal

“If the discount is small, say 5%, for example, it may not be worth the risk of signing up for a card with an incredibly high interest rate,” said Leslie Tayne, founder and head attorney at debt solutions law firm Tayne Law Group.

You Can Only Use Your Card in One Store

“Most retail cards can only be used at their associated store,” Hardeman said.

That means you won’t earn rewards or cash back on purchases made elsewhere, so it might not be worth opening a new line of credit.

You Don’t Have the Time To Think About Whether It’s a Good Deal or Not

Oftentimes it’s when you’re at the checkout counter that an associate suggests you open a retail credit card to take advantage of an enticing sign-up offer. However, opening a new credit card should not be a spur-of-the-moment decision.

“When making financial decisions — like opening a new credit card, which can impact your monthly budget and your credit score — it’s best to think it through completely beforehand,” said Judith Corprew, executive vice president at Patriot Bank, N.A., based in Stamford, Connecticut. “The ideal place for that kind of thinking probably isn’t standing at a checkout counter in a store crowded with holiday shoppers. There are many factors to consider. What is the interest rate? Is there an introductory interest rate? Are there annual fees? And a dozen other questions that are a lot easier to think clearly about at your dining room table.”

Ask for a brochure and take the time to read it at home before making any decisions that could impact your future finances.

It Increases Your Temptation To Spend

“Since retail cards often come with enticing promotional offers or attractive benefits, you may be tempted to spend more than you normally would,” Tayne said. “Additionally, you may be lured to buy products from that retailer because you have the card there, rather than searching for a better price elsewhere.”

You’re About To Take Out a Loan or You Already Have a Low Credit Score

Opening a new store credit card could be a bad idea depending on your specific financial situation. This would include if you’re about to take out a loan for a large purchase.

“Opening new accounts may lower your credit score, albeit temporarily,” said John Madison, CPA and financial counselor at Dayspring Financial Ministry. “If you’re planning an important purchase like a home or new automobile, the reduction in your credit score may impact your approval or interest rate.”

Even if you’re not preparing for a major purchase but already have a low credit score, this could be a bad idea as it could make your credit score even worse.

You’re Not Someone Who Typically Pays Their Credit Card Bills on Time and in Full

“If you are confident in your ability to pay off the full balance, a credit card can offer some useful rewards,” Corprew said. “But it isn’t a good idea if you are just kicking the can down the road because you will end up paying more in the form of interest than if you had paid in cash or with a debit card immediately.”

You Already Have Credit Card Debt

If you’re still trying to pay off holiday purchases from the previous year, opening a new card will likely just add more debt to what you already have.

When Opening a Store Credit Card Is a Good Idea

There are risks every time you open up a new line of credit, but in some situations and for some consumers, opening up a store credit card could have benefits that outweigh those risks.

The Interest Rates Are (Relatively) Low

Some store credit cards feature low APRs, such as Bass Pro Shops Club MasterCard, which offers a 9.99% APR for Bass Pros Shop purchases and the Apple Card, which has a minimum APR of 10.99%. If you qualify for these low rates, you will have the same drawbacks with these store credit cards as you would with a traditional credit card. Also, the maximum APR can be much higher, so keep that in mind if you have poor credit.

You’re Loyal to the Store

While you certainly shouldn’t open a retail card at every store you shop at, if you have one or two you frequent, it might benefit you to open a store credit card. Benefits can include discounts, cash back, advanced access to sales and other perks that would benefit you as a frequent shopper.

You Can Pay Your Credit Cards on Time and in Full Every Month

Treat your store credit cards like debit cards — only charge as much as you can actually pay for. If you never carry a balance, you’ll never get hit with store credit cards’ notoriously high interest rates.

The Bottom Line: Make Sure You Know What You’re Getting Into

Whether or not you ultimately decide to open a store credit card, make sure you know what you’re signing up for when you are promised special financing or a major discount at the checkout.

Remember, if something seems too good to be true, it probably is. Carefully consider a retail card’s features and interest rates, as well as your own financial situation, before opening a card that you could eventually regret having in your wallet.

The post How To Tell When That Store Credit Card Is a Bad Idea appeared first on GoBankingRates

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