Reduce Your Credit Card Rates With A Simple Call

(KDKA) PITTSBURGH Today marked the official start of the 2006 holiday shopping season and consumers will spend billions of dollars over the next month.

Much of it will be put on credit cards with high interest rates then will pile up come January.

But what if a three minute phone call could lower your bill?

It can be done with a simple call to your credit card company.

You may have to work your way through the answering machine maze of your credit card company but when you get a human, you can get results.

KDKA's John Shumway reports that with so many pre-approved credit applications arriving in the mail daily, the competition for you to be carrying and using their card is something the companies will fight over.

So much so, that you may have success using this simple script:

"Hi, my name is [insert your name here]. I am a good customer but I have received several offers in the mail from other credit card companies with lower annual percentage rates. I'm considering switching but I'd rather lower my rate on your credit card. Can you help?"

You may have to jump through hoops but you can usually get it done within a few minutes.

In an experiment on Black Friday with those in good credit standing was 4 for 4 successful.

Now, before you reach for the phone here are a couple of things to keep in mind.

1. You must have good credit.
   
2. If you get a no, ask to talk to a supervisor.
   
3. Remember, the credit card company wants you as a customer so you are in charge.