Using balance transfer credit cards is more of an art than a science. Shifting debt from your previous credit card to another is not as easy as discovering a set of rules and obeying them. Instead, you need to think outside the box and deal with your situation individually. However, when done correctly, it can produce great results and can save you tons of dollars.

If you are considering balance transfer credit cards to get out of debt, here are a few things that you can follow:

Dos

• Examine the whole deal. Too often, consumers only take a look at the APR or the interest fees of the card. One of the most important things that you have to delve into is the balance transfer charge. If there is, find out how much it will cost you. Plus, look at the annual fee. If it is pricier than your current card, you might want to shop around further.
• Understand credit card terms and limits. Read the disclosures portion on the card agreement. Learn about how much you can borrow or the credit limit. Also learn about the teaser rate as well as the length of the intro period. When it ends, how much will the standard interest rates and balance transfer and purchase APR be? Do not forget to study the penalty and late fees if they exist. You can use the information you gathered to determine which card to get.
• Continue to pay off your old cards. It usually takes 30 days before the balance transfer is cleared. In this case, you should still keep paying your old bills to avoid incurring more interest.

Don'ts

• Don't apply for several balance transfer credit cards at the same time. When you receive numerous emails about new credit card offers, do not be tempted to sign up for all of them. Getting approved for many accounts can hurt your credit score in two ways. First, your credit history length which consumes 15% of your score will be analyzed. New accountswill decrease the average age of your entire history thereby lowering your rating. Second, hard inquiries can reduce your score up to 35 points. Although this only stays in your report for about a year, your score is still affected throughout the period.
• Don't use balance transfer credit cards for purchases.As much as possible, don't use your card to make purchases – even in small amounts. It is easy to rack upon interest since many banks apply payments to cards with the lowest APR.
• Don't close your old credit cards. After you complete the balance transfer, it is not advised that you close your accounts immediately. This will not boost your credit score since those accounts will not be added up to the average age of your credit history.  Plus, this can affect your credit utilization ratio because your available credit has shrunk.

Using balance transfer credit cards that have low or 0% APR can help you conquer your credit debt. When done properly, you not only free yourself from debt but also complete the transfer without hurting your score.