How many times you have declined the credit card offer you got through cold calls, emails and through sales representatives? Hundreds of credit card companies bombard us daily through media, unsolicited mails and the internet with their new credit card offers. These offers often confuse people rather than help them decide on the right credit card. But, why do credit card companies come up with so many credit card offers and confuse people? The answer is Compitition. The increasing number of credit card companies in this billion dollar industry leads to cut throat competition. To survive in this stiff competition credit card companies have to be highly innovative on how they market their credit cards. Credit card companies are forced to come up with a new credit card offer each week. Market analysts constantly analyze the buyers trend and try to identify any growing or noticeable slant towards any particular trait in the selection process of credit cards.

Based on their research credit card companies come up with a variety of credit card offers. Some of them try to offer their customers high credit limit, while some others offer low interest rates. Some of the credit card companies totally waive off the application fee and the annual fee. If you are a frequent traveler, credit card companies try to lure you to use their credit card by offering free airline miles or added discounts on air tickets - there are hundred such offers. Most credit card offers you get would be attractive and tempting, but most often they are temporary benefits. Many get their fingers burnt because they blindly fall prey for these offers and fail to read the fine print.

Some of the precautions you have to take to save your fingers from getting burnt include,

a) Reminding yourself constantly that nothing in this world comes for free

b) Careful study of the credit card scheme you sign up

c) Making your decision based on your needs and not on the credit card offer and

d) Getting your friends opinion on the credit cards they use.

Having said these, not every credit card offer that comes your way is bad. There are certain offers that are really beneficial and such offers come with prestigious membership cards such as Platinum cards. You will be able to enjoy these offers only if you have a good credit history. You have to plan your credit card usage well so that you have a good track record for your credits. With these offers you will be able to enjoy lifetime benefits such as low interest rates and greater spending limits and rewards.