Card fees are often the first thing youll want to check out. Be sure to read the small print and add up all the unexpected costs rather than basing your decision purely on first impressions. Cards that offer no fees for the first year are often a good deal, since they provide you with a trial period in which to judge their overall quality of service.

Another thing that you should look for is flexibility with your monthly and quarterly billion statements. If you choose to have all of your statements consolidated, your should make sure its possible to access individual card statements on request, without it costing you an arm and a leg.

Last but not least, interest rates are an integral part of every credit card deal, especially if you plan to carry a balance for a month or more. Interest rates will generally range from 14% to 19%, depending on your companys credit history, spending volume, and banking relationships. It is often worthwhile to compare offers from several different financial institutions, and try to negotiate lower rates based on your level of spending and other factors.

Remember not to be fooled by too good to be true offers, however, which offer very low introductory interest rates for a limited time frame (i.e. 6 months). You need to look beyond flashy advertisements, and determine what you can expect in terms of normal, long-term interest rates.