Call the number on your card or statement and ask your issuer to review your APR. The Federal Trade Commission’s advice is direct: “Contact your credit card company directly and ask how to qualify for a lower interest rate.” A reduction is not guaranteed, but you can make a clear request, ask what terms would change, and compare alternatives if the issuer declines.
Before you call, decide whether you want a lower purchase APR, an explanation of how you might qualify, or help because repayment has become difficult. Those are related but distinct requests. A routine APR review is not the same as a hardship arrangement, and either may have terms you should understand before accepting.
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Prepare before you contact the issuer
Decide what outcome you are seeking before the call. If you can manage your current payments, ask for a review of your purchase APR. If your finances have changed and repayment is difficult, ask whether a hardship or workout arrangement is available; that is a different request and may come with conditions.
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- Have your account information available and be ready to describe your payment history and circumstances honestly.
- Know whether you are asking for a lower purchase APR, an explanation of eligibility, or help with repayment.
- Ask whether any rate reduction would be temporary or ongoing, when it would begin, and which balances it would cover.
- Ask whether accepting an offer would change your payment terms or how you can use the account.
Also consider what would make an offer useful to you. A lower purchase APR may be relevant if you carry a balance on purchases, while someone who is struggling to make payments may need to ask about a repayment arrangement instead. If an offer applies only for a limited period or to particular balances, that matters when you compare it with your current terms or another card. Do not assume the issuer’s answer covers every balance or continues indefinitely; ask the representative to specify.
These are practical questions, not a standard issuer procedure. Options, eligibility rules, and account terms vary, and there is no established universal script or success rate. The available information does not establish a particular credit score, payment-history threshold, or other requirement that guarantees approval, so avoid relying on a supposed rule that applies to every issuer.
Make a clear, truthful request
Call your issuer using the contact information on the card or statement. The FTC’s consumer guidance is to contact the company directly and ask how to qualify for a lower interest rate. A direct request avoids paying a stranger to do something you can ask the issuer yourself.
A concise way to open the conversation is: “I’m calling to ask whether you can review the APR on my account. I’ve been managing the account and would like to know whether I qualify for a lower rate. If that isn’t available, what lower-cost or hardship options can you offer, and what terms would change?” This is suggested wording, not a guaranteed formula or a quotation from the FTC.
Answer questions accurately. Do not invent competing offers or threaten to close the account unless you are prepared to follow through. You do not need to make a dramatic argument or claim that another issuer has offered you a particular rate. Ask the representative to explain what is actually available on your account and what, if anything, you need to do to qualify.
If the issuer offers a reduction, clarify the practical details before deciding:
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- How much is the APR changing? Ask for the rate that would apply, rather than relying on a general description such as “lower.”
- When would it start? Confirm the effective date and whether the change is temporary or ongoing.
- Which balances does it cover? Ask whether it applies to purchases, an existing balance, or only specified balances.
- What conditions apply? Ask whether the offer is conditional and what actions or payments are required to keep it.
- What else changes? Confirm whether payment terms, account use, or other account conditions would be affected.
Those questions are a practical checklist, not a promise that every issuer will offer a reduction or use the same process. If you receive a change, request the terms in writing and review them before agreeing. If anything is unclear, ask for an explanation rather than assuming the rate or other terms work a particular way.
If your issuer declines
A refusal does not establish that your current card is the least expensive option. You can compare actual card offers from banks and credit unions, paying attention to the rate that applies after any promotion as well as fees, eligibility requirements, and the credit limit available to you. Do not treat an advertised rate as a personal offer until you have checked the current terms and confirmed that you qualify.
In a 2024 analysis, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) reviewed 643 cards from 156 issuers offered from January through June 2023. Across credit tiers, smaller banks and credit unions tended to report purchase APRs 8–10 percentage points below those of the 25 largest issuers. For an average $5,000 balance, the CFPB estimated that difference could mean $400–$500 in annual savings. These are dated market comparisons and an illustration, not an offer to you or a guaranteed saving. Your own rate, balance, eligibility, fees, and actual terms may differ. CFPB analysis of credit card rates
This finding can be a reason to look beyond the biggest issuers, not a reason to assume that a smaller institution will approve your application or offer you a particular APR. The comparison covered market offers in a defined period and reported differences across credit tiers. It does not say what any one cardholder will be offered today. Compare the terms you can actually obtain, and include the costs of moving a balance if that is part of your plan.
For context, the CFPB reported that the average APR on card accounts assessed interest was 22.8% in 2023, compared with 12.9% in late 2013. Its reported APR margin for revolving accounts was 14.3 percentage points in 2023. The agency also found that nearly half of the largest issuers reported at least one card with a maximum purchase APR above 30%; that does not mean every customer paid that rate. These figures describe historical market conditions, not a current quote for your account or an estimate of your likely rate. CFPB report on credit card costs CFPB findings on maximum purchase APRs
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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesThe CFPB’s 2025 market report reviews promotional interest rates and card-market conditions through the end of 2024. It is useful market context, but it does not identify a specific current offer you can rely on. Rates and card terms can change, so verify current details directly with an issuer before applying or transferring a balance. CFPB 2025 credit card market report
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Compare the full cost, not just the headline APR
A card advertised with a low introductory rate may not be less expensive for your situation once you account for how long the rate lasts, what comes afterward, and the cost of transferring a balance. Compare the relevant terms side by side instead of focusing on one appealing number.
- Purchase APR: Compare the rate that would apply to purchases you carry from month to month. Make sure you are comparing the same kind of rate across offers.
- Rate type: Check whether the rate is fixed or variable, and read the agreement for how it may change. Do not assume the rate will remain unchanged if the offer or agreement says otherwise.
- Annual fee: Include any recurring fee in the cost of keeping the card. A lower APR does not by itself tell you the full cost of the account.
- Balance-transfer fee: A transfer fee can reduce or erase part of the interest savings. Check the fee and compare it with the benefit you expect from the offered rate; do not assume a transfer is free.
- Promotional APR: Confirm how long it lasts and what APR applies afterward. A low introductory rate is temporary, so the post-promotion rate is essential to the comparison.
- Eligibility: Confirm that you qualify for the offer you are considering. A displayed rate is not necessarily the rate or terms available to every applicant.
- Available credit: Confirm that the credit limit is sufficient for the balance you intend to move. An offer that cannot accommodate the balance may not accomplish what you want.
If you are considering moving a balance, compare the full cost and conditions rather than assuming a new card solves the problem. A transfer fee can offset savings, a promotional APR ends, and the available credit may not be enough to move the full balance. No current card offer or guaranteed amount you would save is established here, so use the issuer’s current terms for your own comparison.
A practical comparison is to note each offer’s purchase APR, whether the rate is fixed or variable, any annual fee, the balance-transfer fee, the promotional period, the rate after that period, eligibility, and available credit. Then compare those details with the terms your current issuer actually offers. If you cannot confirm a detail from the offer, ask the issuer before applying or transferring a balance.
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When you need a hardship arrangement
If you are struggling to make payments, tell the issuer that directly and ask whether it offers a workout or temporary hardship arrangement. Do not assume this is simply a permanent APR reduction: the arrangement may involve conditions or changes to how the account works. A hardship request is about finding out what repayment help, if any, the issuer can offer for your circumstances.
Regulation Z, §1026.55, includes an exception addressing workout or temporary hardship arrangements. One example is a rate reduction conditioned on making timely payments. The regulation does not require every issuer to offer the same program or guarantee approval. It is not evidence that every cardholder is entitled to a particular rate or arrangement. Regulation Z §1026.55
Before agreeing, ask for the complete terms, including the arrangement’s duration, required payment, balances covered, account-use restrictions, consequences of a missed payment, and any credit-reporting implications. These details depend on the issuer and your agreement; get them explained and in writing. In particular, make sure you know what happens if you cannot meet a payment condition, because the cited regulation’s example shows that a rate reduction can be conditioned on timely payments.
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Ask the issuer to distinguish the arrangement from an ordinary APR review. Find out whether the offer is temporary, what payments are expected, and whether you can continue using the account. Do not assume that a hardship arrangement preserves all existing account features or changes every balance in the same way. Standard terms across issuers are not established, so the written offer is the relevant source for the terms you are being asked to accept.
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If the issuer does not offer a hardship arrangement, ask what other lower-cost or repayment options, if any, are available. You can also investigate nonprofit credit counseling if repayment remains difficult. No specific counselor, service, or referral program has been verified, so check any provider and its services directly. Keep counseling separate from a company that contacts you unexpectedly and promises a rate reduction for an upfront fee.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Avoid rate-reduction scams
You do not need to pay an intermediary to ask your issuer for a lower APR. The FTC cautions consumers about debt-relief pitches that demand an upfront fee and recommends contacting the card company directly. Be especially wary of an unexpected call or message promising a shortcut or guaranteed rate cut. FTC guidance on lowering credit card interest
The safe first step is to use the contact information on your card or statement and speak with the issuer yourself. The FTC’s wording is to contact the card company directly and ask how to qualify. The fact that a caller claims to have a special relationship, a guaranteed process, or a way to bypass the issuer is not a reason to pay them. The FTC guidance warns about upfront-fee debt-relief pitches and unexpected offers; do not treat a stranger’s promise as an approval from your issuer.
If repayment remains difficult, you can investigate nonprofit credit counseling, but distinguish counseling from unsolicited companies that promise to lower your APR for an upfront fee. The terms and services of any counselor should be checked directly; a counselor cannot guarantee that your issuer will approve a rate change. No particular provider or partner program has been verified.
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What to expect
An issuer may agree to lower your APR, offer another option, or decline. The FTC says there are no guarantees, and the sources cited here do not establish a reliable probability of success, a universal escalation route, or an individual savings estimate. No particular script has been shown to work for everyone. Make the request directly, understand any proposed terms before accepting, and compare real alternatives if the answer is no.
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Keep the decision focused on the terms you can verify. For an APR review, ask what rate applies, when it starts, which balances it covers, and whether anything else changes. For a hardship arrangement, ask about its duration, payments, conditions, covered balances, account use, missed-payment consequences, and credit-reporting implications. For another card, compare the current offer’s APR, fees, promotional period, post-promotion rate, eligibility, and available credit. These are different paths, and the best next step depends on what the issuer actually offers and what you can manage.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I ask my credit card company for a lower interest rate?
Contact the issuer directly using the number on your card or statement and ask whether it can review your APR or explain how you may qualify for a lower rate. Be truthful about your circumstances, and ask what rate, timing, balances, and other terms would apply to any offer.
Is a lower credit card APR guaranteed if I call?
No. The FTC says there are no guarantees that an issuer will grant a rate reduction. No reliable success percentage or universal approval rules are established.
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Ask whether it is temporary or ongoing, when it begins, which balances it covers, what conditions apply, and whether payment terms or account use would change. Request the terms in writing and review them before agreeing.
What if I cannot afford my credit card payments?
Tell the issuer repayment is difficult and ask whether it offers a workout or temporary hardship arrangement. Ask about duration, payment amount, balances covered, account restrictions, missed-payment consequences, and credit-reporting implications. Terms vary, and approval is not guaranteed.
Should I pay a company that promises to lower my APR?
Be wary of unsolicited offers, guaranteed shortcuts, and upfront-fee debt-relief pitches. The FTC recommends contacting your card issuer directly to ask how to qualify for a lower rate.
What should I compare if my issuer says no?
Compare actual offers, including purchase APR, fixed or variable rate, annual and balance-transfer fees, promotional APR duration, the rate afterward, eligibility, and available credit. Verify current terms with the issuer; a headline rate alone does not show the full cost.
Can a balance-transfer offer save me money?
It may be worth comparing, but no particular current offer or guaranteed savings is established. Check the balance-transfer fee, promotional period, post-promotion APR, eligibility, and whether the credit limit is enough for the balance you want to move.
The Bottom Line
Ask your issuer directly to review your APR, and clarify the rate, timing, covered balances, conditions, and account changes before accepting an offer. If the issuer declines, compare current card terms—including fees and post-promotion rates—or ask about hardship help if repayment is difficult. A reduction is not guaranteed, and you should not pay an unexpected caller who promises one for an upfront fee.
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