Nowadays, nearly everyone receives credit card offers in the mail. All of these credit card offers promise great things to those who sign up. Remember the credit card offers you have received over the years? They all profess that they are the perfect card for you.

These credit card offers are all great — at first glance. The more discerning ones can see right through the tactics and ploys of many credit card companies. Still, many are lured by the promises in large print; once the deed is done and they are the proud owner of a new credit card, they soon realize the error of their ways.

The problem boils down to the small print, which many fail to pay attention to. In their excitement to get the credit card that is just perfect for them, they neglect to read the more important things associated with the credit card, which are usually specified in fine print.

You can avoid getting into this kind of problem if you do your assignment whenever a credit card offer comes your way. You need to know and understand the different features that come with a particular credit card being offered to you. Usually, this involves having to read the fine or small print. If you are aware of these credit card features, you will know what to look for in a credit card.

* Fees

There are many fees involved in having credit cards. These fees vary from one credit card to another, so before you send in your credit card application, make sure you know all the fees involved with owning and using the credit card you are applying for.

* Annual Fee

There are banks and credit card companies that charge an annual fee for the use of their credit card. However, this fee is usually negotiable if you talk with a credit card company representative. Often times, some companies will waive the annual fee for the first year or reduce it in order to gain new business.

* Cash Advance Fee

If you are planning to use your credit card to make cash advances, keep in mind that there are fees for doing this. The fee for cash advances vary from one credit card company to the next, but the fees are usually high. You will be charged a one-time fee for every cash advance you make. In addition, the interest rate on your cash advance will be considerably higher. Unlike regular credit card purchases where the interest starts to accrue after a grace period, cash advances begin to accrue interest from the moment you take out the cash.

* Transfer Fee

Because of the stiff competition among credit card companies, many offer introductory cash advance and balance transfer rates for a period of time. They usually offer a lower interest rate in order to get you to transfer your balance on your existing credit card to their credit card. This may all sound good, but beware of the fees these companies will charge you for transferring your balance to their card. Before transferring any balances to a new card, find out exactly how much the transfer fee is and if it is reasonable.

* Miscellaneous Fees

Before signing up for a credit card offer, identify the other miscellaneous fees: fees for late payment, fees if you go over your credit limit, set up fees and return-item fees. Make sure that you know all the other miscellaneous fees associated with the credit card so you can decide if you should go ahead and get the credit card or move on to another credit card offer.

* Incentives

Thanks to the stiff competition among credit card companies, we have more credit card options. Every day, credit card companies are trying to come up with the best incentives in order to get new business. Incentives come in the form of rebates, frequent flyer miles, points that can be redeemed for items, and extended warranties on purchases.

So if you frequently travel, for instance, a credit card that lets you accumulate frequent flyer miles and exchange the miles for free travel, travel insurance, car rental insurance or even hotel accommodations is the ideal card for you. If you often use a credit card to purchase grocery, dine out or shop, a credit card that offers cash back for your purchases is a good one to have.

* Rewards

In addition to trying to attract new businesses, credit card companies also work hard at trying to keep their current credit card users. This is the reason they constantly try to come up with ways to have you using your credit card. One way they do this is through rewards. Each time you use the credit card they issued you, you rack up points, which you can later redeem. However, beware of this type of credit card as you will have to use your card many, many times and accumulate a minimum number of points before you can redeem them.

So when you are considering getting a credit card and you are looking over the various credit card offers presented to you, know the different fees associated with each credit card. Know what credit card features you need and don’t need.