Last week I was reviewing my credit card situation as I knew that several of my balance transfer deals were coming due shortly. I was debating applying for a new credit card to take advantage of other balance transfer deals, however I’ve been a bit leery of doing that since I don’t want to put another credit account on my file. Unlike in the US where 0% transfer deals seem to be a dime a dozen, here in Canada they’re few and far between. However they do exist. And I managed to find one.

Citi Financial was having a deal on their Gold card, that gives 0% interest on balance transfers till January 2009, as well as waiving the transfer fee. (Citi typically charges a fee for any transfers, so getting them to waive this is a good thing.) So I waffled back and forth, read all the fine print, and in the end, I decided to go for it.

A big change from back in the old days was that I applied for the card online. I filled in the form and clicked Submit. And that was that. It got me thinking to the way it used to be, when you would fill out a form and mail it in, versus this new way, where I just filled out everything online and sent it in on the Internet. Which way do you prefer? Would you Apply Online for a Credit Card? Or would you only do it old school, and mail in the form? Personally, I like the online way, as it’s easier, and it’s better for the environment as the issuer doesn’t have to print up anything for me. You know how banks and insurance companies like to print up reams of paper for each little thing, so any way I can get them to stop is fine in my books. But does sending it through the Internet bother you? I suppose if you never shop online or do any financial transaction online, then you would have some concerns, but for someone like me who does buy online, who does my banking online, and uses PayPal and other similar things, then it is no concern at all to Apply Online for a Credit Card.

I was pleased to see that issuers here in Canada are starting to do more things online, and in secure fashions, so that I don’t have to be as worried about my personal information as I used to. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not like I send off my information to just anyone, but to accepted and trusted recipients, that’s no problem. In fact, these days, it’s probably safer to send it online than take money out of an ATM, what with all the scams and card information stealing that goes on these days. But in the end, it’s all a matter of what you’re comfortable with. So, would you apply online? Or do you still like to physically sign your applications?

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