50,000 TL limit on credit cards: Payment burden is growing

Having a credit card limit above 50,000 TL does not only mean more spending power for cardholders. Under current regulations, the higher minimum payment rate set for cards above this threshold increases the pressure on household budgets, especially during statement periods.

According to financial regulations, while the minimum payment amount for credit cards with a limit below 50,000 TL is calculated at 20 percent of the statement balance, this rate rises to 40 percent for limits above 50,000 TL. Consequently, those who use their high-limit cards extensively face a higher cash payment burden at the end of the period.

If the minimum amount cannot be paid or is delayed, the card may first be blocked for cash withdrawals and subsequently for purchases. This situation makes debt management more fragile for consumers who increase their card usage due to urgent needs or those whose income-expenditure balance has been disrupted.

INTEREST BURDEN CAN INCREASE DEBT

In cases where the entire statement balance cannot be paid off, contractual interest is applied to the remaining debt, and late interest is applied in the event of a delay. If only the minimum payment is made, a significant portion of the debt is carried over to the next month, which can increase the total burden due to interest costs.

Experts point out that limits on high-limit cards should be determined according to actual needs. High limits that are kept open but not used can both make spending control difficult and push the minimum payment rate to a higher level.

Cardholders are advised to be careful in three main areas: not missing payment dates, not paying less than the minimum amount, and avoiding cash advances except in cases of necessity. It is noted that delays can negatively affect individual credit scores, which may make accessing credit more difficult in the future.