TOEIC

Question

The following is an advertisement passage which I found in my TOEIC test book.
Reduce Your High Utility Bills Custom Replacement Windows
No Payments & No Interest for 12 months* when you use a qualifying Sears card and if paid in full within 12 months from date of sale and account is kept in good standing. See below for important deferred interest details What has confused me is that first it says no payments and interest for 12 months, but next it says buyers are required to pay in full within 12 months from date of sale (purchase?). Did that get it right? Please help and thanks.

AlpheccaStars · Accepted Answer

LcchangWhat has confused me is that first it says no payments and interest for 12 months, but next it says buyers are required to pay in full within 12 months from date of sale (purchase?). Did that get it right? Please help and thanks.

You can pay the whole amount exactly one year after you purchased the windows and will not owe any interest. That is if you use the store's credit card.
eg. You buy windows for $500 on August 18, 2013.
You use your credit card. So your credit card has a balance of $500.

On August 17, 2014 you put $500 on your credit card from your bank account.
At the end of August, 2014, you will have a zero balance.

But of course, there is a (hidden) trick.

Lcchang · Answer

Thanks, but I don't understand why it says "when you use a qualifying Sears card and if paid in full within 12 months from date of sale and account is kept in good standing." Sounds like I will have to pay the bill the following month a\fter I have made the purchase. Please advise.

Enoon · Answer

If that one purchase is not the only charge on your credit card, you will still have to pay on those other ones as usual, and if you fail to make the minimum payment due on those other charges, your account will stop being in good standing. Is that what you mean?

Lcchang · Answer

I would like to know if the sentences I just quoted means the purchase that I will be making, the custom window replacement, or it just means my other regular purchases using the Sears car.

AlpheccaStars · Answer

LcchangI would like to know if the sentences I just quoted means the purchase that I will be making, the custom window replacement, or it just means my other regular purchases using the Sears car.

It says nothing about other charges on your card. The offer only applies to the Custom Replacement Windows.
You have to pay for them within one year to avoid interest charges. Suppose you buy windows for $500.

To keep your account in good standing, you might have to pay a minimum balance each month because of other charges on the card. Sears will calculate that for you.
If the only balance on the account is the amount you paid for the windows, the minimum balance each month will be zero for 11 months, and you will not have any interest to pay. In the 12th month, you have to pay the $500.

If you charge other items, then you might have to pay interest and a minimum balance on those items. If you do not, then Sears will charge you interest on the amount you paid for the windows that is still on our credit card.

You have to read the fine print to find out the details on how it works. The stores generally try to get you to use the card, and pay interest, too.

Lcchang · Answer

I totally understand what it means now under your explanation. In the beginning, I thought you have to pay nothing for the first year, and you only need to start paying from the 13th month to the 24th. Is there a paying method like this in the US? Some promotion which is like "No payments for the first three months".

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