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There are two ways to save money on your credit cards. One is to save with your existing cards; the other is to switch to new cards.

If you want to keep one of your major credit cards, but it carries a high rate or fee, try “dialing for dollars.” Call your issuer and explain you want to close your account to get a cheaper card elsewhere. Some banks will actually waive or reduce the fee, or offer you a better rate, to keep you as a customer.

If it doesn’t work because you have too much debt, too low a credit score, or your issuers just won’t play ball, you can always shop for a better deal somewhere else. If you want to switch to new, cheaper credit cards, here are some tips:

First, you can switch to cheaper cards even if you still owe money on your current ones. Don’t cut up your cards and send them back right away, however. Many cardholder agreements contain “acceleration clauses,” which allow the card issuer to demand payment in full for any reason, at any time. If you close out your account, your card issuer may ask you to pay off your balance immediately. It doesn’t usually happen, but it can.

Before you close those expensive accounts, go shopping. Find a card or two that you consider good deals. Apply for one, wait until you receive an answer, and then apply for the other, if necessary. Don’t apply for several cards at one time, as that may cause the other card issuers to think you are on a credit binge, and it will result in a rejection. Once you have the new cards in hand, you have several options.

Option #1. Let your card issuer do the work for you: Some card issuers will pay off your other accounts for you. All you do is sign a form specifying the accounts you want paid off, and they will take care of it for you. The balances on those accounts will then be transferred to your new, cheaper card. These days, you may even get a form with your application that authorizes your new card issuer to pay off other cards if your application is approved. Or the new issuer may even take care of it over the phone.

Option #2. Write a check: If your card issuer won’t pay off the balance for you, you can request convenience checks. Convenience checks look similar to regular checking account checks, but instead of accessing your bank account, they draw against your credit card’s line of credit. Purchases made with convenience checks are usually billed to your account at the cash advance interest rate, so make sure that rate is not expensive. There may also be transfer fees charged for these checksbe sure to ask.