Read This Piece To Become A Credit Card Pro
Having a credit card is very helpful should you find yourself in a financial jam. Do you need to make an emergency purchase but have no cash right at hand? Using bank cards recklessly can lead to negative credit reports and financial ruin. In this situation, a credit card can be beneficial. Are you trying to establish a better credit score? It can be easy with a credit card! Continue perusing this piece to gain practical information about bank cards.
It’s good credit practice to consistently maintain two or three open charge cards. This is especially helpful when building a good credit score, but remember these cards should be paid in full monthly. Keep in mind though that if you have more cards than three, this could have a negative effect on your credit score.
Credit Account
Never close a credit account until you understand how it affects your credit history. Sometimes it is better to leave an unused credit account open than it is to close it. Choose to keep the accounts that you have had open the longest that make up your credit history.
Whenever you spot anything fraudulent on your monthly credit card statement, call the issuing company right away. By doing so you give the credit card company the best chance of catching the thief. That is also the smartest way to ensure that you aren’t responsible for those charges. A simple phone call is usually all it takes to report fraudulent charges or put a hold on a stolen card.
If you are having trouble making your payment, inform the credit card company immediately. If you are at risk of being unable to make payments in a timely manner, the credit card issuer will usually try to arrange a payment plan that you can stick to. This communication may keep the company from filing a late payment report with creditreporting agencies.
If you are purchasing something at a retail location with a credit card, make sure that you never leave any spaces on the receipt blank. Draw a line all the way through a tip line to prevent someone else from writing in an amount. To ensure that no one has been adding any false amounts, stay on top of your monthly statements, making sure they match your receipts.
Don’t write your pin or password down where others can see it. Memorize your password, and never share it with anyone else. Putting the number and password down on paper can be an invitation to fraud and financial disasters.
Before using your credit card online, check to verify that the seller is legitimate. Call the company to talk with representatives and never buy from a merchant that does not provide a physical address.
Interest Rates
Remember, interest rates can change quickly and are not negotiable. Credit card issuers have several interest rates they can use at their discretion. If your interest rate is high, call your credit company and see if they will change it before you switch to a new card.
It is clear that bank cards are used for many different things. From simple actions like paying for items at the checkout line, to using them to boost a person’s credit score, credit cards have a multitude of uses. Keep this advice in mind whenever you use your card.