There are people who are frightened of the very idea of credit cards. There is no need to fear bank cards. They can be very helpful when a person needs to make a large purchase, or prefers not to carry or use cash. The article below contains useful advice on bank cards.
Many credit card offers include substantial bonuses when you open a new account. Make sure that you’re fully aware of what’s in the fine print, as bonuses offered by credit card companies often have strict requirements. Commonly, you are required to spend a particular amount within a couple months of signing up to get the bonus. Check that you can meet this or any other qualifications before signing up; don’t get distracted by excitement over the bonus.
Before opening a credit card, be sure to check if it charges an annual fee. Depending on how exclusive the card is, a platinum or black card may carry a fee of $100 to $1000. If it is not necessary for you to have an exclusive card, avoid fees by not getting one.
As soon as you receive your charge cards, sign them. A lot of people skip this step and have their cards stolen. Many cashiers will check to make sure there are matching signatures before finalizing the sale.
Remember not to have charge cards sent to your mail if you don’t have locks on your mailbox. Credit card thieves have admitted to taking cards out of mailboxes that were unlocked.
When you buy with a credit card on the Internet, keep copies of your receipt. Do not throw that receipt out until you have your credit card statement in hand. That way you can compare the two and make sure charges are correct. If there is an incorrect charge, contact your credit card company immediately. This helps ensure that you never get overcharged for your purchases.
Be sure not to leave any any portions blank when you sign a receipt at a store or restaurant. If you are not giving a tip, put a mark through that space to avoid someone adding an amount there. Always verify the fact that your purchases agree with what you statement says.
Avoid the urge to lend a credit card to someone. A close friend may need something, but it isn’t a smart idea to lend them yours. This can lead to your friendship being ruined. Or it can result in over the limit charges should your friend charge more than you authorized.
If you use your credit card to make online purchases, be sure the seller is a legitimate one. Try out any telephone numbers they have listed, and if there is no address listed for the seller, treat this with suspicion.
If you feel your interest rate is excessive on your credit card, ask the issuer to lower it. If they refuse to do this, try looking for cards at a different company. When you discover one, switch to a company that will serve you better.
When looking for a secured card, you should avoid prepaid cards. These cards are debit cards, and as a result, they are not reported to the large credit bureaus. In addition, a number of them also charge additional fees, and they are really only another checking account. Get a proper secured credit card by parting with a few hundred bucks for the deposit. These proper secured charge cards will help you to improve your credit rating, as they are reported to the major credit bureaus.
Avoid paying for restaurant checks and grocery bills with credit, as they can take a while to appear on your statement, which will make you underestimate what your true balance is. This can result in more fees on your account if you spend over your limit due to the groceries or restaurant bills not posting fast enough.
The advice in this article will likely help any consumer overcome their fear of credit card use. If you use a credit card responsibly it can actually be extremely useful. Just use the information you’ve learned here and your fear of charge cards will be a thing of the past.