Knowing about credit cards and how they work is recommended. You don’t want to end up owing money or ruining your credit score by not being able to handle them. Here you will find a few ways to deal with credit cards, so continue reading for some advice on the subject.
It is a good idea to have a couple of open credit cards. You can improve your credit score by managing these cards responsibly, especially if you keep from carrying month-to-month balances on the cards. However, if you do open more than 3 accounts, it will not be a positive for prospective lenders.
The majority of people do not deal with credit cards in the proper manner. Although it’s understandable to be in debt under special circumstances, most people abuse this and get mixed up in payments that are unaffordable. Paying your balance off every month is the smartest thing to do. This will keep your credit score high.
Make friends with your credit card issuer. Most major credit card issuers have a Facebook page. They might offer perks for those that “friend” them. They also use the forum to address customer complaints, so it is to your advantage to add your credit card company to your friend list. This applies, even if you don’t like them very much!
If you have a credit card with high interest you should consider transferring the balance. Many credit card companies offer special rates, including 0% interest, when you transfer your balance to their credit card. Do the math to figure out if this is beneficial to you before you make the decision to transfer balances.
Don’t pay any fees upfront when you are getting a credit card. The legitimate card issuers will not ask for any money up front, unless you’re getting a secured credit card. When you are applying for a secured card, be sure to find out how the deposit is going to be used.
Do not make purchases with your credit card for things that you can not afford. Credit cards are for things that you purchase regularly or that fit into your budget. Making grandiose purchases with your credit card will make that item cost you a great deal more over time and will put you at risk for default.
Take advantage of the freebies offered by your credit card company. Many companies have some sort of cash back or points system that is attached to the card you own. When you use these things, you can receive cash or merchandise, just for using your card. If your card does not offer an incentive like this, call your credit card company and ask if it can be added.
Be certain you are buying from a legitimate vendor before you use a credit card to buy anything on the internet. You should call any numbers that are listed on the site to make sure that they are working, and you should avoid using merchants that have no physical address listed on the site.
Make sure that you watch your statements closely. If you see charges that should not be on there, or that you feel you were charged incorrectly for, call customer service. If you cannot get anywhere with customer service, ask politely to speak to the retention team, in order for you to get the assistance you need.
Use a credit card to pay for a recurring monthly expense that you already have budgeted for. Then, pay that credit card off each and every month, as you pay the bill. Doing this will establish credit with the account, but you don’t have to pay any interest, if you pay the card off in full each month.
Some have the mistaken idea that having no credit cards is the best thing they can do for their credit. It is a good idea to have a credit card so you can start building a good credit history. Make use of it each month, as well as paying in full each month. It isn’t possible to have a good credit score if you never use credit.
Know what recent credit card laws have been created recently. Creditors are not allowed to raise rates retroactively. They are also never allowed to double-cycle their billing practices. Study the laws and keep up with the changes. Two legislative changes have occurred that need to be noted, including the CARD Act.
Department store cards are tempting, but when trying to improve your credit and keep a great score, you need to keep in mind that you don’t want a credit card for everything. Department store cards can only be used at that specific store. It is their way of getting you to spend more money at that specific location. Get a card that you can use anywhere.
As you can see, a few steps can be taken to ensure that you are correctly using your credit cards. Don’t let them scare you off because they seem too complicated or expensive. You will find that with the proper research that credit cards can be helpful to use when you are in various situations.
