Tips For Being A Wise Credit Card Owner
Posted at by CreditWiz on category Credit CardsSome people fear having credit cards because of potential problems that can occur. However, there is no reason for you to be scared about owning a credit card. They are very useful when you respect them. This article should give you some great advice on how to manage your credit cards.
Try to avoid using your credit cards to buy items that are way out of your affordable range. While it is alright to use them to pay for something you can afford at a later date, you should not buy a big-ticket item that you will have a problem paying for.
Be sure to read the fine print of the credit card terms carefully before you begin making purchases to your card initially. Legally, using your card for the first time will probably mean that you accept the terms spelled out in that agreement. The agreement might be rendered in fine print, but you still need to understand it completely.
Make sure that you sign your card as soon as it arrives in the mail. It is easy to forget to do, but if your card is stolen, there is no signature for cashiers to compare. Many merchants require the cashier to verify the signature matches so that you can keep your card safer.
If you want to get your hands on a great credit card, watch your credit score. Credit scores are always used by card issuers to decide which cards an individual consumer may receive. The best cards are offered to people with great scores.
When you sign credit card receipts, never leave any spaces empty. Draw a line all the way through a tip line to prevent someone else from writing in an amount. Also, check that your purchase amounts match the amounts on your statement.
Avoid using public computers to buy items with your credit card. Public computers in coffee shops and public libraries could store your information, ready for a thief to retrieve and use it. Typing sensitive account information on a public computer invites trouble. Only buy things online if you are on your own computer.
Always memorize any pin numbers and passwords for your bank or credit cards and never write them down. You need to just remember what your password is so no one else can steal or use it. Anyone will be able to access your account if they get hold of your written pin number, especially if it is stored with your card.
Be careful when you choose to use your credit card for payments online. Make sure to only purchase from a security encrypted site. Your credit card details are protected when you use a site that is secured. Also, ignore emails that ask for credit card information, these are attempt to get your information.
Keep track of your credit score. Most credit cards consider a good credit score to be anything above 700. Be smart with the way you are using your credit. When you have a 700 score or higher, you get some of the best offers available.
Everyone has experienced this. “You have been pre-approved for a credit card!” Although sometimes the timing is right, more often you’re not looking for another credit card when this happens. Shred the letter if possible, or at least tear it up thoroughly. Avoid tossing it in the garbage intact because the application might contain some confidential information.
Anyone who is scared to use their credit card should feel better after reading this article. If you use a credit card responsibly it can actually be extremely useful. Everything will be okay if you keep the advice from this article in mind.