When used well, bank cards can mean racking enough perks and points to snag a good vacation, or just a stress-free wallet. Other people who don’t use charge cards wisely deal with unexpected, large bills. Here are some great ways to use your card wisely to get the most benefit from it.

If you see a charge on your card that isn’t yours, talk to your credit card issuer immediately. If you do this, your credit card company will have a good chance of tracking down the thief. This will also allow you to be sure that you aren’t responsible for the charges they made. Any charges that you did not make need to be reported to your credit company with a phone call or a high priority email.

If you are having trouble making your payment, inform the credit card company immediately. If you’re likely to miss a payment, you want them to know so they can work with you, which they usually do. That may cause them to hold off reporting you to the credit agencies as being late.

Never charge items on credit cards that cost far more than you have to spend. It is acceptable to use your credit to make purchases that you will be able to pay off later, but do not make large purchases that could put you in a financial bind.

When you first receive your bank cards, be sure to sign them right away. People who avoid this step leave themselves open to identity theft if the cards should be stolen. Many cashiers will check to make sure there are matching signatures before finalizing the sale.

Credit Card

When you receive any credit card correspondence, whether in the form of a letter or email, take the time to read it. Credit card companies can make changes to your annual membership fees and things like your interest rates but they have to send you a letter explaining what they have changed. If you don’t like the change, you may cancel your account.

Carefully study all of the small print. Always get the full details before signing up for a pre-approved card. It’s important to know what your interest rate is and will be in the future. You should be aware of any and all fees, and be aware of grace periods.

Make sure the password and pin number of your credit card is difficult for anyone to guess. Don’t use something obvious, like your birthday or your pet’s name, because that is information anyone could know.

Do not lend out charge cards under any circumstance. Even though a good friend might have a need, it is never a good decision to lend it to anyone. Doing so can result in over the limit fees if your friend charges more than you allowed them to.

Try not to close your accounts. Although you may think doing this will help you raise your credit score, it can actually lower it. The reason is because the amount of available credit you have is lowered and that will be balanced against what you owe.

To help be sure you don’t overpay for a premium card, compare its annual fee to rival cards. Certain exclusive cards charge annual fees upwards of $1,000. If you will not use the benefits of an “exclusive” card, the fee is not worth it.

Bank cards without reward programs can still help you manage your financial life. Using a card unwisely in any circumstance is going to lead to long-term problems. It’s not hard to stay on top of your credit, but it will require knowledge and dedication. Use this given advice to put yourself in the right category of users.