5 Essential Credit Card Rules You Need to Know
Whether you're a seasoned credit card pro or someone who's new to the world of plastic, there are five rules you'd do well to remember. After all, credit cards can make or break your credit rating. You don't want it to be the latter. With that in mind, here are five credit card rules to live by...
1. On Time Every Time
Think one late payment won't hurt? Think paying a day late can't harm your credit card situation? Think again. One late payment and your credit card company can hit you with the "universal default" rate (usually about 30 percent) instead of the great rate you signed up for.
Even if you don't get hit with a higher interest rate as punishment for that late payment, you will end up paying a late fee. Unless you want to pay £30 because you paid your credit card a day late, I suggest paying on time every time.
2. Read The ToS
The ToS (Terms of Service) that is sent with your credit card is not simply paper padding to protect the thin piece of plastic as it goes through the mail. It's actually important reading. It tells you what your grace period is, what your interest rate is, what the default interest rate is and other important information.
It's a pain in the rear. The print is small and the material isn't exactly exciting, but you are obligated to read these Terms of Service. The minute you use your credit card, you are agreeing to them. Technically, the ToS can say "you give us the right to your first born child" and if you didn't read them, you'd never know.
3. Stay True
Jumping from one card to another to take advantage of their teaser rates may sound like a good idea, but if you close accounts once you do so you're actually hurting your credit rating. Part of your credit score is determined by the length of the relationships you have with your creditors. If you're maxing your credit card relationships out at six months, your score is going to take a hit.
4. All or Nothing
A credit limit is not a license to spend. If you have a credit limit of £5,000 it doesn't mean you should go out and max out your card. Only spend as much as you can pay off in any given month. If you can't pay your bill in full at the end of the month, you're going to be paying interest and that's not a good thing. Bottom line - don't charge more than you can pay off unless it's a dire emergency.
5. Know Your Cards
Almost all credit cards come with some type of perk. Whether it's as basic as online account management or as extravagant as 24/7 concierge service, know exactly what your credit card offers and take advantage of these perks.
And there you have it... Five credit card rules to live by. The credit card game can be a confusing one, and many have played and failed. Fortunately, many more have played to win.
Related Tags: credit cards, rules, interest rate
Christian is an author of several articles pertaining to Credit Cards. He is known for his expertise on the subject and on other Business and Finance related articles.
Your Article Search Directory : Find in ArticlesRecent articles in this category:
- What's In Your Credit Report?
IdentificationYour name, address, social security number, birthdate and previous and current employm - Pros And Cons Of Low Purchase Rate Credit Cards
Low interest credit cards are outstanding until the time period runs out. Most of these offers promo - Bad Credit Loan Scams
There are several bad credit loan scams out there. These are usually aimed at those that don't have - Successful Credit Repair Methods
If you bad credit, you are not alone. Fact of the matter is there are tens of thousands in the count - Auto Loans Bad Credit: Bad Credit Is Not An Obstacle Now
Now a days, people want their own Cars. Though there are Public Transport Systems, they do not watch - Credit Card Services For Your Business
Co Branded Credit cards can be very beneficial for you if you have a business. These cards are onlin - Will The Actual Natural Motion Endure Large Food? -- Horizon Milk
The natural food business may be going through major work day in energy in the past 10 years. Becaus - Prices Of Dlp Lamp Alternative Parts - Dlp Bulbs
Since you will have to purchase a DLP> lamp each and every few years, it might be useful to know the - Dlp Bulbs -- Facts About Dlp Lamp Replacement
With regards to technical breakthroughs there aren't many things that are more popular than tvs and - Ways Which Anybody May Restore Their Very Own Credit Rating Easily - Credit Repair For Dummies
If you listen to a lot of the actual ads which are available regarding credit>, more than likely you
Most viewed articles in this category:
- Credit - Repair
To make the life more comfortable people purchase lots of things from clothing to cars and homes tha - Helpful Tips For Using Low Interest Rate Credit Cards
People with good credit ratings often receive offers for low interest rate credit cards. A credit ca - Benefits to Businesses Accepting Credit Cards
Many business owners report a sharp increase in profit when they begin accepting credit cards as a m - How To Remove A Bankruptcy From Your Credit Report
Credit report repair can be a long, tedious process and one of the hardest items to get removed is a - Putting Low Interest Rate Credit Cards To Work
If you have a solid credit rating, then you may receive offers for low interest rate credit cards. Y - Buying A Car With A Personal Contract Purchase Loan
If you are looking to buy a car but are unsure whether or not a new car is worthwhile, then you shou - Credit Repair - Tips And Tricks That Work
When you apply for credit, your lender will request a credit report from a credit reporting agency. - Bad Credit Debt Consolidation
No doubt there are numerous bad credit personal loans but hunting for a secured loan for bad credit - Before You Buy
Check out the market in the area you want to buy. Find out what price houses are going for and - Top 10 Keys To Creating A Good Credit Score
We know it can be unfair but credit is used for everything these days. Utility companies are even us