Most of us rely on credit cards to pay our bills for us these days. No matter how many zeroes are next to the number on the bill, we know that our piece of plastic will take care of it. Hand it to the salesperson, and with a swipe here and a signature there, you're done. Simple, easy, and right away.
They go shopping with us when things are good and when things are bad. When the ATM doesn't work, we can count on them. We don't have to carry around piles and piles of cash because of them. But do we know how to keep our credit cards in good shape?
One of the most important things to remember about credit card safety is not to tell everyone your credit card number. Even if you're giving the number to someone over the phone or entering it on a website, make sure the person or site is real.
Then, when your credit card bill comes, check each entry to make sure none of them are wrong. If a payment sounds strange to you, make sure to look into it carefully. Keep the bills, and each month compare them to your statement. This will go a long way toward making sure the statement is true. Also, check the receipts before you sign them, even when you're making a payment. Don't sign a receipt that has empty spaces on it.
Also, you don't have to bring every credit card you own with you everywhere you go. Don't bring anything you don't know you'll need. Put the rest somewhere safe and easy to get to. Also, make sure you know where all of your credit cards are. Make sure you know when any of them disappear. If your credit card is stolen and you don't know about it, you will get a huge bill.
If you lose your credit card, call the credit card company and give them the information. You might also need to go to a nearby police station to file a report. Make a list ahead of time of all the things that need to be done.
There's not much chance that you'll lose your card. But keep in mind that you don't have to lose your credit card for a lot of credit card-related crimes to happen to you. So always keep your head on your shoulders and watch out for those credit cards.
