Managing Your Credit
Gaining Control of Your Finances
If any of these apply to you, you may be quickly losing control of your finances:
- You don't know how much you owe until the bills arrive.
- You often pay your bills late.
- You are often unable to make a minimum credit card payment.
Disputing Charges on your Credit Card or Credit Report
When handling a dispute, whether it be with your card issuer, a credit bureau or a merchant, follow these rules of thumb:
- Write to the creditor or card issuer within 60 days after the first bill containing the disputed charge is mailed to you. Even if more than 60 days have passed since you were billed for the item, you still might be able to dispute the charge if you only recently found out about the problem.
- Document everything in writing including ...
Protecting Your Credit Cards and Accounts from Theft or Fraud
Protect your card as it protects you. Though your maximum liability from credit card fraud is $50, it is essential to do all you can to protect your card. A thief does not need your actual card to make unauthorized purchases on your account - all that is needed is the account number and the card expiration date. Therefore, you should guard your card like you would a valuable asset that you do not want someone to take.
Here are some tips on keeping your card and your account safe...
Good Credit Practices for Protecting your Credit and Increasing your Credit Score
Your credit history is an important part of your future; therefore, you should continuously practice good credit practices. Approval for a loan, mortgage, rental application, or even employment hiring decisions may be affected by your credit history. As a result, a good credit ranking can become a valuable asset, while poor credit practices have the potential to not only limit you borrowing capabilities but affect other factors of your life as well.
To assist in good credit practices, there are some basic practices...
