Credit card basics

Explore more topics

Credit card basics

Page 2

What Is the Fair Credit Billing Act?

Learn about your rights under the Fair Credit Billing Act, including how to dispute billin...

By Jennifer Brozic

Oct 29, 2025

What Is a Statement Credit?

A statement credit is a transaction that posts money to your credit card account, reducing...

By Jim Akin

Oct 29, 2025

How to Cancel a Credit Card

If you’re thinking about canceling a credit card, here are some steps you can take to ensu...

By Ben Luthi

Oct 27, 2025

Should I Open a New Credit Card for Holiday Shopping?

A new credit card could help you rack up rewards and take advantage of other perks. But go...

By Evelyn Waugh

Oct 24, 2025

Can You Get a Credit Card Without a Job?

It's possible to get a credit card without a job, but you'll still need to meet the card i...

By LaToya Irby

Oct 23, 2025

How Many Credit Cards Is Too Many?

Understand how many credit cards are too many before applying for a new credit card. Disco...

By Tim Maxwell

Oct 23, 2025

When Should I Apply for Another Credit Card?

Consider applying for another credit card if your credit score has recently improved or yo...

By Brianna McGurran

Oct 21, 2025

Are Credit Card Surcharges Legal?

Credit card surcharges help businesses offset payment processing fees and are legal in mos...

By LaToya Irby

Oct 21, 2025

Can You Have a Negative Balance on a Credit Card?

It’s possible to have a negative balance on your credit card. Here’s how it can happen and...

By Ben Luthi

Oct 9, 2025

Average Credit Card Debt by Age in 2025

Average credit card balances for Generation Z and millennials surpassed both baby boomers ...

By Chris Horymski

Sep 17, 2025

How Do I Stop Receiving Credit Card Offers in the Mail?

Are credit card offers piling up in your home and creating paper clutter? It's easy and fr...

By Evelyn Waugh

Sep 3, 2025

How to Get a Credit Card if You Don’t Have a Credit History

If you don't have a credit history, consider applying for a starter credit card like a sec...

By LaToya Irby

Aug 29, 2025

How to Increase Your Credit Limit

Increasing your credit limit gives you more buying power and can help build your credit sc...

By Gayle Sato

Aug 22, 2025

What Is a Cash Advance and How Does It Work?

A cash advance is a convenient way to use your credit card to get cash in a pinch. The dow...

By LaToya Irby

Aug 18, 2025

What Is the Average Number of Credit Cards?

Although buy now, pay later plans are partially responsible for the decline in the number ...

By Chris Horymski

Aug 15, 2025

Statement Balance vs. Current Balance: What’s the Difference?

Your credit card's statement balance might change monthly, but its current balance can cha...

By Louis DeNicola

Aug 13, 2025

What Is a Preapproved Credit Card Offer?

A preapproved credit card offer means a card issuer has identified you as someone who like...

By LaToya Irby

Jun 30, 2025

5 Credit Card Hacks to Avoid

You might want to earn credit card rewards and improve your credit, but these so-called ha...

By Louis DeNicola

Jun 26, 2025

Prequalified vs. Preapproved: What’s the Difference?

Getting prequalified or preapproved for a loan or credit card can give you an estimated of...

By Louis DeNicola

May 30, 2025

How Does Credit Card Rental Car Insurance Work?

Before you rent a car, here’s what to know about how rental car insurance on your credit c...

By Ben Luthi

Feb 26, 2025

What Is an Authorized User on a Credit Card?

When you become an authorized user, you join another person's credit card account and, ide...

By Brianna McGurran

Feb 21, 2025

7 Credit Card Tips You Should Know

Credit cards have many perks, including fraud protection, travel insurance and cash back r...

By Evelyn Waugh

Jan 23, 2025

Should I Get a Credit Card?

Managed well, a credit card can help you build credit and earn rewards. But know the risks...

By Evelyn Waugh

Dec 19, 2024

What Happens if You Max Out a Credit Card?

Maxing out your credit card can lead to fees, declined transactions, damage to your credit...

By LaToya Irby

Dec 17, 2024

Credit Card Protections and Insurance for 2025

The latest trends and top credit card travel and purchase protections and benefits for 202...

By Louis DeNicola

Nov 22, 2024

Do Credit Cards Offer Extended Warranties?

Many credit cards automatically offer extended warranty protection on eligible purchases. ...

By LaToya Irby

Nov 19, 2024

How Do Credit Card Refunds Work?

When you return something purchased with a credit card, you usually get a credit to your a...

By Karen Axelton

Nov 11, 2024

Can You Reopen a Closed Credit Card?

You may be able to reopen a closed credit card account, but it depends on why your account...

By Evelyn Waugh

Oct 23, 2024

How to Destroy a Metal Credit Card

Metal credit cards are sturdy but difficult to destroy. Fortunately, there are a few optio...

By LaToya Irby

Sep 27, 2024

What Is the Best Age to Get a Credit Card?

Getting a credit card when you turn 18 can help you establish a strong credit history earl...

By Jennifer Brozic

Sep 24, 2024

Is It Worth Paying an Annual Fee for a Credit Card?

Find out why credit cards have annual fees and when you should (and shouldn’t) pay them.

By Louis DeNicola

Sep 24, 2024

Should I Pay My Credit Card Bill Early?

Paying your credit card bill on time is crucial, but early payments may create financial b...

By Tim Maxwell

Sep 17, 2024

What Happens if You Only Pay the Minimum on Your Credit Card?

Paying the minimum on your credit card may save you in the short term, but it will cost yo...

By Jennifer Brozic

Sep 17, 2024

How to Apply for a Credit Card

Apply for a credit card by checking your credit, choosing a credit card type, comparing ca...

By Brianna McGurran

Sep 12, 2024

What Is a Cash Advance Fee on a Credit Card?

Credit cards aren't just a convenient payment method. You can also use them to get cash, b...

By Jennifer Brozic

Sep 3, 2024

How Do Credit Card Payments Work?

Your credit card issuer will calculate a minimum payment that's due each month, but you ca...

By Brianna McGurran

Sep 3, 2024

Does the 15/3 Credit Card Hack Work?

If you want to improve your credit scores the 15/3 credit card hack isn't the answer, but ...

By Louis DeNicola

Aug 31, 2024

What Is APR on a Credit Card?

The APR on a credit card affects the time and cost of paying off your balance. Understandi...

By LaToya Irby

Aug 21, 2024

When Should I Pay My Credit Card Bill?

Aligning your credit card payments with the due date and your financial goals can help you...

By Jennifer Brozic

Aug 17, 2024

Does Applying for Credit Cards Hurt Your Credit?

If you’re thinking about applying for a credit card, here’s what you need to know about ho...

By Ben Luthi

Aug 16, 2024

7 Different Types of Credit Cards

There is a wide range of credit cards designed to fit every need and lifestyle, from rewar...

By LaToya Irby

Aug 11, 2024

Are Credit Cards Safer Than Debit Cards?

Credit cards are safer than debit cards because under federal law, you won't be responsibl...

By Brianna McGurran

Aug 8, 2024

Why Is My Credit Card Being Declined?

Your credit card could be declined for something as simple as an expired card, something m...

By Tim Maxwell

Jul 31, 2024

How to Freeze a Credit Card

Freezing a credit card lets you pause most new transactions. You can freeze your credit ca...

By LaToya Irby

Jul 15, 2024

What Is a Foreign Transaction Fee?

Foreign transaction fees can increase the costs of using a credit card when traveling abro...

By Emily Starbuck Gerson

Jun 29, 2024

What Happens if I Stop Paying My Credit Cards?

Stopping your credit card payments can affect your finances and your credit scores. Here a...

By Louis DeNicola

Jun 24, 2024

What Happens When You Lock Your Credit Card?

You may be able to lock many of your credit cards, which blocks new charges and cash advan...

By Jim Akin

Jun 9, 2024

Does Locking Your Credit Card Hurt Your Credit?

A credit card lock has many benefits, like preventing thieves from making fraudulent charg...

By Tim Maxwell

Jun 2, 2024

What to Do if Your Card Gets Declined

If your credit card gets declined, you can do a number of things to respond to the situati...

By John Egan

May 31, 2024

What’s the Minimum Age for an Authorized User?

The minimum age requirements for authorized users vary from 13 to 18. Still, some card iss...

By Tim Maxwell

May 30, 2024

How to Check Your Credit Card Application Status

Curious about the status of your credit card application? You can generally check your app...

By Karen Axelton

May 26, 2024

How to Change Your Name on Your Credit Card

The process of changing your name on a credit card varies by issuer, though most require y...

By Emily Starbuck Gerson

May 24, 2024

Are Credit Cards Bad?

Credit cards can be helpful or harmful—it all comes down to how you use them.

By Louis DeNicola

May 23, 2024

How Long to Wait Between Credit Card Applications

Wait six months between credit card applications to protect your credit score and avoid ex...

By Brianna McGurran

May 13, 2024

Credit support

Credit advice

Identity Theft support

Identity Theft Advice

Money advice

Credit Card advice

Loan advice

Auto Insurance Advice

Explore more topics