Consumer Credit: Credit Rules

1. Credit cards are just like a loan-you have to pay what you owe.
2. Keep track of how much you spend. Remember that incidental and impulse purchases add up fast.
3. Save your receipts. Compare them with your monthly bill. Promptly report problems to the company that issued the card.
4. Never lend your card to anyone.
5. Owing more than you can repay can damage your credit rating. That can make it hard to finance a car, rent an apartment, get insurance-even get a job.
6. Pay your bill on time, and in full when possible. If you don't, you'll have to pay finance charges on the unpaid balance-and it takes forever to get caught up if you just pay the minimum.

Federal law limits your liability for unauthorized charges to $50 per card.

Credit Cards & Financial Services

Use the links on the left side of the page to search for credit cards and financial services, and use the search box at the top of any page to search for credit card and financial services books. Visit the Web sites listed at the bottom of this page to search for more credit and financial services information and products.

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