Credit Card Statements: Reading The Fine Print
Why The Pamphlets That Come With Your Credit Card Statements Aren’t Just Optional Reading Material
As a consumer, having credit cards brings with it certain responsibilities. One of those responsibilities is being informed. Like most consumers, you may have gotten into the habit of throwing away the inserts that come with your monthly credit card statements. If that’s the case, there are some things you really need to know.
No, They Don’t Just Like Wasting Paper
Credit card companies send tiny pamphlets with your monthly statements to notify you of any changes to your account. These pamphlets usually arrive a few months before the scheduled changes are to take effect. Unfortunately, many consumers simply discard these pamphlets without even reading them. While it may be tempting to just throw away the inserts that contain all that fine print, it really isn’t a sound decision to do so.
Credit card companies don’t just send extra pamphlets with your credit card statement because they like making the envelope thicker. They send you these inserts because there are things about your credit card account that you need to be made aware of. Sometimes your credit card late fees might be increasing, your interest rate may be changing, your grace period may be shortened, etc. The only way you will know for sure what it is that is changing is if you read the pamphlet.
A Need-To-Know-Basis -- And You NEED To Know
If you knew your credit card late fee was increasing from $20 to $35, would you pay more attention to the matter of getting the bill paid on time? If you knew your interest rate was jumping up in the next two or three months, would you think twice about charging a big purchase? Reading the pamphlets that come with your credit card statements can save you a lot of money in the long run and can help you avoid unnecessary headaches.
It is generally a good idea to hang onto the pamphlets that reflect changes to your credit card terms. This way, if there are any questions regarding the policies of your credit cards, you’ll have a file to refer to. Each time an insert comes with your credit card statements, add it to the file.