Credit Cards: Who's Got Your Number?
Keeping Your Credit Cards Out of the Wrong Hands
I can spend all day telling how you to find the best credit cards, how to improve your credit, where the best offers are hiding, etc. -- and it will all mean nothing if I don't tell you just how dangerous those credit cards can be if you don't keep the numbers safeguarded. Here are some tips that will help keep your credit card numbers out of the wrong hands.
Who Needs To Know?
When a business asks for your credit card number, you hate to seem rude -- right? You're making an appointment with your doctor or booking an appointment at the spa and the girl on the phone asks for your credit card number. It's only polite to give it to her, right?
Wrong.
Don't ever give your credit card number over the phone unless you absolutely have to. You never know whose hands it will fall into and being rude is a lot better than being the victim of identity theft. If someone asks you for your credit card number, ask them why they need it. If they say it's "policy" ask to speak to the manager and see if you can work something else out.
Shred Those Documents
What do you do with your old credit card statements? If you throw them in the trash, you could be in big trouble. I was watching "Dirty Jobs" the other day and you have no idea how many hands your garbage passes through before it's in the land fill. Any of those people could steal your statement and have your credit card information.
Shred any sensitive documents before throwing them away. This includes medical and utility bills and bank statements in addition to credit card statements.
If you spend any time reading this site, you know how important your credit rating is. If your credit cards fall into the wrong hands, that rating can go right down the drain. Make sure you protect yourself and your credit cards properly.