Constance Some of us might have mastered credit card usage as the cards have been in existence for more than two decades. But every month there are lakhs of people who become eligible to avail a credit card thus becoming first-time users of plastic cards. As knowing is different from implementing or using the card, there is always something new to learn about credit cards especially for first-time users.
Some things may sound basic, yet they are the most critical aspects of credit cards one cannot afford to ignore. Listed below are a few such basic but important tips that could help first-time credit card users to manage their cards without falling into any trouble.
It’s boring but worth reading
You might already know what we are talking about. Yes, the terms and conditions that come along with your credit card. Well, the terms and conditions document might look lame and is annoying to read with that ant head-sized font. But we insist you go through at least a few important terms in the document. You can access an e-version of the document by searching the title of the document on Google.
A few important terms you must know are the interest rate on your card, annual fee, renewal fee, cash withdrawal fee, late payment fee, bill generation date, due date, reward points program, and others.
Limit your spending
A card with a higher credit limit doesn’t mean you spend all of it every month. Make sure to spend only the amount you can afford to pay back before the next due date. Spending above your payback capacity would certainly land you in trouble.
Further, the credit utilization ratio, which is the ratio between the total outstanding on the card and the total credit limit, must be 30% to maintain a good credit history thereby a good credit score. That means, if you have a credit card with a total credit limit of Rs.1 lakh, your monthly usage should not be more than Rs.30,000.
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Don’t make expensive choices
Certain facilities offered on a credit card, cash advance, or cash withdrawal, for instance, are a little expensive than they look. Though the cash withdrawal feature on a credit card looks tempting, you must know all the fees and charges involved before availing of the facility. Cash advances are not only charged with a transaction fee on every withdrawal but also attract interest from the date of withdrawal until the amount is paid back in full, making them expensive.
Know the bill date and due date
If your credit card issuer promotes a credit card with the 50-day interest-free period line, never go by it when clearing your dues. The interest-free period varies from one transaction to another, hence always check your welcome letter or monthly credit card e-statement or net banking account to know your exact bill date and due date. While the bill date is the date on which your credit card bill gets generated every month, the due date is the date by which you need to make the payment.
Never share your card details
Any bank or financial institution that issues credit cards never asks the customer for card-related details such as card number, expiry date, CVV, and PIN altogether. A card number, in most cases, might suffice to get the information related to the account. Hence, never fall prey to any mobile calls, SMS requests, e-mail messages that pose like the banker, and ask for such details.
All the above-mentioned details are confidential hence should not be shared even with the bank. Opting for two-step authentication will make your credit card transactions even more secure as it sends a one-time password (OTP) to the registered mobile number every time the card is used to conduct a transaction. The OTP should be entered to process the transaction thus preventing misuse of the card in case it’s lost or stolen.
Convert your due into EMIs
If the outstanding on your credit card is not too high, you can split and pay the same provided your banks allow it at a lesser interest rate and processing fee. EMI on balance is one of the common features offered by most banks to allow credit cardholders to clear their dues in easy monthly installments. Check with your bank about the processing fee, interest rate, and other charges involved in the EMI facility before opting for the same.
Clear the high-interest debt first
If you have debt on multiple cards, target the one that has the highest interest rate. Clear that one at the earliest possible by paying more than the minimum amount due and by making multiple payments a month. Keep the lower interest rate cards towards the end irrespective of the amount of outstanding due on the card.
With the increasing number of credit card scams and frauds, it is important to stay cautious while using a credit card at various venues. Especially online transactions are more susceptible to fraud compared to transactions done at the point of sale (POS) terminals. Therefore, using credit cards on authoritative and secure websites is critical for the safety and security of the card.
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14 Comments
My mom had her account information stolen, I think off one of those has station skimmers. Knowing about the OTP would’ve been incredibly helpful and helped us catch it earlier. Thank you for this article. Also, the EMI information is very helpful. I’ll see what I can do with my card.
That’s a lot of details.
This is so through thank you so much for sharing this.
I must share this with my daughter. She doesn’t have one right now but it’s coming!
You would think in this date and age that people know these tips, but shockingly they do not, so thank you for reminding them!
a detailed and exhaustive list of instruction. Very useful.
This is really informative and although we are already aware of these points but tend to forget or take for granted so thanks for emphasising and reminding.
Wish I wouldve known this as my younger self. Thank you
This is something high schools should be teaching! Thanks for the informative post.
great post! I love how you explained everything we need to know about credit cards.
Even seasoned credit card users can sometimes use tips for using them more wisely. Here is a fun tidbit. Did you know that Diner’s Club and American Express were both introduced in the 1950s?
I never thought that credit card purchase have so much to deal with. I guess I’ll learn more about it. Thanks for sharing this informative post.
much needed article…will use the things for my personal tasks
Thank you for the great post really it help me.