Home > Financial Fitness > Resources > Financial Articles > Credit & Debt Management > Ten Worst Credit Card Mistakes

Ten Worst Credit Card Mistakes

Used properly, credit cards offer significant safety and convenience benefits. But mistakes with your credit can cost you dearly--in time and money and in terms of your credit rating. To help you avoid costly credit card errors, the Virginia Society of CPAs highlights the most common credit card mistakes an how to avoid them.

1. Not shopping around for the best interest rate.

Credit card rates and terms vary greatly. Financial publications and the Internet are good sources to find the best credit card options. If you already have a major credit card, discuss rates with your card issuer. In many instances, customers in good standing can negotiate lower rates.

2. Choosing a card for the wrong reasons.

Some credit card holders choose a card to earn free airline miles or cash rebates – without regard to the card’s annual fee or interest rate. In the end, they may end up paying more in fees and interest than the value of the benefits they receive. Mileage and rebate cards might make sense for those who pay their balance in full each month, but if you don’t, there’s a good chance you’re better off with a no-fee, low interest rate card.

3. Being misled by introductory rates.

Watch out for credit cards with low initial “teaser” rates that increase significantly after a few months. Be aware, too, that sometimes the low initial rate applies only to balances you transfer from an existing card – and not to new purchases.

4. Not reading the small print.

Before you sign up, be sure you know the card’s interest rate and how it is calculated, the grace period, fee schedule, and other terms. Once your card is activated, your credit card company is obligated to notify you of any changes in the terms of your account. Be sure to carefully read this information. If you don’t like the terms, look for a new lender.

5. Paying just the minimum payment due.

When you pay just the minimum due on your credit card, you’re stretching out the repayment period and adding to your overall interest cost. Each month, you should allocate as much as you possibly can to more quickly pay down your credit card debt.

6. Taking cash advances.

Plan ahead and avoid using your credit card for quick cash at a cash machine. Cash advances often come with high service fees and higher interest rates. To make matters worse, your payments may be applied first to your lower-interest balance.

7. Being late with payments.

Credit card companies charge a late fee — which could be as high as $30 — even if you’re just one day late. To be sure your payment arrives on time, mail it at least 10 days in advance. Some issuers allow you to make last-minute credit card payments by phone or via overnight delivery service. You’ll pay a fee, but it’s likely to be considerably less than a late payment fee. 

8. Having too many credit cards.

There’s little reason to have more than two national credit cards. If you have credit cards you no longer use, contact the issuer and arrange to close the account. Too many open credit cards — even if they have zero balances — may cause a lender evaluating your mortgage or other loan application to question what would happen if you ran up balances on all of them.

9. Not checking your monthly statement.

If you spot a problem, immediately notify your card issuer by phone and follow up with written correspondence. Be sure to send your note to the address for billing complaints (which may be different from the address to which you send your payments).

10. Not valuing your credit.

A good credit rating is essential. Make every effort to keep your credit record clean. According to CPAs, perhaps the biggest mistake of all is waiting too long to seek help if you are deeply in debt. If you need advice about managing your credit card debt, a CPA can help.

The Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants (VSCPA) is the leading professional association dedicated to enhancing the success of CPAs. Founded in 1909, the VSCPA has 9,000 members who work in public accounting, industry, government and education. For general information, please visit the Press Room on the VSCPA website at www.vscpa.com, e-mail vscpa@vscpa.com or call (804) 612-9424. To search for a CPA in your geographic region, visit www.financialfitness.org and click on “Find a CPA.”

©American Institute of Certified Public Accountants