Why Atlanta Credit Card Holders Should Read Their Credit Statement Every Month
How frequently do you check your credit card statement?
If you're like most folks, you simply read your balance and write a check. After all, why would you want to think about all that money that goes down the drain each month, right? But if you don't check up on your charges, your loss could literally be somebody else's gain.
The Federal Trade Commission recently busted a group of scammers that stole millions of dollars from millions of credit card users for over four years. How did they get away with stealing so much for so long? Easy. They took small amounts from each victim - a quarter here, 75 cents there - which they figured no one would notice. Sure enough, very few people reported the charges. But all those pennies add up. If too much debt has you struggling to pay the bills as it is, you shouldn't have to deal with someone getting a free ride off of your hard-earned dollars.
So what can you do about it? Stopping scammers can be as simple as keeping close tabs on your credit card statement. Take the time to read through your bill each month. If you notice anything that doesn't add up -- or just seems out of the ordinary - call your credit card company to check.
Keeping a watchful eye on your credit card bills will pay off in more ways than one. Yes, of course you'll be a lot more likely to catch fraud. But you'll also be more likely to catch mistakes - hey, typos happen, and they can cost you money. And more importantly, you'll become more familiar with how much money you're spending. It's easy to swipe a credit card without really focusing on the money being spent. But knowledge is power. When you see what you're buying - and paying - each month, you'll have a better idea of where and how to cut back if necessary. You'll be better equipped to build a budget.
Of course, sometimes having too much debt gets in the way of organizing your finances. If debt problems are forcing you to live paycheck to paycheck, bankruptcy can be the best way to break the credit card cycle. Curious about how a bankruptcy plan can help you conquer credit card debt? Consider a free one-on-one debt analysis with an Atlanta bankruptcy attorney. Just like taking action can help stop scammers, it can also be your ticket to financial freedom.