As any credit card holder knows, once a month you receive a monthly statement for your card that tracks your usage. Many receive their statement in the mail, while some cardholders have opted for the eco-friendly paperless e-statement route. In many cases, these statements get a cursory glance before being tossed in the trash, and many others simply ignore them. However, it\u2019s a mistake to ignore your credit card statements, as they provide information on your spending, transactions, potential fraudulent activity, and possible hidden fees.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The next time you\u2019re tempted to just toss that statement in the trash instead of looking it over, consider these reasons why you should be keeping up with these monthly statements:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While it\u2019s true that many cardholders can itemize each purchase spent, it\u2019s still incredibly easy to overlook your charges, especially when using your credit card only involves a few simple steps. Unless you\u2019re a math whiz and keep an itemized list of every transaction you make, you\u2019re likely going to need to go over your monthly balance to ensure you\u2019re not overspending or making costly mistakes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even if you\u2019re incredibly safe with your credit card and your personal information relating to your card, it\u2019s still possible to experience some degree of identity theft. According to a 2018 study, more than 15 million Americans experienced identity theft in that year. While it\u2019s easy to conflate this kind of theft with having your account wiped out, criminals have gotten savvier by stealing small amounts over time, making it somewhat undetectable unless you\u2019re reading over your credit card statements every month.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You may have your card linked to something that incurs a monthly charge — a streaming service or account upgrade, for instance — that you no longer interact with or use. It\u2019s so easy to sign up for \u201cpro\u201d accounts through apps and sites that provide a service that you may be overlooking how many of these regular monthly charges you incur. Reading over your credit card statements can help you weed out what you no longer use, so you can cancel subscriptions and apps if need be.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In 2023, mistakes can still happen when it comes to billing. Perhaps you\u2019ve accidentally been double-billed for a service or monthly subscription, or experienced technical issues with charges. If you\u2019re checking your credit card statement on a regular basis, you can arrange a refund before it\u2019s too late.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
As any credit card holder knows, once a month you receive a monthly statement for your card that tracks your usage. Many receive their statement in the mail, while some cardholders have opted for the eco-friendly paperless e-statement route. In many cases, these statements get a cursory glance before being tossed in the trash, and … <\/p>\n