Jennifer Doss

3 weeks ago | cardratings.com | John Schmoll |Jennifer Doss

Wisely managing credit cards is essential to growing your credit score. Sometimes life can get in the way and you miss a payment. Being a few days late may be of minimal consequence, but being 30 days late can have a fatal impact on your financial health. It doesn’t have to stay that way. Here’s how to deal with late payments and prevent them from ruining your financial life. In reality, a payment is late once you miss the due date.

4 weeks ago | cardratings.com | John Schmoll |Jennifer Doss

Identifying a wrong charge on a credit card can be frustrating. You may wonder if your credit card number was stolen or if a retailer didn’t stand behind its word. Federal law gives Americans certain protections in the event of an erroneous charge. Unfortunately, your time to file a claim is limited. Most banks make it simple to protect yourself from fraudulent charges, but you must follow specific steps. As you review your monthly statement, a charge may stand out.

1 month ago | cardratings.com | Lena Borrelli |Jennifer Doss

Jennifer Doss is a credit card analyst and the executive editor of CardRatings.com. She has worked as both a print and online journalist and has over a decade of experience in the media industry. Her published work has covered a broad range of topics, from finance and technology to travel and dining.

2 months ago | cardratings.com | Lena Borrelli |Jennifer Doss

A credit card can be a powerful tool for purchasing and credit building, but some times are better than others when it comes to actually getting for one. Before you get a new line of credit, it’s important to consider when to apply for a credit card. If you try to get a credit card at the wrong time, you could harm your credit score and set yourself back months. However, getting a credit card at the right time allows you to leverage your buying power and earn extra rewards while you spend.