Credit card charges and other important information

In this, the final part of our guide we take a look at credit card charges, fraud, theft and misuse and who to contact if you are having difficulty making repayments.

Credit card charges

Most credit card providers will charge a fee if you:

• Do not make the minimum payment by the payment date.
• Exceed your credit limit.
• Have a Direct Debit or cheque returned unpaid.

If you have a habit of forgetting that your payment is due, setting up a monthly Direct Debit will help you to avoid late or missed payment charges. Remember that missed payments can have severe consequences, and may affect your ability to obtain credit in the future.

Credit card fraud, loss, theft and misuse

If you are victim of credit card fraud, or your card is lost, stolen or misused without your permission then you will not be expected to pay.

To protect your credit card when shopping online, you should keep your PC protected by using a firewall and up-to-date anti-virus software. If you are using a wireless connection then ensure it is encrypted.

Before entering any personal details into a website, look for a padlock symbol in your browser or check that the website address starts with 'https' as these both indicate that you are within a secure area of the site.

You can also register for 'Verified by Visa' or 'MasterCard SecureCode' as these add an extra layer of protection when using your credit card to buy goods and services online. You can find details of how to register your card on the credit cards website.

If you're having difficulty making repayments

If you’re in a situation where you are finding it difficult to make your repayments and you are unable to reduce the amount you are paying on interest charges by switching to a credit card that offers lower interest rates, then you should contact your credit card provider at your earliest opportunity to discuss your options.

You can also contact your local Citizen's Advice Bureau^†, the National Debtline^† or the Consumer Credit Counselling Service^† for free advice.

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