Don’t Ignore Credit Card Mailings
If you aren’t careful, you might discover that what you thought was more junk mail from your credit card company was actually important information about your account. Credit card issuers send account changes to you via mail, and if you don’t read everything you receive, you might discover that you have missed something vital.
Most of us, when we get a credit card, know to read the fine print on your Visa credit card agreement. However, few people understand that it is important to remain vigilant regarding their credit card accounts. With your credit card agreement in hand, you should make sure that you read everything your bank sends you later on. Issuers send these notices separate from your account statement, so it is a good idea to read everything your credit issuer sends – just to keep up with changes made to your agreement.
This guy did not read a notice and lost his rewards.
David Lazarus, L.A. Times columnist, related the story of someone who lost all his rewards points as a result of not reading information sent by his credit card issuer -a former bank industry insider, no less. When Capital One credit card issuer sent the mailings, the hapless client was having issues related to injuries. He failed to read that his credit card issuer required him to opt-in to continue a rewards program. Since the client didn’t follow the required steps, the program ended for him. And he lost all his built up reward points.
The story illustrates the type of tactics you need to be on the alert for. Notifications of credit card account changes that take place when you fail to complete required steps are on the rise. These kinds of changes to your credit card agreement are popular because they offer a sneaky way for the credit card issuer to do what it wants if you don’t complete a series of required steps. If you tossed out something that came in the mail from your creditor, then you could find yourself paying a much higher interest rate, without your reward points, and gnashing your teeth at the inconvenience of trying to put everything back the way it was. Sometimes the best credit card issuers may have these policies.
Getting the credit card issuer to put things back the way they were can be extremely difficult, requiring a great deal of time and frustration. The credit card company has done its legal duty, and informed you of the impending changes to your credit card agreement. If you haven’t read the notice, the credit card issuer figures that’s your fault, even if you were involved in accidents beyond your control.
Open everything your credit card issuer sends you. Everything. You would be surprised just how many people neglect credit account changes. And remember: Many credit card companies package these notices to look remarkably like junk mail, prompting you to unceremoniously throw out important credit account change notifications. Whenever mail comes from your credit card issuer company, make sure you read it.