We all know how tedious it can be to read everything your credit company mails to u s- yeah, that’s a lot of really tiny writing that tires the eyes – but it’s important to do so. If you don’t read what you get about your credit card account, you might discover that you missed something important – and now there’s nothing you can do about it.

One of the vital things you should do is to read the fine print on your credit card agreement. Most people do this when they first sign up However, few people get that it is important to remain on their toes regarding their credit cards. After you have your credit card agreement hammered out, 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.

Even those who know better can get caught. 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 sent the mailings, the hapless client was having difficulties related to injuries. He failed to read that his credit card company required him to opt-in to continue a rewards program. Since the client didn’t renew, the program ended for him. And he ended up losing all his built up reward points.

The story illustrates the type of tactics you need to be on the alert for. Many credit card issuers send mailings notifying you of changes that will take place if you fail to do something. These kinds of changes to your credit card agreement are popular because they allow the credit card issuer to do what it wants if you neglect to respond. If you tossed out something that came in the mail from your credit card issuer, then you could find yourself without your reward points (and paying a fee to get them back), stuck with a higher interest rate, or battling other inconveniences. It’s not uncommon for the best credit companies 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 issuer has done its lawful duty, and informed you of the upcoming changes to your credit card agreement. If you haven’t read the notice, the credit card company figures that’s your fault, even if you were involved in accidents beyond your control.

Look through everything your credit card issuer sends you. Everything. You would be surprised at how many people neglect the fine print on their contracts 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. If the mail comes from your credit card issuer company, make sure you open and read it.

Author Bio: Drew Cassels writes for this Canadian credit card website, which offers reviews and applications for numerousCanadian credit card offers.

Category: Finances
Keywords: fine print,credit cards,contract,credit card company,credit card