Card mechanics
Statement dates, grace periods, utilization and the other rules printed in the fine print.
What does paying only the minimum payment really cost?
Your statement is legally required to tell you how long the minimum will take and what a three-year payoff would cost. Where to find the box and how to read it.
Foreign transaction fees, and the currency question you should always answer the same way
Two charges apply when you pay abroad, and only one is your bank's. Real fees from six issuers on four continents, and the screen you should always decline.
Credit utilization: what actually gets reported, and on which day?
Your utilisation is a snapshot taken on a date you can see. What the bureaus receive, why paying in full does not always help, and how to move the number.
What counts as a cash advance, and why does it cost so much more?
Nine transactions your card agreement calls a cash advance, most of which look like ordinary purchases. What it costs, and how to spot one before you pay.
What is a grace period, how do you lose it, and how does it come back?
The interest-free window is a reward for paying in full, not a feature of the card. How you lose it, what it costs, and the two cycles that bring it back.
Statement date vs due date: which one actually runs your card?
The two dates run your card, and only one of them is printed in bold. What each controls, why paying early helps, and the 21-day rule that protects you.
Why was my credit card declined, and what should I check first?
A card can be declined while the account is current and the limit is high. The six mechanical reasons, in the order worth checking, and what to do at the till.