Extras from Your Credit Card Company

We've all discovered the convenience of having credit cards to use for shopping, dining out, reserving hotel rooms, renting cars, and many other things. But have your ever explored the many extras you get from your credit card company? Depending on which lender issued your credit card, there may be a wide range of offerings available to you.

Online credit card account management

Almost every credit card company provides its customers with the ability to manage their accounts online. This includes viewing your current and past statements, researching individual transactions, signing up for email alerts for payment reminders, reviewing new activity on your card, and paying your credit card online. At the click of the mouse you can access your card information 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Budget and credit education

Many companies also go the extra mile in providing their customers with in-depth information about establishing a monthly spending budget, reducing credit card debt, improving credit scores, and dealing with incorrect information on your credit report. This information can prove invaluable especially if you're just starting out and need financial guidance on building a strong credit history.

Identity theft information

With the rise of identity theft in America, credit card companies are taking an active stance in educating consumers about the dangers of becoming a victim of this crime. Many credit card websites now offer extensive content on how to determine if you've been a victim of identity theft, what steps to take to protect your financial information, how to report theft and request a fraud alert from the country's three credit bureaus, how to monitor your credit report to assess if any of your account information has been compromised, and where to go online or by telephone to get help dealing with identity theft.

Taking advantage of balance transfers

If you're considering transferring all or a part of the balance on one of your credit cards to a card with a lower interest rate, most lenders make it easy for you to accomplish this online. Just complete the form provided on your credit card company's website, specify the account and balance information on the card you are transferring from, and your lender will take care of the rest.

Other extras from your credit card company

You can also take advantage of your credit card company's online tools to order convenience checks, request a credit line increase, add another user to your account, or request a replacement card. And, if you'll be shopping online, you might want to sign up for a temporary card number, expiration date, and security code to use when making internet purchases. The temporary card replaces your real card information, giving you an extra layer of protection against identity theft.