Wednesday, April 23, 2014

It pays to read your bills

True, bills aren't the most thrilling read. They are hardly funny, there are no vampires or romantic triangles, and you probably won't be pleased if there's any suspense involved.

When bills arrive, it can be hard enough to look at the amount due, never mind wading through the line items. But if you don’t check them, you could end up paying for things you never bought. It can be easy to fix — if you spot it. Make it a habit to read your bills as soon as you get them. Do you recognize every charge?

Unexpected charges could be the result of a store accidentally charging your card several times, or a thief stealing your information. Unfortunately, thieves don’t need your physical credit card to use it. They just need your card number and expiration date.

What if you have automatic scheduled payments? It’s important to check those statements for accuracy and timeliness, too. Given the recent data breaches, reviewing your statements line by line is a smart idea.

More from NCPW.gov.

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