Read the Fine Print

When it comes to credit card offers, it pays to read the fine print. If you don’t, you may find yourself saddled with fees, charges, and other penalties that seem to come from nowhere.

Sandra Block in today’s USA Today has an excellent article on how to read the fine print and where to find it.

For example, some card issuers are now charging up to 5% to transfer your balance to another card. Others are withholding rewards on your rewards-based credit card if you are late in your payments or are charging you to get them reinstated.

Last week, the Federal Reserve launched an on-line, searchable database of the “fine print” from over 300 credit card issuers. You can find the database at federalreserve.gov/creditcardagreements/

Do your research!