Info about credit card use

-- Moving balances from one card to another can make your overall debt temporarily appear lower, if you time it just right. A higher score can mean a lower mortgage, auto or card interest rate.

Keep credit card balances under 40% of the credit line or ask for a credit line increase to lower your percentage. Either way it will boost your credit score

Going over your credit limit at any time, even during a billing cycle, can cost a fee. Play it safe - always stay 10% or more under your credit limit.

Stuff offered on the Internet with unbelievable prices may have been purchased with stolen credit cards. These same cyber-criminals also want to capture your credit card info when you purchase the stuff from them.

Signing up for a store card can give you a big discount on a major purchase. Just make sure you close the account after you clear the balance unless you intend to use it later.

When forking your card over for a transaction make sure you see how it is handled and that it is not scanned or swiped by two machines. Crooks can duplicate your card with skimmed data.