— LOCK IT DOWN
Most major card issuers have implemented
“card lock” or “freeze.” It lets you turn your
card off or on using the issuer’s website or
app. You use locks to head off fraud when
you misplace a card, for example. But you can
turn the spigot off and on for other reasons,
like curbing impulse spending or cutting off
authorized users. And you might as well lock
cards you rarely use in case the numbers are
compromised. Note that some uses of this
feature don’t work well with American Express
— its card freezes expire
in a week.
— USE “AUTOPAY” AND “EVERYDAY”
If you have multiple credit cards, designate
one as an autopay card and use it for recurring
payments. Carry a different card that’s “in the
wild,” for everyday spending, whether in person
or online. At some point, that card will likely
incur fraud — and after reporting it, you’ll get
a replacement, but with this tactic, you won’t
have to visit multiple sites to change your
autopay details.
— REQUEST A DOWNGRADE
If you have a seldom-used credit card with
an annual fee, you might hesitate to close the
account , which could lower the average age
of your credit and affect how much total credit
you’re using, both of which are factors in credit
scores. Issuers with many card options may let
you switch to a no-fee card and maintain your
credit line and credit history. That way, you ditch
the annual fee without harming your credit.