Credit cards basics

A box on my credit card bill says that I will pay off the balance in three years if I pay a certain amount. What does that mean? Do I have to pay that much? If I pay that much and make new purchases will I still owe nothing after three years?

Am I responsible for charges on a joint credit card account if I didn’t make them?

Am I responsible for unauthorized charges if my credit cards are lost or stolen?

Can I make issuers stop sending me credit card offers in the mail?

Can a credit card company charge me interest after I close my account?

Can my card issuer change my credit card from a MasterCard to a Visa - or from a gas card/department store card to a MasterCard?

Can my credit card company change the terms of my account?

Can my credit card company charge a fee based on how I paid my bill, such as for making a payment over the phone?

Can my credit card issuer reduce my credit limit?

Can the card issuer request information about my income, my age, and my Social Security Number when I apply for a credit card?

Can the credit card company sell my account?

Can they charge me interest on a charge I told them I did not make?

Do I pay interest on new purchases after I get a zero or low rate balance transfer?

Do joint credit card accounts with my spouse affect my credit score?

How are prepaid cards, debit cards, and credit cards different?

How do I send my credit card company a billing error notice?

How do credit reporting companies get my information?

How does my credit card company calculate the amount of interest I owe?

How long can the card issuer take to resolve my credit card billing error dispute?

I want to close my credit card account. What should I do?

If I link my credit card to my checking account to cover overdrafts, can the bank/credit union charge me a fee each time I use it to cover an overdraft?

If I pay off my credit card balance when it is due, is the company allowed to charge me interest for that month?

Is there a law that limits credit card interest rates for servicemembers?

I’ve seen a lot of advertisements for companies that consolidate credit card debt. Are these legitimate?

My bank/credit union offered to link my checking account to a savings account, a line of credit, or a credit card to cover overdrafts. How does this work?