How to read a credit card statement and dispute charges.

Learn how to read a credit card statement so you can understand fees, dispute charges, detect fraud and identity theft.

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How to read a credit card statement:

Credit card statement.

(1) Type of Balance: Numbers to the right of "Purchases" refer to goods purchased. Numbers to the right of "Cash Adv" refer to cash advances (none on this statement example).

(2) Previous Balance: This shows the amount due on the previous month billing. Here is was $1,241.28.

(3) Average Daily Balance: Daily average used to compute finance charges. Not all banks use a Daily Average to compute interest.

(4) Percentage Rates: The interest on amounts not paid before the due date (#9). The Monthly Periodic Rate is simply the Annual Rate divided by twelve. In this example the bank charges the same 16.8% interest on purchases as it does on Cash Advances. Some banks charge more for Cash Advances.

(5) Charges: Amount charged to card in past month. New charges.

(6) Payments: Amount paid during the month. On this example $1,231.28 was paid. Note that the previous balance was $1,241.28 so the bill was not paid in full. A balance of $10 is still owed.

(7) Finance Charges: Because payments (#6) were $10 less than the previous balance (#2), finance charges apply to ALL the new charges (#8) of $1,454.95. The Finance Charge for the month is $21.26. It was computed by multiplying the monthly rate (1.4%) by the average daily balance shown in (#3).

(8) New Balance: The sum of (#5) and (#7). This is the amount that should be paid by the payment due date (#9) to avoid further finance charges.

(9) Payment: Pay by this date to avoid finance charges. The Grace Period in this example is 25 days.

(10) Account Number: Do not give the number out except to make a purchase.

(11) Credit Limit: How much the bank will let you charge.

(12) Transaction Date: The date an item was purchased or a payment received by the bank.

(13) Posting Date: The date the bank received the charge slip from the merchant. Usually only a few days after the Transaction Date.

(14) Reference Number: Unique number applied to each purchase or payment.

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Credit Definitions

Definitions of common credit terms. In addition to our dictionary, we also offer free credit advice articles and calculator software to assist with personal finances and budgeting. We define: Account, Amortization, Annual Fee, APR, Asset, Auto Loan, Auto Refinancing, Auto Title Loan, Average Daily Balance, Balance Transfer, Balloon Payment, Bankruptcy, Billing Cycle, Billing Statement, Capacity, Capital, Cash Advance, Charge Card, Chargeoff, Closing Costs, Collateral, Collection Agency, Consolidation Loan, Consumer Credit Counseling Service, Debt, Co-signer, Credit Bureau, Credit Card, Fraud, Identity Theft, Inquiry, Limit, Credit Report, Risk, Score, Daily Rate, Debit Card, Debt Settlement, Debt to Income Ratio, Debtor, Default, Delinquency, Discharge, Dispute, Downpayment, Equal Credit Opportunity Act, Equity, Fair Credit Reporting Act, FICO, Finance, Fixed Rate, Foreclosure, FTC, Federal Trade Commission, Garnishment, Grace Period, Home Equity Loan, Installment Loan, Interest Rate, Introductory Rate, Joint Account, Joint Credit, Late Fee, Liability, Lien, Loan to Value Ratio, Minimum Payment, Mortgage Loan, Income, Nonrevolving Credit, Origination, Over Limit, Payday Loan, Periodic Rate, Personal Loan, PITI, Points, Prepayment Penalty, Prime, Subprime, Principal, Refinancing, Repossession, Return Check Fee, Revolving Credit, Second Mortgage, Secured Credit Card, Security Freeze, Signature Loan, Smart Card, Social Security Number, Statute of Limitations, Student Loan, Tax Lien, Trade In Value, Tradeline, Universal Default, Unsecured Loan, Vacated, Variable Interest Rate, Wage-Earner Plan, Writ of Replevin

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MasterCard credit card, such as the gold MasterCard or the platinum MasterCard.

American Express card, such as the gold American Express card or the platinum American Express card.

Chase card, such as the platinum Chase card.

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Before you apply, review all the credit card facts. Once you get the card right for you, read every credit card statement carefully and request credit card companies to stop credit card mail offers. Browse more credit card resources.

Auto Loan: Get free quotes and apply for a new or used auto loan or for auto refinancing.

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Home Loan: Free multiple quotes from mortgage lenders. Apply for a new home loan and start building your financial security.

Mortgage Refinancing: 2nd mortgage loan and other types of mortgage refinancing for home remodeling, equity cash out or a debt consolidation loan and more.

Payday Loan: Easy approval bad credit unsecured loan with no credit check, no deposit and no security.

Personal Loan: Submit a short or long term personal loan application (if available), or apply for other secured or unsecured loan offers.

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Search our free credit help resources and apply for financial services. The credit crisis may have prompted stricter credit card company and loan lender approval standards, but poor credit people can still find bad credit financing.