Credit card

Financial institutions, major department stores, oil companies and other merchants offer a wide variety of credit cards. Quite often, they offer gifts, bonus points and rewards of all kinds in order to recruit customers and keep them loyal. Although these offers can be tempting, you must carefully examine your needs before accepting a credit card and remember that a credit card cannot be issued without your written consent. The issuing institution may also offer you a second credit card, to be used by another person. Your written consent is required and you will be completely responsible for any charges brought to this card, regardless of who the user is. If you use your credit card to make purchases by mail, telephone or over the Internet, first check that the merchant has a good reputation and that the transaction is secure.

	PRACTICAL ADVICE
	Keep your credit cards and bank cards in a safe place and never divulge your personal identification number (PIN). In the event that your card is stolen or lost, please notify the issuing institution as soon as possible.