Changes

==As protection==

==As protection==

If a consumer buys something, for example over the Internet, and the merchant doesn't send it, or it is not the way the merchant described it, if the purchase was made with a credit card the consumer has a great deal of protection. If a complaint is made to the credit card company, the company will check it out and very frequently will issue a "chargeback" and take the item off the bill. It is important to complain right away and to have good records.

If a consumer buys something with a credit card—for example, over the Internet—and the merchant doesn't send it, or it is not the way the merchant described it—the consumer has a great deal of protection.  

 

If a complaint is made to the credit card company, the company will check the complaint and very frequently will issue a "chargeback" and take the item off the bill. It is important to complain right away and to have good records.

==History==

==History==

Credit cards were invented in the 1950s and became very popular in the 1960s. Before credit cards, travel was more difficult because travellers needed to carry money, purchase "travellers cheques," or make special arrangements in advance with banks in the cities they were travelling to. Mail order purchases were made by check, and were very slow, because most companies would wait for the check to clear before shipping the product.

Credit cards were invented in the 1950s and became very popular in the 1960s. Before credit cards, travel was more difficult because travellers needed to carry money, purchase "travellers cheques," or make special arrangements in advance with banks in the cities they were travelling to. Mail order purchases were made by check, and were very slow, because most companies would wait for the check to clear before shipping the product.