
Credit card debt is one of the most commonly reported reasons why individuals file for bankruptcy. Credit cards make it easy for users to lose track of how much they spend, causing them to accrue large debt balances. One reason for this is that credit cards can make an individual feel like he or she has more disposable income than he or she actually has. Another reason is that many people harbor misconceptions about credit cards and debt, sometimes misunderstanding critical information until they are taught the truth about credit and debt as part of their required credit counseling for filing for bankruptcy.
A common misconception about credit cards is that carrying a balance on a card increases the user's credit score. Technically, “carrying a balance” refers to any point in time that the user has unpaid charges on his or her account. Colloquially, the term is used to describe the practice of paying off less than the amount billed each month, thereby “carrying” unpaid charges into the next billing cycle.
Carrying a High Balance to Raise your Credit Score is a Fallacy
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