Editorial Standards

These are the rules every Plastic Math guide, video and quick answer follows.

Figures come from sources we read

Every rate, fee, bonus, limit, rule and statistic traces to a source we read for that piece: card issuers' own terms, the credit bureaus, FICO and VantageScore, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the Federal Reserve and published research. Sources are listed at the bottom of each guide, with the date we checked them.

Card terms change often. When a figure is current only as of a date, we say so. If you spot one that has changed, tell us and we'll update it.

Examples are illustrations

Worked examples use made-up households and round numbers so the math is easy to follow. The calculations are real and consistent from start to finish. They show how something works, not what will happen to you.

Comparisons use stated criteria, never payment

When we compare cards or options, we say what we're comparing on (total cost, value per point, effect on your score) and rank by that. Nothing we earn, now or later, changes a ranking or a recommendation. This is also what the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau expects of comparison tools (CFPB Circular 2024-01).

Education, not personal advice

We explain how credit cards, credit scores and debt work, and we compare options. We don't know your situation, so we don't tell any one person what to apply for or how to handle their money. For decisions with real stakes, talk to someone who can see your whole picture.

Within the rules

We cover how to get the most from cards within their published terms. We don't publish ways to break issuer terms, and we won't cover credit repair schemes, "new credit identities" or anything else that's illegal.

Corrections

If we get something wrong, we fix it, note the change on the page and update the date. Send corrections through the contact page.

Who makes Plastic Math