You make a purchase at a store, swipe your credit card, and sign the receipt. But then you notice that the charge doesn’t appear on your credit card statement – ever.

So what do you do? It may feel good to have gotten something for free, but how long does the merchant have to charge your credit card after a purchase has been made? Most of us probably wouldn’t appreciate a “surprise” charge months or years down the road.

This question was asked by a reader of NJMoneyHelp.com, and Howard Hook provided some insight.

Read Howard’s answer on the NJMoneyHelp.com: How Long Does a Merchant Have to Charge My Credit Card?