How to check and change billing address

Your billing address is an important piece of identifying information that your credit card issuer or other financial institution holds. This not only allows your issuer to communicate with you, but also helps protect you from credit card fraud or identity theft.

Not sure what your billing address is and how to find it? Or are you moving and looking for an easy way to update it? Here’s what you need to know.

What is a billing address?

The billing address on your credit card is the address that your credit card issuer associates with your account. While your billing address is often the same as your shipping address, they serve two different purposes.

Below are the main differences between your shipping address and billing address:

• The card issuer uses your billing address to send credit card statements, billing information, and cards associated with your account.
• Your shipping address is the address where you receive online orders, mail, and packages.
• Issuers use billing addresses to send important information and verify the identity of the cardholder.
• Billing addresses protect against identity theft when a merchant uses an address verification system (for example, when you enter your zip code at a gas station).

How to check the billing address for a credit card

There are several ways to find your billing address if you’re not sure what you entered when applying for a credit card:

Check with statements by mail

If you receive credit card statements in the mail, it’s safe to say that your physical address is your billing address. You can verify this by checking your account payment receipt – your billing address should be there.

Check out electronic statements

However, many credit card holders opt for paperless billing. If this is your case, you can find your billing address on the electronic statements you receive from your card issuer. In addition, you can often find your postal address by logging into your online banking account and checking your personal information. Some credit card apps have virtual assistants that can direct you to the right place.

When all else fails, you can always contact your issuer’s support team. Sometimes you will be able to get your address through an automated voice system when you call your bank; in other cases, you may need to speak with a representative.

How to change billing address

If you are moving and need to change your billing address, you can use the following alternatives to change it:

Use the website or app of your credit card issuer

Changing your billing address online is the easiest and takes a few minutes – just log in to your account online and edit the address on your profile.

Call support

You can also call the number on the back of your credit card and speak with a customer service representative to change your mailing address.

Update your email address

If you’re used to sending credit card payments by mail, you can write your new address on the back of a payment coupon, which often includes a place to change your address. On the front of the coupon, you will usually find a field where you can indicate that you are changing the address – be sure to confirm it.

Change address in person

If you prefer, some credit card issuers allow you to visit their branches if there is room nearby. There you can speak with a representative who will update your mailing address for you.

Whichever option you choose to update your address, be sure to check each of your credit card issuers. It may be a good idea to make a list so that you don’t miss any bank or other financial institution and no one else has received your financial documents instead of you.

Change your billing address with each issuer

Changing your billing address with a credit card issuer is as simple as logging into your online banking or credit card account, or calling customer service for assistance. After logging into your account, go to your account settings or contact information to check and change your billing address.

How to fix billing address errors

If you’re trying to add your debit or credit card to your seller or buyer account, you may receive an error in your billing address. If this happens, here is what you can do to resolve them:

• First, check and change your billing address directly with your credit card issuer, either online or by phone.
• Double-check the spelling of your billing address and make sure it matches exactly what is on your bank and credit card accounts.
• Call your credit card issuer and check that your name and address are spelled correctly on the card account.
• If you have a second line in your address (for example, an apartment or flat number), be sure to add it to the second line of the address field, not a single line.

If you’re still getting errors after troubleshooting billing address verification, contact your merchant or your credit card issuer for further support.

bottom line

Credit card issuers use your billing address to send monthly bills and other information, and to protect your account from potential fraud. Keep your billing address up to date so you don’t miss important messages from the issuer and keep your credit card account secure.

Ana Staples is a Staff Reporter and Credit Officer Young Reporter for CreditCards.com covering product news and credit advice. She loves sharing financial experiences with her readers and believes that the right financial advice at the right time can make a real difference. In her spare time, Anastasia writes love stories and plans a trip to the French Riviera that she will take one day—when she has enough points, that is.