In my third and final look at the top 10 "frequently asked questions" by consumers about Canadian credit cards, I answer three more FAQs asked of American Express, Visa and MasterCard: What is my credit limit? How do I dispute a charge on my credit card statement? How do I protect myself from "identity theft" in Canada?

8)    What is the credit limit on my American Express, Visa or MasterCard?

Simply put, a credit limit is the maximum amount you can charge on your Canadian credit card. It should appear on your monthly statement, showing what you owe and how much credit you have left. This credit limit is based on your Canadian credit history and reported income. It can be raised or lowered by the credit card company at its discretion, or you can request the credit limit go up or down. Visa, MasterCard and Amex Canada all have their own policies in place for dealing with credit limit requests. Often the decision can made instantly over the phone if you have a good credit rating.

Your credit limit is different on every credit card you possess, and the total amount of credit available to you has a direct effect on your Canadian credit report.  If the two national credit bureaus - Equifax Canada and TransUnion Canada - determine that you have more credit available to you than you can handle based on your income, they will lower your FICA credit score (even if you have a perfect record of payment). So pay attention to your credit limits. Add up all your credit cards and lines of credit to see what the total amount would be if you used up all your available unsecured credit. It might be a very scary number.

If you have too much credit, you might get yourself into financial difficulty by spending beyond your means. If you have too little credit, you might exceed your limits, which can result in the embarrassing declined purchase or expensive over-limit fees of $20 or more. Take a look at that total credit limit as well as the individual credit limits on your Canadian credit cards to determine the amount that's right for you. This is the best way to manage your finances.

9)    How do I dispute a charge on my Canadian credit card bill?

Mistakes get made by merchants and even banks from time to time. That's why Canadians should always review their monthly statements for accuracy. I've had double billings appear - a merchant charging me twice for the same item. I've also had the incorrect interest rate and fees charged. You have a limited time - 45 days usually - to dispute any charges that appear on your credit card statement by contacting the credit card company.

I personally like to track my credit card bills online. I even have alerts sent by Amex Canada and MasterCard if certain situations occur. I get an email when unusual spending patterns occur, when a payment is received or when the month-end statement is ready for review on-line. It's a great way to determine if there are problems with your credit cards.

If you suspect that a mistake has been make, or worse that your credit card has been compromised by someone using without your knowledge or consent, call customer service immediately to get help. The faster you can find out if your credit card is been misused, the quicker you can end the spending spree. I've had two different credit cards compromised by ID thieves. One they tried using for online gambling at a Caribbean casino website; the other they tried to book a flight at a travel agency in Singapore. I never had to pay anything, but the inconvenience of getting a new card and notifying any companies using it for automatic payment is just plain annoying.

10)    How do I protect myself from ID theft in Canada?

Sadly there are no guarantees. But generally speaking if you take a few basic precautions, you will more likely avoid identity thefts issues.

Buy yourself a crosscut shredder. They cost very little money and reduce any sensitive documents into confetti. Nothing leaves my house with my name, address or other personal information. Nothing! Personal envelopes, addressed junk mail, bills - basically anything with my name on it are all shredded. It's amazing how little information identity thieves need to begin stealing your good name and credit reputation.

Proceed with caution giving out your credit card number when purchasing goods or services by phone or online. Follow these simple rules to minimize your risk of ID theft:

    * Never give your credit card (or debit bank card) number over the phone, unless you have initiated the call. That means NEVER! No legitimate business will ever call and ask for this sensitive financial information.

* When purchasing on line, buy only from recognized retailers and only when the web site is equipped with security features. Look for SSL (Secure Socket Layer) or SET (Secure Electronic Transactions) when you go to make a purchase. (Look to see that the site URL begins with HTTPS and not HTTP. This indicates that the area is protected by SSL or SST protocols.)

* A key or lock symbol will appear at the bottom of your screen when you're making a purchase from a secure Internet site. If the lock or key is broken, this indicates that the site is not secure. Do not proceed with your purchase.

* Never respond to "phishing" emails or phone calls. The author or caller appears to be a representative of the bank or credit card company suggesting that your card might be compromised. They ask for numbers and passwords to verify that everything is okay. If in doubt, check it out by immediately contacting your bank or credit card company in Canada.

You might also consider subscribing to Canada's only credit monitoring service, offered by Trans Union Canada . It tracks your Canadian credit file, alerting you to any unusual activities, including new credit card applications, unauthorized searches and changes to your personal information. It's an inexpensive way to catch identity thieves before they completely ruin your Canadfian credit history.

I hope this three-part series of Frequently Asked Questions about Canadian credit cards has proved helpful. While some of the information is basic, it's amazing how little many Canadians know about their rights and responsibilities when it comes to credit cards in Canada. (Click here to see Part One and Part Two of the series on Canadian credit card FAQs).