Credits are added to your account each time you make a payment. A credit might be added when you return something you bought with your credit card. Credits can also be added to your account because of rewards you have earned or because of a mistake in a prior bill. If the total of your credits exceeds the amount you owe, your statement shows a credit balance. This is money the card issuer owes you.

You can call your card issuer and arrange to have a check sent to you in the amount of the credit balance. Your card issuer may ask you to submit this request in writing.  Or, you can leave the credit on your account to pay for future charges. However, if you leave a credit balance on your account for more than 6 months, your card issuer will likely send you a check for that amount.