Americans have a complicated relationship with credit cards. Most of us won't leave home without them. But ask the average consumer how he or she feels about credit card companies, and you're likely to hear the kinds of words you can't say on prime-time TV without getting into trouble with the Federal Communications Commission.

A recent survey by J.D. Power and Associates found that credit cards have the lowest customer satisfaction level of all financial services. On a 1,000-point scale, card companies received an average satisfaction rating of 658.

Credit card issuers lagged behind mortgage servicers (798), online brokerage firms (773) and retail banks (763) on the satisfaction scale.

Those results will come as no surprise to anyone who's ever been smacked with an unexpected late fee or interest-rate hike.

Still, choosing the card that best suits your borrowing habits can improve your credit card experience, says Jeff Taylor, senior director of banking practice for J.D. Power.

The J.D. Power study divides credit card users into two categories:

Transactors. These are people who usually pay off their balance each month. These folks tend to be more satisfied with their credit cards than are those who carry a balance.

Because transactors don't have to worry about interest rates, they tend to look for cards that provide the best rewards, Taylor says.

But some rewards are more satisfying than others. Airline miles are still the most common credit card award, with about 40 percent of cardholders receiving this incentive, the survey found. Still, customers who received cash-back awards, which are available to 22 percent of cardholders, expressed higher levels of overall satisfaction, the survey found.

The survey also found that most cardholders aren't aware of all the benefits their cards offer. Many cards, for example, offer travel insurance, emergency assistance and concierge service. Cardholders who take advantage of all their card's benefits tend to be more satisfied.

Revolvers. These are folks who typically carry a balance on their credit cards. If you fall into this category, forget about rewards programs. You can't afford them.

Cards with generous rewards typically charge higher interest rates, says Greg Daugherty, executive editor of Consumer Reports. If you carry a balance, he says, the amount you'll pay in interest will probably exceed the value of the reward.

Your best bet is to pay off your balance each month. But if that's not possible, look for a card with a low interest rate and no annual fee.

TOP CARD ISSUERS

American Express ranked highest among the 10 credit card issuers analyzed in the J.D. Power survey, followed by Discover. American Express received high marks for benefits, features and problem solving; Discover earned good grades for rewards, billing and payments.

American Express and Discover also received high ratings in a recent survey conducted by Consumer Reports.

Cardholders who carry a balance should also consider cards issued by small banks and credit unions, Daugherty says. These lenders don't have big advertising budgets, so you have to do some research to find them. But the payoff is often lower fees and interest rates, he says.