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Post by Toad on Oct 23, 2009 11:30:22 GMT -5
money.cnn.com/galleries/2009/news/0910/gallery.credit_card_evil_things/index.htmlLet me get this straight. Credit cards are completely voluntary and I can cancel at any time. But yet the credit card companies are doing evil things to me?? If a credit card company did something evil to me, I'd switch to another, or get out of the game entirely. More poor little consumers are being trampled, government come save us story.
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Post by texaswoodie on Oct 23, 2009 11:41:03 GMT -5
God forbid anyone to be evil enough to make a profit in this country. I don't have credit cards simply because they put the screws to you. I take it back. I do have one. I bought a TV with 3 years no interest. I know that if I don't make every payment on time, they will add on 3 years of interest. Simple enough. When the TV is paid for, the card goes in the trash.
Curt
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Post by Toad on Oct 23, 2009 11:59:46 GMT -5
Credit cards do make life easier sometimes. But if you can't control yourself, don't have one. Pretty easy, and no one can screw with you.
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WarrenA
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2003
Posts: 1,530
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Post by WarrenA on Oct 23, 2009 22:41:37 GMT -5
I feel that credit card companies take advantage of people who are not strong enough to able to control themselves. If you get behind on the payments they make it almost impossible to get out from under them. They must stay awake at night dreaming of new fees to charge people.
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Post by Toad on Oct 23, 2009 23:06:52 GMT -5
Totally off topic, Warren... they stay awake at night dreaming... ;D
Just struck me funny.
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Post by Toad on Oct 23, 2009 23:12:00 GMT -5
I feel that credit card companies take advantage of people who are not strong enough to able to control themselves. If you get behind on the payments they make it almost impossible to get out from under them. They must stay awake at night dreaming of new fees to charge people. You have a point, Warren. But at the same time, there can't be that many people who aren't strong enough to control themselves. Couple hundred thousand, maybe a million. I bet the vast majority of people in credit card debt choose not to control themselves - then go crying to the government to spank the banks, or to court to declare bancruptcy. The vast majority do it to themselves. Either that or we have a huge epidemic of undiagnosed mental illness.
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Post by texaswoodie on Oct 24, 2009 8:36:52 GMT -5
Hate credit card companies? You can take advantage of them just like they do you, but you have to be smarter than they are.
Credit card companies have great promotions that are designed to lure you in and hopefully you will screw up and they can start charging all those fees and make a killing. Just don't fall into the trap.
A lot of them will let you make a large purchase with no interest for X years. After Christmas last year I took advantage of the sales and bought an expensive TV for 3 years no interest. I also recieved a $75 gift certificate and bonus points worth $20. I got a great TV, free money, and no interest. The catch here is that if you don't make EVERY payment on time, they add 3 years worth of interest. Be smart.
Another thing they try to grab you with is money back. You get a certain percentage of your charges back in cash. Purchase everything you buy with this card. Pay the entire balance EVERY month ON TIME. Free money!
Curt
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Post by Toad on Oct 24, 2009 22:01:27 GMT -5
Buy what you can afford, or you're playing by their rules. Not claiming to be perfect here. We carry a balance sometimes. But in the 14 years I've been married, we've paid off our balance a lot more months than we haven't. And as you say Curt, we've racked up some free money and airline miles in the process. Credit cards are great if you don't play by their rules.
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