var json_comments = new Array("
\"user-pic\"
B
February 19, 2009 8:35 PM
Moderate | Flag for review

So much for my feeling of \"sticking it to the man\" by charging most purchase to a credit card then paying it off every month. Well, I still like generating the points, though.

Reply
13 replies
\"user-pic\"
lpranal
February 19, 2009 11:00 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@B: honestly i kinda thought that too. Though if you think about it, you're not making them as much money as they could be, and they do everything in their power to prevent you from doing that, so i'm sure they'd much rather you didn't do it. Their business model relies on enough people carrying balances, getting overages, so you are still being less profitable to them by not handing them over as much free money. Not really sticking it to them, maybe kind of politely presenting it to the man.

Reply
\"user-pic\"
floraposte
February 19, 2009 11:14 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@lpranal: Okay, I like that better anyway. floraposte, politely presenting it to the man since year mumble.

Reply
\"user-pic\"
Fist-o™
February 19, 2009 9:21 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@B: Once, though, I thought about a unique way to make some interesting, custom guitar picks: Get one of those credit cards that allow you to put your own image on them; then order the card, put your funky, custom image; then cut to guitar-pick-sized bites. :) Or, heck, just frame it after cancelling the account. It would be a very interesting wall piece... depending on the art, I suppose. Pretty sure they screen the images, though.

Reply
\"user-pic\"
Fist-o™
February 19, 2009 9:19 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@B: Yeah... unfortunately, anything you do with a credit card company isn't really \"Sticking it to them\"... even the rewards programs. They still make their billions.

If you cancel, then you're not really hurting them, per se; you're just not even in the game any more. I suppose the only way you could ever \"Stick it\" to them is through political activism or consumer activism.

Reply
\"user-pic\"
forgottenpassword
February 20, 2009 4:08 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@Fist-oâ„¢:


The only real way to stick it to the credit card companies is to max out your cards, cash in the merchandise & then drop out of society or commit suicide & give the money to relatives. I figure if I were to ever have a terminal disease.... I would do this.

Reply
\"user-pic\"
Bridget Nowik
February 20, 2009 2:21 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@Fist-oâ„¢: On the contrary, running up a huge balance and not paying them quite effectively sticks it to them. I don't recommend it though.

Reply
\"user-pic\"
floraposte
February 19, 2009 8:56 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@B: I know what you mean. But maybe we can still pat ourselves on the back for beating the odds?

Reply
\"user-pic\"
jjason82
February 19, 2009 8:54 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@B: Do people actually think that?


LOL

Reply
\"user-pic\"
cabjf
February 19, 2009 8:46 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@B: Think about this though: when you use your card, the cost of those merchant transaction fees go somewhere. The merchant isn't just going to eat that cost; they're going to pass it on to the customer. Why do you think gas stations are now offering slightly cheaper gas for those doing cash transactions vs credit (at least in my area that's the new fad)? Ultimately, it's the consumer paying his or her own credit card rewards, after the credit card company takes its share.

Reply
\"user-pic\"
nbs2
February 19, 2009 10:08 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@cabjf: It's an old fad become new. When credit cards first became popular, you would see the two different prices. Stations did away with them in order to attract customers. What we are seeing now is just a push back by stations to make a little more money to increase net earnings/stay afloat

Reply
\"user-pic\"
pecan 3.14159265
February 19, 2009 10:06 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@cabjf: I've yet to find a gas station that advertises this...at all. Maybe they don't. But it's 40 degrees with a 20mph wind outside, so I'm probably going to avoid having to walk into the station. I wish there was a way to insert money like you slide your credit card.

Reply
\"user-pic\"
p322401
February 20, 2009 5:06 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@pecan 3.14159265: bunch of gas stations in Arizona/California ive seen have a cash payment at the pump station

Reply
\"user-pic\"
Optimistic Prime
February 20, 2009 10:17 AM
Moderate |Flag for review

@pecan 3.14159265: It may be illegal in your area. It seems that around here you cannot offer a discount if using cash. It's possible it's part of their merchant agreement with the card company...

Reply
\"user-pic\"
god_forbids
February 20, 2009 1:33 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@Optimistic Prime: They aren't allowed to charge a *fee* for using a card, but they can offer a *discount* for using cash. Potatoes, potahtoes, but ...

Reply
\"user-pic\"
buzzybee
February 19, 2009 9:14 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@cabjf: Easy, if there's a cash discount, take it by using cash. If not, take your points discount using a card. You can have it both ways!

Reply
\"user-pic\"
ThinkerTDM
February 19, 2009 8:46 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@B: In capitalist America, the man sticks it to YOU!
err..wait, that's what happens anyways. Sorry.

Reply
","","","
\"user-pic\"
Trey Mahaffey
February 19, 2009 8:48 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

i am glad to see that there is an article basically telling all the negative people on this site that they need to stop thinking the way the companies want you to. this is the main reason these companies put so much money into advertising... so that they can make you feel bad for not making them money.

funny how many people's comments on here fall into the above mentioned categories.

Reply
3 replies
\"user-pic\"
stopNgoBeau
February 19, 2009 10:04 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@Trey Mahaffey: So if the comment isn't in line with your opinion, its a negative comment?


How about a differing comment?

Reply
\"user-pic\"
Applekid
February 19, 2009 9:57 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@Trey Mahaffey: I have to say I've never seen a commercial that said people are bad customers for paying a credit card balance in full, though.

Reply
\"user-pic\"
Paul Hibbard
February 19, 2009 9:56 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@Trey Mahaffey: that will never happen

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
ratnerstar
February 19, 2009 8:50 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

I thought merchant transaction fees were paid to the credit card network (e.g. Visa, Mastercard, etc.) and maybe the bank that runs the merchant account, not the bank that issues the credit card. But I've been known to be wrong on many, many occasions.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
MrEvil
February 19, 2009 8:53 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

Unless the bank that issued your card is also the bank that's processing credit card transactions for the merchant, your bank doesn't get anything from the fees. It's Visa/MC/AmEx/Discover that get the merchant fees as well as the bank that handles the merchant's processing account. That's the breakdown I got from a payment processor years ago when I thought about accepting credit cards for my business.


The Payor's bank only makes money off of interest (except with AmEx whom also makes money off of membership fees and merchant fees).


Now I don't know if Visa or Mastercard share any revenue with banks that issue cards with their logos, that information I was not privy to.

Reply
2 replies
\"user-pic\"
missing_piece
February 19, 2009 11:49 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@MrEvil: That's not correct. If a bank issues the consumer a card, the bank receives a portion of the merchant fees for every transaction the consumer makes.
That's the information I have from a friend who works in a large bank for a corporate purchasing card department. The department makes huge amounts of money for the bank because of the transaction fees they receive from the transactions.

Reply
\"user-pic\"
missing_piece
February 19, 2009 11:50 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@missing_piece: Merchant fees - not transaction fees. My bad.

Reply
","","","
\"user-pic\"
TheFlamingoKing
February 19, 2009 8:58 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

\"When you pay your balance in full every month, you lose the credit card company money.\"

This is true, but misleading. The statement I usually hear around here (and have said myself) is \"When you pay your balance in full each month, you lose the bank money.\"

Visa may make money on the verification of the transactions, but it is your bank that is loaning the money. Visa does not provide the credit card, the bank does. And when your card is canceled or your rate hiked, Visa was not a part of that decision (save for fraud).

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
ARP
February 19, 2009 9:05 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

Another reason not mentioned is that due to the economic downturn, the chance of a person losing their job is much higher. Losing a job means that you'll be tempted to use a credit card to get you over the hump and won't pay off the full balance. So, they jack up rates in anticipation that it happens.


Essentially, the banks are those gas stations that charged $6/gallon after Katrina because they could get away with it and they knew you needed them.

Reply
1 replies
\"user-pic\"
the_wiggle
February 20, 2009 2:25 AM
Moderate |Flag for review

@ARP: and in anticipation that they can garnish or levy you; or sell you to 3rd party collectors - why not? it's not like people can file ch7 or even ch13 or even qualify for MMI/CCCS w/o huge hassles since the \"reform\".

(disclaimer: if you can pay, do)

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
LJKelley
February 19, 2009 9:10 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

Actually my mother in law just got approved for a pretty high limit card with AmEx. So it is true that you can still get credit. But I guess it does go in the companies interest to think you can't and that your are stuck with the new high rates.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
Ezra Ekman
February 19, 2009 9:10 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

Another side of this has almost nothing to do with the customers themselves; it's just padding margins and metrics. Now an exec meeting with investors can say \"Well, we just raised rates by an average of 2.5% across 32,000 customers, and the average balance among our customers is $12,500.\" Suddenly those numbers can sound much more significant than they actually are, because they include many customers who carry little or no balance, yet they can point to the average balance of all customers, regardless of whether or not they were affected by that change.

This sort of thing seems to be more and more common these days, with everyone scrambling to cover their rears as they are audited, trying to prevent yet another failing bank by essentially manufacturing favorable-sounding numbers for whatever today's purpose happens to be.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
JGKojak
February 19, 2009 9:14 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

Thank you for this post.


I don't understand the people who post such ridiculous comments, seemingly forgetting that YOU are the customer, they are NOT doing you a favor by letting you have one of their precious cards.

Reply
3 replies
\"user-pic\"
RandomHookup
February 20, 2009 1:54 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@JGKojak: Neither side is doing the other a favor. It's simply a business transaction where both parties hope to benefit from the relationship.

Reply
\"user-pic\"
TheFlamingoKing
February 19, 2009 11:56 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@JGKojak: I would argue that you are the one that needs money, and I'm the bank providing it to you. I am, in fact, doing you a favor by loaning you money that you do not have. I may send you offers, but you're the one that decides if you need money or not. In essence, you're choosing to do business with me, otherwise you'd pay off the card with another company's money and use theirs.

With credit, there really are only two types of customers - those that have credit scores and history good enough to choose who they do business with, and those that do not have much choice who they can borrow money from due to poor credit history or past failures. Your post makes a lot of sense for type A, not so much for type B.

Reply
\"user-pic\"
magic8ball
February 20, 2009 4:14 AM
Moderate |Flag for review

@TheFlamingoKing: See, you're assuming that people who use credit cards do so because they need extra money that they don't have. This is not true of everyone. Some of us use credit cards as a matter of convenience, even though we could pay for everything up front with cash or a check. It's just a lot easier to pay one or two bills for the month, rather than use cash every time I go to the grocery store, the gas station, the post office, etc.

So is the bank doing me a favor by lending me the money? Yeah, sort of. But it is not money that I need, or that I would not otherwise have. Basically, the extent of the \"favor\" is that the bank is allowing me to avoid dirty looks from people in line behind me at the checkout while I count out cash or write a check.

Reply
\"user-pic\"
TheFlamingoKing
April 29, 2009 10:38 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@magic8ball: What's the difference between having $3000 in an account and then refilling it at the end of the month, and having a $3000 credit limit on a card, and paying it off and the end of the month?

The only difference is that you are using the bank's money for a portion of time, and not your own. That's a service that the bank is providing - if you don't need it, you wouldn't use it.

Again, my point is relevant. You still \"need\" money - you're just using a different definition of \"need\" than I am. I only really addressed the ones that really need money and don't have it in my last post.

Reply
","","","","
\"user-pic\"
oneliketadow
February 19, 2009 9:22 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

I'd say that given the current situation, if you pay your bills on-time, you are the ideal customer.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
theblackdog
February 19, 2009 9:27 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

This explains why USAA raised my rate, I'm hoping in a few months when I clear out my balance transfer I can renegotiate my rate with them. The 0% is great, and the fact that purchased would have been 7.9% was awesome when my Compass credit card was at 13.5% However, now USAA is 9.9% and Compass is 10% so it's almost like why bother using my USAA card much now?

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
SacraBos
February 19, 2009 9:34 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

\"After all, they aren't going to have to compete as strongly to attract new customers or keep existing ones.\"

But they do. All companies do. Or else you eventually run out of customers. The banks appear to be operating as if they are a trailing-edge technology company. As demand drops, the price goes up, and eventually there is no longer a market for the product.

And perhaps, as the good consumerists we should be, the market shouldn't exist as it currently stands. You know, Credit Unions could really take advantage of this and clean up.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
yajjo
February 19, 2009 9:36 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

Another theory is they are using the 80/20 principle to weed out some customers. The theory states that 80% of revenues should be generated by 20% of the customers. Therefore the other 80% of customers are not contributing much to the bottom line and losing the expense of servicing those (should they cancel due to high interest rates) helps the company become leaner and only need enough overhead to service those that actually generate revenue.

But it's more likely I don't know what I'm talking about and in reality the companies just think it's fun to pull stunts to get us all lathered up.

Reply
1 replies
\"user-pic\"
consumerfan
February 20, 2009 6:59 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@yajjo: The 80% of customers is contributing 20% of your bottom line. And 20% > 0%.
You cannot assume that your costs are all marginal.

That's why large companies make a lot of money. The economies of scale mean that they are in a better position to withstand the tougher climate.

Also, customers aren't independent, as this site demonstrates. Intentionally trimming profitable customers (even marginally profitable ones) is a good way to end up broke. If you have unprofitable customers, it's usually a problem with the business and not the customer, though there are exceptions.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
Gojulas
February 19, 2009 9:44 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

I understand people (like me) who pay off their credit cards each month are called \"Debtbeats\" by the card companies.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
kwsventures
February 19, 2009 9:54 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

I am still looking for the sentence in the U.S. Constitution that say you have \"a right to a credit card\". For that matter a right to a house, car, food, clothes, college education, health care and on and on. You have a right to nothing more than life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness which is supposed to be defended by the Federal government. You have a right to little else.

Reply
4 replies
\"user-pic\"
JustThatGuy3
February 19, 2009 10:46 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@kwsventures:


If you're going to be pedantic, we DON'T have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness - that phrase appears nowhere in the Constitution.

Reply
\"user-pic\"
DrMorison
February 20, 2009 2:31 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@JustThatGuy3: Sure we do, and you are right, it's not in the Constitution, it's in the Declaration of Independence:

The United States Declaration of Independence, which was primarily written by Thomas Jefferson, was adopted by the Second Continental Congress on July 4, 1776. The text of the second section of the Declaration of Independence reads:

We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

Reply
\"user-pic\"
JustThatGuy3
February 20, 2009 8:34 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@DrMorison:


1. Yes, I'm familiar with the phrase.


2. That's very nice, but the Declaration of Independence has no legal force in the United States. When it was written, there WAS no \"Federal government\" - it was created by the Constitution, which is the legal basis for the the United States of America.

Reply
\"user-pic\"
the_wiggle
February 20, 2009 2:28 AM
Moderate |Flag for review

@JustThatGuy3: even if they were & we did, 3 hots + a cot would be the baseline \"life\" part.

Reply
\"user-pic\"
Shadowman615
February 19, 2009 10:06 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@kwsventures: Um, OK. I'm not understanding what that is supposed to be relevant to.

And so what? Nevertheless credit card companies still seem to be selling cards, and their customers are buying.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
Allen Harkleroad
February 19, 2009 9:54 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

Two words: Debit Card (or cash)


Screw credit cards and their usurious companies. I cut up 7 credit card threes years ago (business and personal) and I haven't had a personal or business issue that a debit card, check or cash couldn't handle since. (no interest payment, no late fees, no interest rate jacking, etc.). Screw Visa, MasterCard, AMEX and the rest of them!

Reply
7 replies
\"user-pic\"
mannyv
February 20, 2009 5:29 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@Allen Harkleroad: Debit cards are really bad, relative to credit cards. Why?

If you have a dispute with a vendor and use a CC, you haven't paid anything yet. Plus, the CC will go to bat for you and usually suspend payment until the dispute is resolve.

With a debit card, the money is gone. Getting money back is much more difficult than not sending the money at all.

Not sure what the specific protections on debit cards are. They're about the same as a CC if your card is lost or stolen, but if you're screwed by a vendor what's their policy/process?

Reply
\"user-pic\"
Keter
February 20, 2009 5:41 AM
Moderate |Flag for review

@Allen Harkleroad: Routinely using a debit card is very dangerous.

I only use my debit card to get cash from the ATM at the credit union, to buy gas from stations I know, and at the grocery store. I put everything else on my credit card. My credit card number was compromised at a retailer and over $3000 in fraudulent charges were rung up in one afternoon - and I didn't lose a penny. If that had been my debit card, my checking account would have been wiped out and I wouldn't have gotten any of the money back.

Reply
\"user-pic\"
MoebiusSK8
February 20, 2009 12:53 AM
Moderate |Flag for review

It is hard to @Allen Harkleroad:


It is hard to run a business without some sort of line of credit. I totally agree with you though. I don't have any personal credit cards.

Reply
\"user-pic\"
JustThatGuy3
February 19, 2009 10:48 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@Allen Harkleroad:


Well, your call, but it seems pretty silly to me to (a) forego extra interest, (b) not get the 2% cash back on every $ I spend, and (c) be put in a position when you have a dispute with a vendor or your credit card company where THEY have your money, and you need to get it back.

Reply
\"user-pic\"
pecan 3.14159265
February 19, 2009 10:09 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@Allen Harkleroad: @themicah: I also trust you don't like the extra cash points. By using credit and paying off the bill every month, I actually also get about $200 a year from the credit card company.

Reply
\"user-pic\"
Rectilinear Propagation
February 20, 2009 1:05 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@themicah: You can rent a car with a debit card. You have to have extra cash in your checking account to make up for the hold they'll place on the card but it's not impossible.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
jmndos
February 19, 2009 9:55 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

I noticed this too.

I ODed my checking account once, my mistake and I paid the price....and now im getting a firestorm of credit cards from my bank.....recession...what recession...

Reply
","","","","","
\"user-pic\"
larrymac808
February 19, 2009 10:05 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

Wow, everybody thinks they know how interchange fees work, but it seems like a lot of misinformation being posted. Here's a Credit Union National Association PDF about interchange fees that covers some of this.


At a very basic level - the merchant bank (e.g. the bank that Sally's Salon has an account with) pays a fee to the card-issuing bank (e.g. Capital One, Citibank, Chase ...) So yes, \"your\" credit card company makes money for every transaction you make with your card. However, does not get the full amount of the fee. Some of it goes to the network (e.g. Visa or Mastercard).


There's also some good information at creditcards.com, including this nifty animation.

Reply
","","","","","
\"user-pic\"
TexasBelle
February 19, 2009 10:13 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

Yes, Consumerist, I, for one, am well aware that the credit card companies are making money off me or they would just close my accounts. And yes, it had occurred to me that maybe Citi raised my rate because they figure times are bad and even previously responsible types might be headed for revolving-balance world. But I also know that the industry term for a customer like me is \"deadbeat.\" And I really like to be sarcastic. ;)

Reply
","","","
\"user-pic\"
lalaland13
February 19, 2009 10:56 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

I would cancel the Capital One card if they're hiking it up to 22.9 percent (which they are) but I don't carry much of a balance on it, so I'm just going to pay even more off it off between now and April when it jacks up. It pisses me off, but I don't want to get another credit card right now because I'm afraid they too will find another way to screw me over before the new rules take effect in summer 2010 -is that when it happens, or is it even later? I'm tempted to just wait out applying for any more credit till then, even though I'm a few years out of college and could stand to build up some more of it.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
lalaland13
February 19, 2009 10:58 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

And also, thanks for cutting through the crap with this article. It is much appreciated.

Reply
","","","","","","
\"user-pic\"
adrew
February 20, 2009 12:09 AM
Moderate |Flag for review

Hmm, what does y'all's credit look like? Mine is good but not outstanding. I have a Capital One card with 8.9% APR and a BofA one that's 9.9%.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
Caveat
February 20, 2009 12:40 AM
Moderate |Flag for review

It's not the banks through the credit card that treat us like dirt, it's the government through the banks. Everything the fed is doing now is intended to help out idiots that overextended themselves on credit borrowing. On the other hand, those that have wisely saved for a rainy day are getting the shaft through ridiculously low interest on savings account. With rates such as 0.25 % we might as well keep our money in the mattress. I guess the only silver lining is that next year we will join Geithner in paying less taxes. If we earn no interest we will pay no taxes.

Reply
","","
\"user-pic\"
MoebiusSK8
February 20, 2009 12:54 AM
Moderate |Flag for review

I am fortunate to have not experienced any credit problems. I don't use credit in my personal life just for business purposes, and that is still tooling along just fine, but for how long?

Reply
","","","
\"user-pic\"
CumaeanSibyl
February 20, 2009 2:32 AM
Moderate |Flag for review

If it's not in the terms of service that I must carry a balance, then I am not a bad customer for paying it off every month. I am using the card in exact accordance with the terms I agreed to when I signed up. No more, no less.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
MacIllini
February 20, 2009 2:38 AM
Moderate |Flag for review

To bad most of the Credit card companies could give a rats who you are or what you do for them. Took talking to the executive customer service office to actually acknowledge this and get my rate dropped from a large so called \"global hike.\" I love it when you say to them \"So what your telling me is that you want to close this account, a paying account.\" They come back with \"no, what were saying is that you can opt out and keep the cc until it expires.\"
\"So what your......\" No wonder they are all bankrupt.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
drb023
February 20, 2009 3:53 AM
Moderate |Flag for review

I guess I'm not an angry person, but I don't do things just to stick it to the man.

But really, why would anyone try to stick it to a company (or person) that they have a business relationship with? If you don't like the credit card company, don't use a credit card.

I think it's just a way for consumer advocates to rally the ignorant... kind of like voting, lol.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
Vhalkyrie
February 20, 2009 4:07 AM
Moderate |Flag for review

Somehow I'll still manage to sleep at night knowing I'm a bad customer and not making them any money. Oh yeah. I pay my bill in full, on time, and get a cash back. I'm a rebel.

Reply
","","
\"user-pic\"
TechnoDestructo
February 20, 2009 4:55 AM
Moderate |Flag for review

The funny thing about rate hikes, and other things credit card companies do to low-balance (and otherwise low-maintenance) customers...it makes people call customer service.

I've gone from having near-zero marginal cost...never talking to any employees, dealing entirely with machines, to costing a couple of bucks per call, maybe more...and it is ENTIRELY the fault of the credit card company.

Reply
","","
\"user-pic\"
lessemm
February 20, 2009 8:05 AM
Moderate |Flag for review

Reasons I use a credit card for almost every purchase:

1. Loss protection. I'd rather go through the hassle of reporting a card lost than misplace a couple hundred dollars. I carry $20 - $60 in cash at the most.

2. Fraud protection. Better protection than a debit card if someone steals the number and starts using it.

3. On-line purchases. I'd like to see someone make the case that paypal is somehow less evil and/or prone to fraud and screw up than a credit card company.

4. Merchant disputes. I have requested a total of 2 charge backs in 18 years of credit card use, but I like to know I have the option.

5. Extended warranties and rental insurance. Extended warranties for large electronics purchases and insurance coverage for rental cars: Both free services. Both indispensable.

6. Record keeping. I don't want to think about the hassle of trying to track cash transactions. A debit card would get you the same thing, but there are other good reasons to use the credit card. Unlike some people who have posted in past \"cut up your cards\" stories, I am actually more careful about spending money on the card because I know I'll have to see it on the balance sheet at the end of the month. If I buy something with cash, I forget about it almost immediately. I've saved money by limiting the amount of cash I carry, and therefore spend.

7. Rewards. I put all household expenses and bills on a cash rewards card and get about $500 a year back. If EVERYBODY canceled their cards, maybe merchants could lower prices by 3%. On the other hand, I don't foresee Safeway, let alone Amazon or Newegg, offering a cash discount in the near future.

8. Special offers. I'll admit I applied for a Chase Sony card just so I could get a $100 back on my first Sony purchase. But hey, $250 PS3. Sweet.

I do have strict rules about cards:
I don't carry a balance.
I don't charge more than I currently have in my bank account (see previous rule).
I don't pay any annual fees.
I don't actively use more than two cards.
If a company tries to jerk me around by switching due dates, changing terms, or charging undeserved fees, they get one chance to set things right. If not, I cancel the card and get a different one.

The credit card companies offer a service. They make money off of it or they wouldn't do it. It is to my benefit in almost every way to use their service.

Works for me.

Reply
","","","
\"user-pic\"
Rectilinear Propagation
February 20, 2009 1:11 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

No one ever seems to worry about this when doing business with other companies. I never see comments like, \"You're a bad customer if you don't go over your minutes\" or \"You're hurting the bank by not overdrafting\".

Reply
","","
\"user-pic\"
Urgleglurk
February 20, 2009 1:44 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

Under Capitalism, man exploits man. Under Communism, the opposite is true.\"
;-D

Reply
1 replies
\"user-pic\"
mannyv
February 20, 2009 5:34 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@Urgleglurk: In Russia, state exploits you!

Reply
","","","","
\"user-pic\"
savdavid
February 20, 2009 2:54 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

Good article. They get their money obviously. They are not performing anything out of the goodness of their hearts or in the community interest. Swine.

Reply
1 replies
\"user-pic\"
mannyv
February 20, 2009 5:33 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@savdavid: They are not performing anything out of the goodness of their hearts or in the community interest. Swine.

They are a company. They don't have hearts or community interests. It's like saying a \"why doesn't this rock care about humanity?\"

Reply
","","","","","","","","
\"user-pic\"
AstraBabble
February 26, 2009 9:52 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

credit is evil and nobody \"needs\" it. Live below your means and you will be happy as a clam and not have to waste time worrying about all this. Cash only and an auxillary checking account with a checkcard is enough to do everything you could want.

It is amazing how the credit card companies have convinced us that we need credit and a credit rating. No we don't. And as for your several hundred cash back, well here's a fun statistic: the majority of people will spend 18% more when using a credit card vs. cash. so much for that rebate.

Reply
","");