the cc menace starts over here, too

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-21-2003
the cc menace starts over here, too
2
Sat, 09-11-2004 - 6:13am
Any time I walk through the main hall of the train station just ten minutes away, I can see them: Yound men and woman, clad in suits, offering credit card app's to EVERYONE. And I you say "No, thank you", they don't let loose until I either start to get very unfriendly or a more likely candidate is spotted by the cc marketers.

*sigh*

Why does it have to start here, too?

When reading your posts I know that credit cards can be a menace (my debt problem has nothing to do with ccs, but with borrowing against my bank account, which amounts to the same, more or less: Problems with debt *smile*). Currently the usual way to get a cc here in Germany is from the bank you have your account with. Entirely different system here. And now some smaller banks and bigger retail chains start to flood the market, offering credit lines of up to 2,000 Euros (~ 2,400 US$, I think) with out ANY proof of income. I already have heard the first stories of people (mostly students) using this money from the CC as 'last ressort', running headlong into a situation they will have a really, really hard time to ever get out of.

Why does it have to start here, too????

Because that's the market, yeah...

Frustrated, Jordis

ivy_jordis

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-18-2004
Tue, 09-14-2004 - 12:22pm
I don't post here much. But, I had to when I read your post. I am sick and tired of people (as soon as I walk into a store) trying to get me to apply for their credit card. I don't want a Wal-Mart or Toys R Us or any other credit card. I have one store card, one Visa card and one Mastercard (debit type card so it comes out of checking). I also have an unsecured line of credit (which currently has a zero balance and will stay that way because I don't have any checks for it and refuse to call the bank and ask for more--that's my way of handling that temptation).

Why I am replying is that is shocked me that cc applications would be everywhere in Germany. I lived there for three years (DH is in the military) and left in 2001. When I lived there, most places didn't take credit cards. I remember a friend of mine rejoicing when Vertkauf became Wal-Mart because they started taking her debit card. The only other places I knew of that took cc's were places like Kauhof and Karstadt (the big department stores). I would be very disappointed if Germany had gone the way of the US and started having the debt problems that we as a nation do.

I am not saying I am perfect. I am trying very hard to stay out of debt (not very well) which is the reason I read the posts on this board. The people here give me inspiration to live debt free. They also have given me amazing ideas on how to budget and cut the things I don't really need.

I guess some of the things the United States exports are great (our freedoms, our willingness to help when there is a crisis, our prayers for other countries, and yes, some of our manufactured goods, as well as our fast-food resturants--I couldn't have made it in Germany without the occasionaly Big Mac), but other things like our buy it today, pay for it tomorrow attitude has hurt us and other countries I am beginnig to realize.

I hope no one takes offense at my statements. Don't get me wrong I am pro-United States (almost have to be with DH in the military) but there are some things we need to relook as a country and our rising personal debt levels is one of them. At least the people who post here are willing to face it. I know a lot of people who aren't.

Kellie

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-25-2003
Wed, 09-15-2004 - 1:44am
Oh no!

As it is, on campus here, you can't go from one lecture to another without running into a credit card booth. And they've got free stuff if you sign up, and choices of what your card looks like, and low introductory rates - they make it so easy!

And while yes, people should be aware and responsible for their own debt load, at the same time, why make it so easy for people who already don't have money to go even more into debt?