Transferring Responsibility: The Credit Card Act
Whilst a critical part of consumer spending, credit card companies are constantly accused of malicious legal contracts and schemes to increase profits. Without heavy regulation, these companies have the power to bankrupt millions of Americans that rely on credit cards in their daily lives. However, after the introduction of The Credit Card Act of 2009, these accusations represent an inability to accept responsibility for financial blunders on the consumer’s behalf. Due largely in part to the government’s strict regulations, credit card companies should not be at fault for the student credit card debt crisis. Credit card companies remain blameless for student credit card debt as a result of
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Another study completed by The Social Science Research Network (SSRN) in 2013 proved the effectiveness of the Act by finding that since being passed, The Credit Card Act has saved consumers $20.8 billion per year. In fact, the same study found that late fees decreased from $33.08 in 2008 to just $26.84 in 2012 (Fay, Bill). These studies highlight the success of The Credit Card Act in protecting consumers and deterring college students from overspending. The Credit Card Act of 2009 effectively shifted the financial responsibility from the credit card companies to the consumer.
Title one of The Credit Card Act offers protection to consumers against rapid rate changes, as well as requires credit card companies to acknowledge one’s ability to pay off the credit card before approval. Under this title, payments must be on the same date each month, with the bill being sent at least three weeks in advance. Bills are also accessible to consumers online or over the phone at no extra cost (Public Law). These accommodations give consumers every opportunity to pay their bills with ease and in a timely manner. However, some people such as student, Carlos Macias, continue to argue that the method of which credit scores are accounted for leaving the companies at fault. Macias argues in his
Throughout the extract, “Strapped,” author Tamara Draut notes why today’s young adults have complications getting financially ahead. Along with student-loan debt, today’s college students may also leave with the burden of credit card debt. Draut argues that college campuses aren’t sufficiently regulating card companies on campus, therefore putting their students at risk for debt.
When you make any charges on a line of credit you will be subjected to interest rates that can increase your debts steadily over time. This debt can creep up on you without knowing too.
James D Scurlock’s “Maxed Out” focused on the revolving use of credit cards to charge now and pay later and the fact that once the credit card was maxed out another one was sent from the credit card companies and the whole process begins all over again. Scurlock’s essay made the reader aware of the downfalls and hardships that can occur when credit cards are constantly used for purchases compared to Kevin O’Donnell’s “Why Won’t Anyone give Me a Credit Card”.
The explosion of credit card use among college students has woven itself into the fabric of campus life ultimately impacting how students interact and begin in the financial industry. As students gain more freedom away from home they often begin to experience various social changes. One area in particular that is cause for concern is the number of students incurring credit card debt. Due to growth in credit card usage and the rise of debt, the ideas discussed in this paper represent the growing need to evaluate credit card company solicitation efforts aimed at students and how to begin negotiation to amend these practices. Through mediation, the focus will be to investigate if college students receive ample education on credit and
The purpose of usury laws was to regulate the maximum interest rates of loans. This law was created to protect borrowers from excessively high interest rates. It insured that lenders could not put the borrower in a situation where they were not able to fully pay off their debt. However, as said on investopedia.com, “In the United States, individual states are responsible for setting their own usury laws.”
I the article, “The Credit Card Company Made Me Do It!” -The Credit Card Industry’s Role in Causing Student Debt” by Carlos Macias. What Carlos writes about is how much College students go in debt when they use credit cards. He talks about how credit card companies prey on students who are in college because they don’t know what how to handle a credit card. He wrote in the article, that the industry makes billions of dollars in profits, and many students are drawn in by the advertising credit card companies use to make college students feel like its easy for anyone to own a credit card. He even said students may even feel pressure from family, peers, and themselves to be responsible adults and try not to live off their parents. Carlos also
Credit cards are one of the many factors that contribute to student debt. A larger proportion of college students rely on credit cards for paying direct academic expenses. ''This includes textbooks, school supplies, and tuition" (Min Zhan 134). Credit cards appear to be a great investment in college, but they are also problematic. Credit cards are related to higher levels of student drop outs from college. Student indebtedness are necessary given the rapid increase needed to meet the financial needs of higher education.
In “Strapped,” author Tamara Draut explains why today’s young adults have trouble getting financially ahead. Along with student- loan debt, today’s college graduates also leave with a higher risk of credit card debt than previous generations. Draut argues that college campuses aren’t regulating the card companies on campuses, therefore not protecting their students. She reasons that a problem on college campuses across the nation, credit card debt, has spun out of control by credit card pushers leading students into debt and feeling financially held back.
These provisions put two things into effect one being bank companies cannot hike up fees on existing accounts, and making it to where consumers understand exactly the prices, fees, and interest rates so that they can make the best decision financially when it comes to owning a credit card. Not only is this provision beneficial to adults and families who uses credit card, but it is definitely beneficial to college students who get credit cards while they are in college and go into consumer debt and loads of students loans. The Credit Card Act helps people to have a better financial knowledge on owning a credit card.
“In a nutshell, the system is geared to keep you in debt” Kevin Trudeau writes in his book “Debt Cures” At the time of publishing his book (2007) The average American consumer had more than $8,000 in credit card debt. Today the average American household owes double the amount at $16,000 in credit card debt. As NerdWallet puts it “Debt is American as apple pie.” Being the 4th highest type of debt in America at $750 billion, just below mortgage, auto debt and student loan debt. Credit card debt is one typical type of debt Americans have to deal with because of the “aggressive practices by the entire lending industry” Trudeau says. Kevin
On a periodic basis, the Federal reserve releases key statistics related to credit card debt in America. With almost 2,000,000,000 credit cards in use while in the hands of almost 200,000,000 individual credit card holders, there is no denying the popularity of these little pieces of plastic. Through May of 2015, Americans were responsible for $901 billion in credit
Financial literacy is essential in living in today’s society, therefore it should be taught at a young age because people have been going bankrupt more than ever before. According to Kelly Walsh, “Students between ages 18-25 have at least one credit card. By the time they graduate half of them have four or more credit cards that have an average balance of $3,000” (Walsh). If students were taught at a younger age how credit cards actually work; they would better understand the consequences of debt. For instance, if students were to research different credit
Now that you have a better understanding of the risky business of owning credit cards, let us examine who is to blame?
Money is a necessity in life and is a constant worry for college students especially when you take out a $10,000 loan. Financial aid has replaced studying as the biggest worry for college students. The objective of college is to learn and grow as a person, but is limited by financial capabilities which is a big problem for the U.S. education system and prices continue to go up. Main focus is having to focus on rigorous studying, students may also have to work to stay in school. A student is paying college through a $10,000 loan and working a part time job 20 hours a week. John wonders if getting a credit card will help him financially. The best solution is to attain a credit card that has student benefits included and will make it easier to protect and keep track of your money.
Students do not have the education needed to use credit cards responsibly. Nellie Mae (August 2007) states