Monday, 10 March 2008

You Can Avoid Credit Card Debt In Excess

By David Smythe

As the use of plastic money became popular, more and more people are using it while more business establishments are accepting it to complete transactions. However, credit cards have become a factor in burying people alive with debt-related problems so it is important for card holders to learn how to use it properly to avoid excessive credit card debt.

It is very important to know how not to make excessive debts, once you own a credit card. You must not turn the benefits offered by the bank into a bottomless source of income, and the fact you do not use cash does not mean you do not have to pay. On the contrary, the initial attractive offers of the institution issuing credit cards such as discounts and other facilities can end up against you, especially with online shopping.

But all these problems, with credit card debt in excess, can be prevented. The last hope you have is to learn from the experiences of the millions of people who are dealing with important debt problems. The use of plastic money in excess is always a serious matter.

Card companies must not shut off offering cards to clients because some people have used credit cards in excess. These companies and you as card holder must take some responsibilities.

Whether you look at excessive credit card debt from your point of view as credit card holder, or from the issuer's point of view, if the debt is there, it will still exist until the moment you pay it.

Usually, credit card companies must warn their clients about the huge debts even before issuing warnings about the credit limit. The credit companies can inform you about the ways you can protect the card, without pushing your limits too far.

The card companies could initiate mandatory seminars and open forums for card applicants where they can introduce all the facets of the credit card to the prospective customers as part of the application process. Credit card issuing companies could also send warnings to customers who are heading towards excessive credit card debt based on their card usage. Prevention is better than cure and card companies can help in this.

The most important mission in avoiding debt belongs to the individual card holder. Customers must be aware of the fact that money on credit cards is not at all free. He or she must have enough responsibility to control his or her shopping habits and lifestyle according to the sum of money they are willing to pay. Anyway, if you spend more than you earn you will get into trouble, even if you have not got a credit card.

To sum it up, excessive credit card debt is a problem that can be avoided as long as there is joint effort on the part of the card supplier and the individual card holder. The financial road is not paved with roses. If there are conveniences there are disadvantages that always come with it.

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