diet site

robertjohkn · 11-01-2002, 11:09 AM

My ex wife while we were married had signed up for of all things an internet wieght loss site which she charged to my credit card. As she usually hid the bills it was over a year before I noticed the charge after I had moved out of the house. It cost me a total of about $150.00 for a site she visited maybe twice and didnt bother to cancel because hey, she wasnt paying for it was she? She used my credit card because no bank trusts her with one. She is still as fat as she was before joining.

11-01-2002, 11:30 AM

Thrilling.

Nic Name · 11-01-2002, 11:44 AM

So There

juju · 11-01-2002, 02:35 PM

That's why I don't have a credit card. Keeps me out of these kinds of situations. I only pay for what I can afford, and if I absolutely need a credit card, i just use my debit card.

11-01-2002, 11:18 PM

and you build such great credit that way! That way, when you need to get a cell phone or a home loan or an auto loan or a signature loan, you don't have to make $800 payments that you get back after your first year or have 18% on your fucking card.

I hated credit cards, until I realized that since I am not independently wealthy, I NEED to have credit in the future. And that's how you build it.

Plus, if you lose a wallet full of cash, you are FUCKED. If you lose your debit card, you CAN be fucked (check with your bank). If you lose your Visa... you can only be fucked out of exactly $0.

Enjoy it while it lasts, my friend. You will, in all certainty, need a credit card one day.

elSicomoro · 11-02-2002, 01:20 AM

Credit can rule, if you are responsible.

It can get you into an apartment with little or no money down.

It can get your utilities turned on or get you a cell phone contract with no deposit.

It can get you 0% financing on a car.

It can also be the difference between getting a particular job or not (especially since many companies now do credit checks).

Griff · 11-02-2002, 07:23 AM

We use our credit card for almost all our purchaces. Its useful because we get a spending breakdown once a month that we can pump into Microsoft Money or Quicken. We can crank out all kinds of graphs telling us where we're being stupid with our money. It helps for setting long term goals and getting there. However, you have to pay it off every month or you're screwing yourself. We've built a house on our credit card and carried a balance over a few times but we always change our spending when that happens and slow down construction. Right now we have no balance and no morgage, easy credit is a tool like any other. "An idiot with a shovel will cause more damage than a wise man with a bull dozer." Gene Logdson

You can also fly to Europe on your accrued air miles like we'll be doing next fall.
juju is being smarter about it than a lot of students, if you have little chance of paying down debt, you shouldn't take it on.

11-02-2002, 10:41 AM

Syc can tell you more about this, but basically, it's better to keep money on your card - but have enough money that you could pay it off if you absolutely needed to. Your credit rating goes up quicker that way.

My credit advisor at my credit union told me the same thing, so... I didn't just hear it from one person.

I try to keep about a $500 balance on my card and make payments whenever I need to. My credit is going up, which is a good thing (and I've gotten two cell phones now without the ridiculous deposits most companies charge - anywhere from $200-$800, which you get back with no interest after the first year).

Griff · 11-02-2002, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by dave
Syc can tell you more about this, but basically, it's better to keep money on your card - but have enough money that you could pay it off if you absolutely needed to. Your credit rating goes up quicker that way.

My credit advisor at my credit union told me the same thing, so... I didn't just hear it from one person.

I try to keep about a $500 balance on my card and make payments whenever I need to. My credit is going up, which is a good thing (and I've gotten two cell phones now without the ridiculous deposits most companies charge - anywhere from $200-$800, which you get back with no interest after the first year).

That depends on what your goal is. We already have good credit so it would be pointless to pay 18% (warning number pulled out of ass, may reek)on whatever the carried over balance was. To us, thats just shoveling money into the furnace when it could be used elsewhere. If you're going to stay on the credit treadmill then you have to play the game, but we're getting off.

elSicomoro · 11-02-2002, 01:01 PM

In 8 years, I've only been late on one payment (my Mobil card this past summer, and I was only late b/c I forgot about it...it arrived a few days late).

When you carry a balance, and make the appropriate payments, it shows creditors that you know how to use a card. Over time, it gives you bargaining power for higher limits or lower interest rates.

I don't know how many of you have a May Department Stores credit card (Robinsons-May, Famous-Barr, Filene's, Hecht's, Strawbridge's, Kauffman's, Foley's, etc.), but if you carry a balance on it, and pay it off in installments (on time of course), they bump your limit up without even telling you. I had a F-B card when I was in St. Louis, and I only used it here and there to buy clothes. My credit limit went from $200 to $800 to $2000. When I moved to DC and got my Hecht's card (you couldn't use one May card between the various stores at the time), it was "open-ended," as in no limit. Not that I would ever use that much credit, but that was pretty cool.

juju · 11-02-2002, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by dave
Enjoy it while it lasts, my friend. You will, in all certainty, need a credit card one day.

Well, I dunno. That sounds like a pretty bold statement. Do you really think a person just can't get by without a credit card? I mean, I seem to be doing pretty well so far.

I don't know much about the home loan stuff. Am I to understand that you're paying interest..eh..i mean, "building credit", just so you can take out a bank loan in the future?

elSicomoro · 11-02-2002, 07:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by juju
Well, I dunno. That sounds like a pretty bold statement. Do you really think a person just can't get by without a credit card? I mean, I seem to be doing pretty well so far.

In the US 2002, no, you almost can't. Oh sure...you can. But it just makes your life 50 times more difficult.

My parents had incredibly bad credit for many years, and have only rebuilt it in the past 5 years to where it's actually good now. Here are some things that they couldn't do (and what you can't really do either) w/o a CC:

--Rent a car (b/c most places demand a CC to secure a deposit...and even with a MC or Visa logo on a debit card, many places will either not accept it if it's just a debit card, or their card readers may be unable to properly read the card).

--Rent a hotel room (same thing).

--Shop easily online. (What a lot of banks fail to mention is that even though your debit card may be a Visa or MC debit card, they don't always work as well as a Visa or MC credit card does...for whatever reason, the cards don't always read properly.)

--Actually get a MC or Visa debit card. (Most banks actually check your credit now before they'll issue a debit card with either logo. If your credit sucks, you'll only be able to get a plain ol' debit card.)

Quote:

I don't know much about the home loan stuff. Am I to understand that you're paying interest..eh..i mean, "building credit", just so you can take out a bank loan in the future?

You gotta pay to play, my friend.

Why on earth would a mortgage company want to give you a loan for $200,000 if you have no credit history? Why would a bank want to give a car loan for $15,000 if you have nothing that shows you've paid back anything in the past?

That's why you start small. JCPenney will give anyone a CC...that was the first card I ever got. I'm sure you have plenty of folks on campus trying to get you to sign up for a CC. Go ahead...sign up for one. It won't be the best...it'll probably be like 18% interest, and will probably only have a credit limit of $500. Use it sparingly, wait a year, then ask for a lower interest rate, or get a new CC.

juju · 11-02-2002, 09:35 PM

Wow.. rich white men are really playing you folks for all you're worth, aren't they?

Oh, of all the times i've been completely fucked because I couldn't rent a car or a hotel room! Seems like a travel thing if you ask me. I'm content with borrowing my mom's card for such occasions.

As to buying things online, I do it all the time with my debit card, and have never had any problems.

I have paid off my car loan, so I can only hope that gives me good enough credit to buy a house.

elSicomoro · 11-02-2002, 09:44 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by juju
Wow.. rich white men are really playing you folks for all you're worth, aren't they?

You might get by on your good looks and a handshake in Arkansas...unfortunately, it doesn't work like that in much of the world anymore.

Quote:

Oh, of all the times i've been completely fucked because I couldn't rent a car or a hotel room! Seems like a travel thing if you ask me. I'm content with borrowing my mom's card for such occasions.

And how is that going to help YOUR credit?

Quote:

I have paid off my car loan, so I can only hope that gives me good enough credit to buy a house.

That'll help, but you (and your wife) are gonna need a solid credit history...one car loan ain't gonna cut it.

perth · 11-03-2002, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by sycamore
--Rent a car (b/c most places demand a CC to secure a deposit...and even with a MC or Visa logo on a debit card, many places will either not accept it if it's just a debit card, or their card readers may be unable to properly read the card).

--Rent a hotel room (same thing).

--Shop easily online. (What a lot of banks fail to mention is that even though your debit card may be a Visa or MC debit card, they don't always work as well as a Visa or MC credit card does...for whatever reason, the cards don't always read properly.)

--Actually get a MC or Visa debit card. (Most banks actually check your credit now before they'll issue a debit card with either logo. If your credit sucks, you'll only be able to get a plain ol' debit card.)

uh, it may not be the same across the country (although i dont know why it would be different) but i can and have done all these things having only a debit card (visa logo). i do agree that a credit card goes a long way to establishing credit, i dont have one simply because my credit isnt good enough (yet). my wifes credit has improved immensely since gettting a couple low-limit credit cards and using them responsibly.

~james

11-01-2002, 11:09 AM	#1
robertjohkn Kinda New Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 1	diet site My ex wife while we were married had signed up for of all things an internet wieght loss site which she charged to my credit card. As she usually hid the bills it was over a year before I noticed the charge after I had moved out of the house. It cost me a total of about $150.00 for a site she visited maybe twice and didnt bother to cancel because hey, she wasnt paying for it was she? She used my credit card because no bank trusts her with one. She is still as fat as she was before joining.

11-02-2002, 07:23 AM	#7
Griff still says videotape Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 26,813	We use our credit card for almost all our purchaces. Its useful because we get a spending breakdown once a month that we can pump into Microsoft Money or Quicken. We can crank out all kinds of graphs telling us where we're being stupid with our money. It helps for setting long term goals and getting there. However, you have to pay it off every month or you're screwing yourself. We've built a house on our credit card and carried a balance over a few times but we always change our spending when that happens and slow down construction. Right now we have no balance and no morgage, easy credit is a tool like any other. "An idiot with a shovel will cause more damage than a wise man with a bull dozer." Gene Logdson You can also fly to Europe on your accrued air miles like we'll be doing next fall. juju is being smarter about it than a lot of students, if you have little chance of paying down debt, you shouldn't take it on. __________________ If you would only recognize that life is hard, things would be so much easier for you. - Louis D. Brandeis

11-01-2002, 11:44 AM	#3
Nic Name retired Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 1,930	So There

11-01-2002, 02:35 PM	#4
juju no one of consequence Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Arkansas Posts: 2,839	That's why I don't have a credit card. Keeps me out of these kinds of situations. I only pay for what I can afford, and if I absolutely need a credit card, i just use my debit card.

11-01-2002, 11:18 PM	#5
dave Guest Posts: n/a	and you build such great credit that way! That way, when you need to get a cell phone or a home loan or an auto loan or a signature loan, you don't have to make $800 payments that you get back after your first year or have 18% on your fucking card. I hated credit cards, until I realized that since I am not independently wealthy, I NEED to have credit in the future. And that's how you build it. Plus, if you lose a wallet full of cash, you are FUCKED. If you lose your debit card, you CAN be fucked (check with your bank). If you lose your Visa... you can only be fucked out of exactly $0. Enjoy it while it lasts, my friend. You will, in all certainty, need a credit card one day.

11-02-2002, 01:20 AM	#6
elSicomoro Person who doesn't update the user title Join Date: Jan 2001 Posts: 12,486	Credit can rule, if you are responsible. It can get you into an apartment with little or no money down. It can get your utilities turned on or get you a cell phone contract with no deposit. It can get you 0% financing on a car. It can also be the difference between getting a particular job or not (especially since many companies now do credit checks).

11-02-2002, 10:41 AM	#8
dave Guest Posts: n/a	Syc can tell you more about this, but basically, it's better to keep money on your card - but have enough money that you could pay it off if you absolutely needed to. Your credit rating goes up quicker that way. My credit advisor at my credit union told me the same thing, so... I didn't just hear it from one person. I try to keep about a $500 balance on my card and make payments whenever I need to. My credit is going up, which is a good thing (and I've gotten two cell phones now without the ridiculous deposits most companies charge - anywhere from $200-$800, which you get back with no interest after the first year).

11-02-2002, 01:01 PM	#10
elSicomoro Person who doesn't update the user title Join Date: Jan 2001 Posts: 12,486	In 8 years, I've only been late on one payment (my Mobil card this past summer, and I was only late b/c I forgot about it...it arrived a few days late). When you carry a balance, and make the appropriate payments, it shows creditors that you know how to use a card. Over time, it gives you bargaining power for higher limits or lower interest rates. I don't know how many of you have a May Department Stores credit card (Robinsons-May, Famous-Barr, Filene's, Hecht's, Strawbridge's, Kauffman's, Foley's, etc.), but if you carry a balance on it, and pay it off in installments (on time of course), they bump your limit up without even telling you. I had a F-B card when I was in St. Louis, and I only used it here and there to buy clothes. My credit limit went from $200 to $800 to $2000. When I moved to DC and got my Hecht's card (you couldn't use one May card between the various stores at the time), it was "open-ended," as in no limit. Not that I would ever use that much credit, but that was pretty cool.

11-02-2002, 09:35 PM	#13
juju no one of consequence Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Arkansas Posts: 2,839	Wow.. rich white men are really playing you folks for all you're worth, aren't they? Oh, of all the times i've been completely fucked because I couldn't rent a car or a hotel room! Seems like a travel thing if you ask me. I'm content with borrowing my mom's card for such occasions. As to buying things online, I do it all the time with my debit card, and have never had any problems. I have paid off my car loan, so I can only hope that gives me good enough credit to buy a house.

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