Just a little episode with debt pushers

 

 

We have a credit card account. Yes, despite all the talk about how bad they are for your personal finance, I do have one credit card. We mostly use it for online purchases (because debit credit cards are not very common in Canada yet as opposed to US) and paying monthly fees at YMCA. So, the balance always gets paid off, we never pay interest, and overall are more than responsible with it.

It just so happens that I had to put a business expense on my Visa. Now, usually it’s a fairly simple transaction - I put it in, and before paying the Visa bill, I cut myself a check for the expense amount, and deposit the check into my account. This way I don’t end up paying any interest or fees, business ultimately pays for the expense, and there’s enough paper trail for bookkeeping to be fairly simple. No big whoop. Now, this time around, the business expense was rather large. While usually our Visa bill is around $150 or so, the business expense sent it way over $3,000. Still, no big deal because I’ll just cut myself a check and pay it without any delays.

But what do I get in the mail along with my Visa bill?

 

” Dear Mr. Financial Underdog,

We are writing to you about your credit account and pleased to advise you that because you effectively managed your account, we would like to offer you a credit card increase. “

Nicely done, debt pushers. I can almost see your software ref flagging my account. ” - Hey, this guy usually spends only this amount on average, but this time around he went into stratosphere! Hey, may be he needs more credit? May be he’s in trouble and now paying his bills with his credit card, I wonder how much more business we can get from him? If we’re lucky, he lost his job, and we’ll hook him up with all the product he needs, just need to make it easier for him to access it. Let’s give him all he wants right now!”

Debt pushers are just like street gangs dealing drugs

 

 

There isn’t much difference between drug dealers and debt pushers. Same approach. A troubled customer is the best customer! Just a different product. And I especially like the part how they complimented me on effective management of my account! When people start putting on huge amounts on credit cards - that’s not effective.  Sure, my case is an anomaly, but in most cases it means people are out of control with their credit cards - and those are the best customers for banks, credit cards, and other debt pushers.

I’m not trying to say that banks are bad and credit cards companies are evil. They do what they do, and have a place in our economy. But at all times, you have to understand why they are doing what they’re doing. An increase in spending limit on your Visa benefits them, not you. Beware of snakes when you’re playing outside. Beware of gangs pushing their products on troubled customers - even if this product happens to be debt.