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Money Coaching Monday: Credit Card Practices Bankrupting Americans

posted by dprice | 10:35am Monday October 19, 2009

Before the recession began a little over a year ago, credit card
companies were offering some of the most attractive rates and balance
transfers ever seen. Many people were using credit cards to not just
supplement their lifestyles, but many also began using these offers as
a means of financing their businesses.

It made sense to transfer an 8% SBA loan to a 3.99% fixed rate
with a credit card company…that’s quite a savings. The problem is
that apparently these companies can’t be trusted and their “lifetime”
fixed rate offers were not worth the paper they were printed on.

As we speak, the banks that we bailed out with billions in
federal loans, are now rapidly changing the rates and terms of their
previous agreements and driving more and more people and small
businesses into financial crisis and bankruptcy. Without cause or
conscience as to the potential consequences they are creating for their
customers. Customers who were paying faithfully and honoring their
agreements no less.

That’s right…you don’t have to have been late, gone over limit, or done anything
for that matter for a bank or credit card company to raise your rates,
decrease your line of even increase your required minimum payment to
twice it’s previous amount.

Meanwhile, the new credit card law that Obama signed in May, which was
meant to prevent these very practices from occurring, is not effective
until July 2010. Effectively, what the government appears to have done
is provided a window of opportunity to these companies to do whatever
they please. By the time the law is effective, it’ll no longer be
needed and the damage will be done.

Personally, I think this could become the equivalent of the mortgage
industry debacle that began the cycle of this economic meltdown.
Millions of Americans have a credit card with a balance. If credit card
companies continue with these blatantly abusive practices, the national
default rates will increase. And we cannot afford another meltdown.

We greatly need to pass the Credit Cardholders’ Bill of Rights and we
need it now. I strongly urge you to contact Congress and your local
representatives now.
Tell them your stories and how these unethical and
unfair credit practices are affecting you, your family and/or your
business. Urge them to pass this new law before more Americans are
driven into financial crisis and insolvency. Enough is enough.

Peace & Blessings!




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posted October 20, 2009 at 2:41 pm


Source and uses of funds need to match payoff terms. Credit card debt is for monthly bills. SBA working capital loans are term loans for 7-10 years. You credit card lender will cop out on you if you hold the debt like a term loan. The SBA term loan will be there for the full term and amortize the principal to zero. Which would you rather have?



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