Credit Cards

[Havoc]

OMG a financial topic!

I'm sure most members of the USA have at least one credit card at their disposal, but have you ever stopped and thought about how you use it? Do you stay within the boundaries of your monthly income or do you regularly go over that limit and work yourself into a debt?

I never liked the concept of a credit card much. The idea of being able to spend money that you don't actually have is not only weird, it can land people in all kinds of trouble as demonstrated by many people in the past. I do have a credit card, but I only use it for over seas purchases and stuff that doesn't accept Pay Pal. For daily things like groceries I use a debit card, which is the default 'plastic' here in Holland and (I think) most of Europe.

[OddjobAbe]

This will explain the repercussions of credit card use.

[Hobo]

OMG a financial topic!

I'm sure most members of the USA have at least one credit card at their disposal, but have you ever stopped and thought about how you use it? Do you stay within the boundaries of your monthly income or do you regularly go over that limit and work yourself into a debt?

I never liked the concept of a credit card much. The idea of being able to spend money that you don't actually have is not only weird, it can land people in all kinds of trouble as demonstrated by many people in the past. I do have a credit card, but I only use it for over seas purchases and stuff that doesn't accept Pay Pal. For daily things like groceries I use a debit card, which is the default 'plastic' here in Holland and (I think) most of Europe.

Do you have any proof more Americans use credit cards than Europeans or are you just being retarded again.

[shaman]

Hobo's being the mean one in this! - Ah forget it...

[Hobo]

Don't worry everyone, he neg repped me. Everything is fair now.


EDIT: And my point completely void!

[Wil]

I don't have a credit card, for the same weird feelings that Havoc has. About credit cards, I mean.

[~Oprilthevykker~]

I use debit card, not credit.. Debit comes out my own money.

[Ridg3]

I use debit card, not credit.. Debit comes out my own money.

Thanks for explaining that, I was lost for a minute.

I don't believe in credit because of the fact I'd be in debt quicker than Kerry Katona's knickers in coming off whenever someone said they'll give her a tenner and a used needle of heroin.

[Wil]

That's a very specific belief.

[Nate]

Like Opril, I have a debit card. It gives me all the benefits of any other type of Mastercard, in that I can use it anywhere in the world, but just withdraws directly from my bank account rather than through credit.

[used:)]

That's what I use too.

[MA]

I do have a credit card, but I only use it for over seas purchases and stuff that doesn't accept Pay Pal. For daily things like groceries I use a debit card, which is the default 'plastic' here in Holland and (I think) most of Europe.

you're more sensible than me. i have a debit card, as almost every citizen in the UK has, and also have a small amount of overdraft. i always go into my overdraft, and more often than so go into unplanned overdraft, too. its bullshit. you get charged extra monthly and daily for the time you spend in unplanned overdraft, and by the time of your next payment, you end up with about a hundred-so pound taken out.

i fucking despise it. honestly. banks are cunts. especially the phone lines where YOU ARE PAYING FOR THE MAMMOTH CHARGE AS THIS STUPID ROBOT WOMAN BABBLES TO YOU AND ASKS YOU TO REPEAT THE QUESTION. money snatching bastards.

anyone who is in the UK and thinks banks are fair/modest/competent/negotiable/generally nice is either a bloody buffoon or hasn't had much experience with them yet.

[Havoc]

You don't have internet banking in the UK?

[Wings of Fire]

We're very mistrustful of it in the UK.

Or at least I am.

[MA]

You don't have internet banking in the UK?

got it. only use it to check my balance. sometimes i have to go into unplanned overdraft, though. that's what sucks balls. the charges, i mean.

[Havoc]

We're very mistrustful of it in the UK.

Or at least I am.

Funny. I do all my banking online, so much easier then calling or filling something out and mailing it.

Why don't you trust it?

[Wings of Fire]

It's more a case of not trusting my computer with any sensitive information, I go on a lot of suspect sites.

[Rex Tirano]

I'm the same with WOF with the ideas of internet banking [is this a British thing then?]. Not so much that I go on suspect websites, more for the fact that I share my flatmate's and university computers and I worry about my information.

But I use a debit card without an overdraft. If I had an overdraft I'd spend it all on fluffy, shiny, useless things that I'd get bored of in 2 seconds.

- Rexy

[Wings of Fire]

But I use a debit card without an overdraft. If I had an overdraft I'd spend it all on fluffy, shiny, useless things that I'd get bored of in 2 seconds.

- Rexy

Just like my brother then.

[MA]

But I use a debit card without an overdraft. If I had an overdraft I'd spend it all on fluffy, shiny, useless things that I'd get bored of in 2 seconds.

- Rexy

i'd spend it all on cold, wet, tasty things that i'd get pissed on in 2 seconds.

this is sad because its true.

[Daxter King]

I use cash. This may be due to the fact I never have >$200 at any one time.

[Wil]

I don't have online banking, not because I'm particularly mistrustful of it, but because it's a fuckload of effort for not much reward. Will I be able to print cash out from my computer? Can I pay cash into my bank account using just my laptop.

Big. Fat. No.

[Nate]

On the other hand, will I be able to view my bank balance and all past transactions? Will I be able to transfer money to my mum for board? Can I pay bills without having to leave the house or having to spend ages on the phone?

Big. Fat. Yes.


Besides, what fuckload of effort? It took me all of five minutes to organise internet banking and that was about a decade ago.

[Wil]

It took me several weeks to set up Internet banking with a new bank account this summer. Including telephone calls and written letters. Maybe a decade ago such ridiculous processes didn't exist, or maybe they just don't with your banks. Who knows.

I can do all those things without much inconvenience anyway. Banks and utilities generally have good phone infrastructure for making payments, giving meter readings, setting up standing orders and other run-of-the-mill stuff.

[abe is now!]

Shit, I can't have a credit card because I'm under age! XD I could use my parents' credit card but they don't allow me to do it... I'll wait!

[Havoc]

Besides, what fuckload of effort? It took me all of five minutes to organise internet banking and that was about a decade ago.

This is where my 'Everything is 10 years behind in the UK' rule comes in.

[MeechMunchie]

I'm a debit card and cash man. Cheques make me angry.

[Wings of Fire]

This is where my 'Everything is 10 years behind in the UK' rule comes in.

So how many Dutch universities are on the top 100 for research again?

[Havoc]

From the top of my head I'd say at least two. How many UK ones? Also, lately whenever I've seen research come out of the UK it's been about some random subject no-one wants to know anything about. Mostly along the lines of:

ZOMG! Research shows that if you are bald you have a bigger chance of being gang raped by two niggers in jeans who had cancer 14 years ago and just got out of jail. It also shows that the relation between baldness and STD's is higher than any other hair category.

I'm not sure if coming out with research like that is something to be proud of...

[T-nex]

My country can beat up your country!