::Wednesday, December 08, 2004::
CHARGE AWAY
..Metro reports that for the first time Americans' use of of plastic in electronic bill paying far eclipsed the use of paper checks. People are charging their way into debt and most have no clue what they are getting into. Are consumers responsible? You bet. However, they are not the lone culprit. Banks and credit card companies are engaging in business practices bordering on "predatory lending". Practically anyone with a name can now get a credit card and only later regret not reading the fine print which most often charge exorbitant fees. This is not helping the country at all in terms of savings and financial security for the future.
