It’s happening, even as I wished they had gone away for ever (like Elphaba, the Bad Witch in The Wizard of Oz). I am speaking of the evil Credit-Cards. And, they are ba-a-a-a-a-ck. You don’t need to be a psychic or a poltergeist to see the intent of the subtle seduction commercial advertising unleashed on popular TV programs in recent days. One in particular, raises my very hackles (or perhaps, blood pressure). This commercial compares a credit card to a rare gem. The agency who created this ad, complete with sensual scenery and hot-looking models, was clearly hoping to stimulate the appetite of consumers (especially shopaholics) to buy luxury items, like fine gems, using their credit card. Oh, the very thought of THAT.
I know a new law "regulating" credit cards was passed and signed this year. But dramatic changes in interest rate charges may not occur for some time. And although fine print explanations are now required of credit card companies, there is no requirement to make the fine print legible, easy to find or to read. Who among us doesn’t think if there’s a loop hole, they will find it.
I do not know where the ad agencies have been during the debacle we call This Recession, but I think unless they were busy churning out pharmaceutical commercials, (as some obviously were), they were as business-poor as the rest of us. Obviously, even though many are still jobless, the advertisers just couldn’t wait to get back in the game. They saw a window of opportunity to get consumers to spend. On credit. This is a very sick idea. Ask or Tell your doctor, like the drug ads ALWAYS advise (aren’t they so predictable?)
Credit cards are one of the primary reasons we are so deep in recession. It’s pretty obvious to me if people don’t have jobs, they can’t pay their bills (and that would include credit cards), because they pay their mortgages or rent and their necessities (like food) first. But the credit cards seem oblivious to any hurt going on - more than willing to jack interest rates to sky high 26% or so, on outstanding balances (at this time and place). Not only are credit card companies getting away with this form of abuse, if you don’t or can not pay, they will sick their collection agencies on you. Family members and friends can tell stories about receiving collection calls non-stop from locations all over the world (including Vietnam and The Philippines) or robotic voice messages. I believe there is probably full employment in the collection agency world. But the collectors seem reluctant to employ Americans who could use a job, even one as gross as this one. Part of the collectors’ training kit must include chapters on how to sink your teeth into a hapless credit card user’s neck. And not to let go until the card-holder either croaks or agrees to pay.
I can not understand why the credit card (bank-issued) companies have been allowed to pillage (at the very least) our Country with exorbitant interest and abusive tactics aimed at bringing people to their knees. Oh, put me on the list to testify about how I feel about credit cards and their sweetie-pie come-ons (when they want you to sign up) and their pie-faced blank-offs when you’ve missed a few payments due to hardship. Will the new law make them stop their evil ways? I seriously doubt it.
The only way to avoid the subtle seduction of these money-grubbing sirens is to tear up their promotions (now coming in the mail to supposedly credit-worthy citizens); to ignore their sleazy TV ads, and to like-wise chop up any credit cards you own into a million little pieces. I did that - and it was so very satisfying. I am done with credit cards. Put a fork in them, they are now so over with me. In this day and age, I think cash and only cash.
Obviously, many of us got fooled by the real estate bubble and the booming stock market and we just thought the good life and the easy money would never end. By getting fooled, hopefully we learned a lesson and also got smarter. And that lesson would include knowing never to buy on credit, because a rainy day may come. The people still using credit cards, of course, are those who can pay off their balances monthly. Most of these people are unlikely to overspend. But the newest credit card commercials are NOT aimed at the people who still have credit cards, but the people susceptible to still wanting things they can’t really afford - like baubles, bangles, and bright shiny beads (or the latest IPhone). Focus groups have likely told the ad agencies (and the credit cards) that there are still many gullible and unsophisticated people in TV land and beyond whose reach exceed their grasp (thank you, Robert Browning). But if you bite off more than you can chew with a credit card, you will find out quickly the very painful costs of charging in this ailing economy. So don’t do it. Ignore the seductive ads and sexy subliminal offers aimed at getting you to desire a credit card. As Nancy Reagan once said, Just Say No.
