Perpetual debt, predatory plastic: From the company store to the world of late fees and overlimit penalties

Authors

Robert Manning

Abstract

Last year John, a 55-year-old African American living on public assistance in Takoma Park, Maryland, a Washington, D.C., suburb, received an invitation in the mail promising him a chance to join millions of other Americans who enjoy the convenience and status of credit-card membership. In its direct mail solicitation, United Credit National Bank Visa declared, "ACE VISA GUARANTEED ISSUE or we'll send you $100.00! (See inside for details.)" For the unsuspecting, it might have sounded like a terrific opportunity to enter the credit mainstream. But a closer look inside showed that the primary beneficiary was the credit card company.

Publication Date

2003

Comments

Note: imported from RIT’s Digital Media Library running on DSpace to RIT Scholar Works in February 2014.

Document Type

Article

Department, Program, or Center

Accounting (SCB)

Campus

RIT – Main Campus

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