Flynrider
Phoeix,#2Consumer Comment
Fri, June 26, 2009
Credit cards are right up there with payday loans and loan sharks as the riskiest ways to borrow money. The rules for revolving credit give the banks license to change the terms of the agreement as they see fit (as you have unfortunately discovered). You, as the consumer, have nearly zero leverage when it comes to the terms and conditions. This is all spelled out in the multipage, fine print credit card agreement that you got when you opened the account. This is not unique to Chase. Virtually every credit card agreement comes with similar terms. This is why borrowing large amounts of money under any credit card terms is a very bad idea. There is no way of knowing how much you will eventually have to pay for an item you charged today. And if you think the "reforms" that go into effect next year will change that, think again. Mostly they increase notification requirements when banks change the terms of the agreements, but on the whole, the banks will still be able to do what they do today. Your best bet is to find some way to either pay off the balance or transfer it to a normal consumer loan. Unlike revolving credit terms, consumer loans operate under sane rules that allow you to know exactly how much you will pay back per month and over the life of the loan.
Flynrider
Phoeix,#3Consumer Comment
Fri, June 26, 2009
Credit cards are right up there with payday loans and loan sharks as the riskiest ways to borrow money. The rules for revolving credit give the banks license to change the terms of the agreement as they see fit (as you have unfortunately discovered). You, as the consumer, have nearly zero leverage when it comes to the terms and conditions. This is all spelled out in the multipage, fine print credit card agreement that you got when you opened the account. This is not unique to Chase. Virtually every credit card agreement comes with similar terms. This is why borrowing large amounts of money under any credit card terms is a very bad idea. There is no way of knowing how much you will eventually have to pay for an item you charged today. And if you think the "reforms" that go into effect next year will change that, think again. Mostly they increase notification requirements when banks change the terms of the agreements, but on the whole, the banks will still be able to do what they do today. Your best bet is to find some way to either pay off the balance or transfer it to a normal consumer loan. Unlike revolving credit terms, consumer loans operate under sane rules that allow you to know exactly how much you will pay back per month and over the life of the loan.
Flynrider
Phoeix,#4Consumer Comment
Fri, June 26, 2009
Credit cards are right up there with payday loans and loan sharks as the riskiest ways to borrow money. The rules for revolving credit give the banks license to change the terms of the agreement as they see fit (as you have unfortunately discovered). You, as the consumer, have nearly zero leverage when it comes to the terms and conditions. This is all spelled out in the multipage, fine print credit card agreement that you got when you opened the account. This is not unique to Chase. Virtually every credit card agreement comes with similar terms. This is why borrowing large amounts of money under any credit card terms is a very bad idea. There is no way of knowing how much you will eventually have to pay for an item you charged today. And if you think the "reforms" that go into effect next year will change that, think again. Mostly they increase notification requirements when banks change the terms of the agreements, but on the whole, the banks will still be able to do what they do today. Your best bet is to find some way to either pay off the balance or transfer it to a normal consumer loan. Unlike revolving credit terms, consumer loans operate under sane rules that allow you to know exactly how much you will pay back per month and over the life of the loan.