Does My Teenager Really Need a Credit Card?

In actuality, no one needs a credit card. Many parents find it comforting to provide a credit card to their teenager who is going away to school, with the understanding that the card is to be used for emergencies - only. Many students are very responsible and use their credit card only as their parents intended. However, many students define an emergency differently.

Application Enticements?

Many stores or financial institutions offer enticements such as discounts or prizes when someone fills out an application. If your son or daughter fills out a credit card application "Just because I got 10% off my purchases that day," the company must be contacted in writing and by phone if they do not plan to use the credit card in the future. Simply 'not using' it will not stop monthly charges from accruing (including late payments for monthly charges). This is very important and can cause credit hassles later on if they just ignore the notices of payments due.

What Constitutes an Emergency?

An acceptable emergency in which to use a credit card would include a medical or dental situation where payment is required upfront, a breakdown of their (not their friends') automobile, being stranded at a party where the driver is drunk and your child has no way home, being otherwise stranded somewhere with no way home, being burned out of an apartment and needing to pay for a place to stay or to buy food (while out of an apartment). These may sound very ominous, but that should be the tone around the use and abuse of a credit card.

What is not an Emergency?

Books for school may be an emergency situation in some cases, but magazine subscriptions, adult chat lines, 1-900 horoscope phone numbers, and HBO on Demand are not. Theater or concert tickets are not emergencies, cell phone bills are not emergencies, except in some situations. Paying for a cell phone may be acceptable; but putting all your friends expenses on your credit card because they promised to pay is absolutely not.

Why have a Credit Card at all?

It is important today to have good credit, as witnessed by all the lending institutions advertising to release a credit score, or merchandisers and home loan agencies marketing to those with poor credit. It is not a status symbol or a means of having more stuff than the next person any more. It is a much more important achievement to have a high credit score as that affects everything from the amount of interest charged on their credit card and having the option to finance larger items to things as simple as being able to rent a car.

"I tell you Doris , he was making $150,000 a year and had been working at the same place for a decade and they wouldn't approve his loan! They told him straight up that no credit history means no loan - all because he didn't have a credit card ."

So you're at the gas station filling up your vehicle, and without warning the gas pump shuts off.

A woman's car is broken into, her wallet is stolen and the crooks rack up $1,000 on her credit cards in just two hours. Their crime is all caught on tape.

BUTLER TOWNSHIP, Ohio -- Police in Butler Township said they are looking for a person responsible in a local theft. Investigators said someone stole a car last month and a woman is using the victim’s credit cards and checks.

Wayne County commissioners have voted to accept payments from residents in the form of credit or debit cards. Plastic can now be used for the payment of court costs, fines, real estate taxes, personal property taxes, recording fees, auto title fees, vehicle registration fees, and any other fee, cost, assessment, fine, penalty or other expense owed to a county office. The only exceptions are dog ...

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