Cascade Failure
We should have expected credit card interest rates to start on a trajectory for the ceiling. I certainly wrote enough over the last 20 months about the pitfalls of transacting with the loan sharks in the Federal Reserve system. We've been around this block, before.
Does anyone remember the fiasco of the late '70s and early '80s? Let's refresh our memories. Crushing unemployment aggravated by inflation killed consumer confidence. The Prime Rate for short term loans to banks climbed to 23%. The debt load crushed the economy. The Savings and Loan institutional failures bled wealth out of the real estate market. Still, the bloodsuckers at the credit card issuers pillaged, without mercy.
For those who have short or fuzzy memories, you're about to get an instant replay. Take notes, this time. At least you'll remember that I told you so, again.
Does anyone remember the fiasco of the late '70s and early '80s? Let's refresh our memories. Crushing unemployment aggravated by inflation killed consumer confidence. The Prime Rate for short term loans to banks climbed to 23%. The debt load crushed the economy. The Savings and Loan institutional failures bled wealth out of the real estate market. Still, the bloodsuckers at the credit card issuers pillaged, without mercy.
For those who have short or fuzzy memories, you're about to get an instant replay. Take notes, this time. At least you'll remember that I told you so, again.
EasyToSay Thanks George, I am certainly trying to use my credit card less and less these days. Mind you I always make sure I pay it off each month so I don't get crippled by the interest rate they charge!
GeorgesBlog That's very good. My sister told me this morning that a dept. store sent her a notice about increased interest rates and fees on her card. She has no balance on it and they charge a monthly fee, anyway. Don't get burned by the fine print.
Helen65 I have 2 credit cards. Use one. Pay it off every month.
Got in this habit about 10-15 years ago.
I hate wasting money on interest....it's money down a rat-hole. When the housing market was growing like Topsy I knew it would tank. It was an artificial mess created by Democrats and some stupid Republican Rinos.
I have learned.
I don't forget, George!!
GeorgesBlog That's good, Helen. We have to remind each other. As my sister told me, they're tacking on surcharges if you don't use your card. The store told her that the interest was going to 24% and there would be a monthly fee.
Angie_vV
I have one credit card but never spend on it. When will people learn not to spend any money they do not have ? It's an unrealistic world. And as for the small prints - I will tear them apart if necessary: word by word
GeorgesBlog Very good, Angie. My sister got rid of her store card when she learned that she was going to be charged, whether she used it or not.
Munkyman Citicards has raised their rates by 10% for all their cardholders with credit scores under 600 regardless of payment history. Anyone with credit cards should review the Usury law in both the issuing state and their own as the federal courts usually refers to the state rates for reference since the only rate laws governing card issuers was stricken in 1978 leaving the bank act of 1864 as the only federal law concerning rates which allows for any rate at all. If Congress acts on current legislation they intend to set Usury at 36% which is certainly predatory. If you do carry large balances you should fold them into home equity if you can as realestate loans are much more strictly governed by Usury statutes in each state.
GeorgesBlog No one can win the debt game. Since the system runs on borrowed debt, homeowners are in a dead end. The legal definition of the word "equity" has been changed over the years to avoid bankers being convicted of Felony Fraud. If equity were still measured in real money, gold and silver, everyone would be guilty of conspiring to defraud each other. The central question is, if everyone is involved in the same crime, and no one presents themselves as the injured party seeking recovery of damages, is there still a crime? Of course, there is. We are in the current phase of the currency collapse. The participants are about to pay very dearly for their duplicity. As the 20th century taught us, the payment for many will be in blood.
Munkyman it's not about winning a debt game it's about leveraging your debts into the most sheltered position to avoid any more interest than you must pay, the states control real property law and the usury rate relavent to them not the fed. State usury laws in more than 40 states are far stricter than the federal regulations so to put your debts where state law has precedence is simply the wisest course in inflationary times in most states.
GeorgesBlog There is no shelter in a Ponzi scheme. You just aren't paying attention. Ignoring the lessons of history has set the stage for destruction. History is repeating itself, and you're helping.