The Credit Card Survey

picture of a line of dollar bills


    So just how knowledgeable are you about the ins and outs of credit card management? As credit card companies mail out billions of card solicitations to homes nationwide as well as invade colleges and universities every year with free t-shirt promotions with the cards they issue, many new words and terms are hurled at us at an instant. Credit card applications are filled in a hurry as unsuspecting college students and other consumers briefly scan over blocks of fine text and submit their forms in eager anticipation of the right to say "charge it!". Unfortunately, the fine print they overlook often comes back to haunt them in the form of "unexpected" service fees and charges.

    Not surprisingly, credit card companies utilize the fine print to take advantage of the consumer who is willing to get a credit card at any cost. (Meaning: Good for the credit card issuer, bad for the consumer.) It happens all too often when consumers are blinded by the fact that if they shop around, they may be able to find credit cards with better deals such as frequent flyer mileage, lower interest rates, or no annual fees. By learning the key points of how the whole credit card system operates, anyone can manage their credit card use better!

    The following survey provides an assessment of your credit card handling practices.


1. How many credit cards do you currently have?:
You don't want to know! (10+)
Several. (5-9)
Umm...what's a credit card?(none)
"A couple." (1-4)

2. How do you usually pay off the total balance on your credit card?:
I struggle just to make the monthly minimum payments.
I use whatever amount I have left at the end of the month and apply it to the bill.
I pay the montly minimum balance.
I pay the total monthly balance in full.

3. I view my credit card primarily as:
A sinister business gimmick that's given me a bad credit rating and has left me in debt.
More or extra spending money.
Strictly an emergency source of cash.
A means to finance special non-everyday major purchase items.

4. The biggest benefit of having a credit card is that:
They provide extremely strong protection against fraud.
They are accepted everywhere you go.
They're easier to carry than having a lot of cash...and thus safer.
They may help you to buy a home, car, or other such major finances.

5. What would you do if you have a dispute over your credit card bill?:

  1. Call the credit card company immediately and discuss the problem.
  2. Neglect paying the amount being disputed.
  3. Write a letter to the credit card company ASAP discussing the problem in detail.
  4. Assume that the company will catch the error and just wait for the correction to appear in your next billing statement..
II and IV.
All of the above.
I only.
I and III.

6. If you have a high balance on a credit card and feel that your card's percentage rate is too high, what would you do?:
File bankruptcy so that you will not have to pay the balance.
Sit tight and try to "pay down" your balance as soon as possible.
Call the card company and ask about lowering your card's rate.
Transfer your balance to another card with a lower interest rate to reduce your finance charges.

7. What should you be most concerned about as a credit card holder?:
Always being ready to pay the monthly balance.
Financial responsibility-knowing when to use your card and when not to.
Credit card loss, theft, and fraud.
Your personal safety and well-being.

8. What is so important about your credit report?:
Nothing-it's just an indication that you have a credit history.
Many businesses and companies ahve the right to look at it.
Card issuers, banks, and loan companies look at it to evaluate your "credit worthiness".
It's your lifelong financial report card-a bad notation on it adversely affects your financial future.

9. It is not good to have too many credit cards because:
You can buy more things.
It makes bill-paying more troublesome (more bills = more stress).
You have a greater chance of having credit problems.
Having too much credit on hand negatively affects your credit rating.

10. The most important thing to evaluate in a credit card offer is:
The card's decoration (ie. colors, pictures, etc.).
The existence and price of late fees and annual fees.
The type of percentage rate offered (i.e. fixed vs. variable, teaser rates, etc.).
The amount of the credit limit provided with the card.

11. Today's increased use and role of credit cards can be seen in:
The use of credit cards as a form of personal identification.
Their acceptance for mail orders and television/radio infomercials.
Their acceptance at many businesses worldwide.
The use of credit cards for on-line shopping businesses.

12. How often do you suddenly feel compelled to whip out your credit card and start spending?:
Always.
Sometimes.
Rarely.
Never.

13. What is the first thing you usually do with the many credit card solicitations that come into your mailbox?:
Open it up, fill out the form, and mail it back to get a new credit card.
Think briefly about whether you actually need another card and decide to sign up for it "just in case you happen to need more credit".
Discard it immediately because you already have a card and don't need another one.
Analyze it briefly to see if you can take advantage of any special deals which are offered. If not, then throw it away to avoid any future temptations to sign up.

14. Why do you think it's so easy for college students to sign up for credit cards?:
Credit card companies respect college students for who they are and thus reward them with credit cards.
Credit card companies want to help college students to establish a good credit history.
Unfortunately, many college students lose their handle on their credit card spending, which results in bigger profits for credit card companies.
College students are a good credit risk. If they can't pay their bills, their parents will probably be able to help them out.

15. Why did you take the time to fill out this survey?:
I just love to click on the cool buttons!
I like filling out surveys and questionaires.
I've got nothing better to do, so why not learn something?
I want to learn more about good credit card management!



Total score: out of 60.


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NOTE: The opinions, analysis, and advice given in Money Matters are provided by the creators of this web site and are meant to supplement your learning and education about money management. The creators of this web site do not take any responsibility for any subsequent actions you, the user, may have in dealing with your own finances.