Why do we give sympathy to those with credit card debt?

Question

No, I'm not referring to those whose identity has been stolen. I mean those that have, from their own irresponsibility, have bought so much stuff that they are now in mountains to debt. Why should we give them so much sympathy and help? Their are credit card debt help organizations left and right nowadays. It is their fault, their irresponsibility, so as far as I am concerned, they deserve what they get.

Gem - I am not referring to people like that. I am only referring to the people who put themselves into debt completely by free will of irresponsible spending.

Gem - I understand that their are people who keep responsible finances, but their mailed check is lost, thus leading to debt. And I'm aware that their are people out there who can barely afford to feed their families. That isn't their fault, therefore, I am not referring to those people when asking this question.

Answer 1

I agree.

They have no one to blame except the person looking back at them from the mirror.

Answer 2

Harsh, but I have to disagree. The credit card debt companies often make things worse. Also, credit card companies often pull the old bait and switch. They give a teaser rate, then switch it to 20-30% when a payment is as much as 24 hours late. That means the price of the things they bought will double in three years. It's hard for people to realize that.

Also, credit cards aren't all bad. They can save people and businesses sometimes when times are hard.

I think it's good that "those with credit card debt" ask for advice because they have a lot of rights they don't know about. They can fix their problems without filing bankruptcy. Many people don't know how easy it is.

Hope this helps change your mind...

Answer 3

There are credit card debt, not their.

I'm not sure of your question, but I understand the gist.

It seems that these folk simply believe this is free money and never has to be repaid. They see interest charges and think nothing of it at all. They buy a bag of chips ($.89) and by the time they've paid for it (with real money) it's a $5.00 bag of chips. I hope they were good.

I am amazed at the naivete of the questions, the pathetic situations, the lack of responsibility I see on this particular part of Yahoo answers. I have even been reported for telling an 18 year old girl that, in fact, she didn't NEED a credit card. I think calling her "princess" may of done it.

Answer 4

Leverage (credit card debt, mortgage, etc) is one of the greatest things available to people everywhere. It was "invented" a long time ago w/ the invention of money (it is impossible to say exactly when the modern day market was born). The people in this world who believe that borrowing money is bad are just as wrong as people who borrow recklessly. The richest people in the world are rich ONLY because of the nature of leverage.

But referring back to your question, you really could consider these people to be a bad side affect to the business. Most people use alcohol responsibly but some can't control their use. Does that mean that we should abolish its use??? No.

While it is easy to blame the individual HALF of the blame goes to the credit card companies.

Weather you agree w/ it or not we are all better off because of credit cards. But like an alcoholic some people just can't control their spending, while the rest of us can do it in moderation.

Answer 5

You make some broad generalizations there my friend.

How do you know it was irresponsibility from buying "so much stuff"?

What about the millions of people who have put medical bills on credit cards, then found their minimum monthly payment doubled (thanks Congress) and their interest rates doubled?

What about people who had a payment lost in the mail, then saw their interest rate shoot up to 40%?

What about the people who have charged food to feed their families? I'm not talking about expensive meals in fancy restaurants either, I am talking about milk, bread and cheese.

Not all people with credit card debt are in trouble due 100% to lavish expenditures.

To imply this is so, is insulting, close minded and egotistical.

So what, you are responsible now, let us all hope that nothing out of your control happens and you find yourself turning to credit to pay your bills, feed your kids or keep a roof over your head.

Of course, if it does, please don't come here and ask for my help - because I won't have any sympathy, JUST LIKE YOU.

**edit** Jim, how can you tell the difference? Most of these people don't say, "hey and I went and stayed at the Four Seasons, and now the cc company is calling me".

I will state one thing though, it amazes me how many people are not working 40 hours a week, owe less than $5k and want to file bankruptcy. Try this: GET A SECOND FREAKIN JOB! Now THOSE people I have no sympathy for...

Answer 6

I don't think we give them sympathy. I certainly preach pay off the credit cards, like many others here.

The thing that really disturbs me is statements like this: "Also, credit card companies often pull the old bait and switch. They give a teaser rate, then switch it to 20-30% when a payment is as much as 24 hours late."

No,it's not bait and switch. It's STILL lack of responsibility on the part of the person who failed to make the payment on time. Why do so many people think that 1 day late isn't really late?

Answer 7

Credit and financial success is something that is not innate in humans. It's taught. If your parents have bad financial skills, you will too. Unless you learn the hard way, like myself and so many of the other people on this board have.

Sympathy is meritted in some instances, when people were genuinely ignorant of what they were getting themselves into, and then realizing it, want to get themselves out of it. Those who lack sympathy, especially after having been in such a situation themselves are cruel hypocrites.

edit:

I'd like to know what percentage of people who find themselves in trouble with credit cards did it on purpose, just because they felt like being irresponsible. I think this is an oversimplification of the problem.

Answer 8

People needs to be responsible for their own actions. A credit card is not a free pass to buy everything you can and pay only 15 dollars a month. My philosophy is if you can't buy it outright then don't put it on your credit card.

Answer 9

Glad I just paid mine all off!
Some people just don't realize what they are getting themselves into. I only have two house payments, (three properties though) NO car payments (2 very nice cars, both newer) and a small credit card payment intended to help keep my credit up above 750. Not bad, huh?

Answer 10

i think that the government and the full way society has been headed with the aid of fact the days of Thatcher are partly in charge. i'm no longer asserting the guy would not have a duty (of direction they do!!!) however the full phenomena of all of us having a mastercard and procuring stuff which they are able to't arise with the money for merely extremely got here approximately in the 80s. I have been given into hardship with credit taking part in cards myself and my answer grow to be to shrink them up and stop making use of them. i've got no longer used one for years and do never intend to lower back. As a small toddler i'm able to dimly bear in recommendations the pre-Thatcher era - and my mum tells me approximately it - while ordinary human beings by no skill - or rarely offered stuff on credit. in the event that they have been making a great purchase, ie a three piece suite and so on - which they did no longer ought to money for they stored, or the positioned it away on a discount quotes card on the save and paid somewhat off each month till it grow to be theirs. i'm able to bear in recommendations my mom and dad doing this and the buzz once you certainly delivered the element domicile and knew it grow to be YOURS!!! yet considering the fact that Thatcher and her consumerism "gotta have it" society all of us needs each little thing and that they want it NOW. Its merely no longer "perfect" to have an old television/cellular telephone/pc/automobile and so on - all of us has to have the main recent version of each little thing and in case you won't be able to arise with the money for it, so what shove it on the mastercard. Its so stupid and stressful. I worked with a woman like this - her hubby grow to be on minimum salary and he or she merely worked area time, they have been based on tax credit to stay and yet that they had the 50" plasma, blu-ray participant, Wii and so on and so on (and my God did she brag approximately it). i might have enjoyed to verify her mastercard bill. those human beings have themselves in charge, its merely that as with the aid of Thatcherism, it form of feels a miles greater widely used phenomenon than it ought to have been, maybe 35 years in the past . . .

Answer 11

Who the heck DOES give them sympathy?
Not me, for sure--the most credit card debt I ever had was $1,000.00---because I can control my spending.
And I'm 46.