Credit Cards on College Campuses/title> <meta name="keywords" content="credit cards, credit card, student credit cards, college students, credit cards on campus "/> <meta name="description" content="Credit card can be rife with hidden penalties and the universal default clause is ..."/> <meta http-equiv="Pragma" content="no-cache"/> <meta name="robots" content="index,follow"/> <meta name="resource-type" content="document"/> <meta name="distribution" content="global"/> <meta name="author" content="explainmycreditcard.com"/> <meta name="copyright" content="Copyright 2008 explainmycreditcard.com"/> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1" /> <link rel="stylesheet" href="includes/style1.css" type="text/css" /> <link rel="stylesheet" href="includes/style3.css" type="text/css" /> </head> <body><center> <table width='800' border="0"><tr><td> <div class="master"> <div class="header_master"> <div class="logo"> <a href="index.html"> <img src="img/logo.jpg" alt="ExplainMyCreditCard.com" border="0" /> </a><br/> <font size="2"><b> Your e-source for everything credit cards</b></font> </div> </div> <div class="nav_master"> <div class="nav_left"> </div><center> <div class="nav_links"><center> <div class="bar_nav" align='center'><center> <a class="bar_nav" href="http://www.explainmycreditcard.com">HOME</a> <a class="bar_nav" href="aboutus.html">ABOUT US</a> <a class="bar_nav" href="http://www.explainmycreditcard.com/articles.html">ARTICLES</a> <a class="bar_nav" href="http://www.explainmycreditcard.com/contact.html">CONTACT US</a></center> </div> </center> </div> <div class="nav_right"> </div> </center> </div> <div class="body_master"> <div class="left_column"> <div class="top_left_box"> <ul class="top_left_box"> <li class="top_left_box"><a class="top_left_box" href="http://www.explainmycreditcard.com/">Introduction</a></li> <li class="top_left_box"><a class="top_left_box" href="http://www.explainmycreditcard.com/creditcard.html">What is a credit card?</a></li> <li class="top_left_box"><a class="top_left_box" href="http://www.explainmycreditcard.com/credit_cards_work.html">How do they work?</a></li> <li class="top_left_box"><a class="top_left_box" href="http://www.explainmycreditcard.com/anatomy.html">Credit Card Anatomy</a></li> <li class="top_left_box"><a class="top_left_box" href="http://www.explainmycreditcard.com/fees.html">Credit Card Fees</a></li> <li class="top_left_box"><a class="top_left_box" href="http://www.explainmycreditcard.com/thingstoknow.html">Things to know</a></li> <li class="top_left_box"><a class="top_left_box" href="http://www.explainmycreditcard.com/contact.html">Contact Us</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="bottom_left_box"> <h4 class="bottom_left_box">Must Reads</h4> <ul class="bottom_left_box"> <li class="bottom_left_box"><a class="bottom_left_box" href="http://www.explainmycreditcard.com/rewards.html">Rewards of credit cards</a></li> <li class="bottom_left_box"><a class="bottom_left_box" href="http://www.explainmycreditcard.com/freebies-why.html">Credit Cards! 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Free food. Free beer. </p> <p align="justify"> These types of offers have been sweeping college campuses across the U.S. And which cash-strapped college student wouldn't jump at the chance for free stuff? </p> <p align="justify"> <span class="CCspace"> </span> But there is a catch – many of the offers are from credit card companies, and students have to sign up for a card or two before they get their free gifts. </p> <p align="justify"> It's not surprising that credit card companies are targeting college students, who have just enough freedom from mom and dad to make their own choices, but often lack the financial restraint to keep from spending themselves into a huge hole. A college student with surmounting credit card debt that quickly becomes unmanageable usually turns out to be a customer for life. </p> <p align="justify"> A college-affiliated credit card can be a good thing if used properly. Students typically have an easier time getting approved for a credit card, with a low limit, than other adults with no credit history. But all too often students aren't aware of the real meaning of having a credit card: You're expected to pay back all those bills - with mounting interest. They’re also often naïve to the tactics used by credit card companies, such as hidden fees, low introductory "teaser" rates that suddenly jump and the tendency of banks to quietly raise your credit limit when your balance get close to the top. </p> <p align="justify"> Colleges are all too happy to sign exclusive and sometimes secretive deals to allow credit card companies to market their products on campus in </p> </td> <td valign="top" width="50%"> <p align="justify"> exchange for a cut of the profits. Consumer advocacy groups report that students sometimes receive dozens or even hundreds of credit card offers a year, often lured by promises of free food, drinks or clothing. </p> <p align="justify"> <span class="CCpullout"> <del> [Pullout: </del> <span> <table align="left"> <tr> <td> <script type="text/javascript"> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script> </td> </tr> </table> </span> <del>] </del> </span> Various studies have found that the average student has more than one credit card and more than $2,000 in credit card debt. Students are being issued cards at younger ages than a decade ago. Many have trouble making their payments on time and have already ruined their credit score before they've even graduated from school. </p> <p align="justify"> Some states are starting to regulate the marketing tactics credit card companies use on campus and Congress is debating a legislation that would cap the number of credit cards that students are offered a year. </p> <p align="justify"> But students don't have to wait for lawmakers to step in. Financial experts suggest that students who want to own a credit card apply at mainstream financial institutions rather than jump at the first on-campus recruiter who offers them free gifts. Some banks offer students rebates for making regular payments or maintaining good grades. </p> <p align="justify"> Experts also suggest students research credit card rates and speak to an on-campus debt counselor before signing up for a credit card. Even then, students should only use their credit cards for emergency purchases or purchases which they can be pay off immediately. </p> </td> </tr> </table> </div> </div></div> </td></tr> <tr><td> <div class="nav_master2"> <div class="nav_left2"> </div> <center> <div class="nav_links"> </div> <div class="nav_right2"> </div> </center> </div> <br/><center> <div style="font-size: 11px"> <a href="http://www.explainmycreditcard.com/aboutus.html">About Us</a> | <a href="http://www.explainmycreditcard.com/contact.html">Contact Us</a> | <a href="http://www.explainmycreditcard.com/privacypolicy.html">Privacy Policy</a> | <a href="http://www.explainmycreditcard.com/copyright.html">Copy Right</a> | <a href="http://www.explainmycreditcard.com/termsofuse.html">Terms of Use</a> | <a href="http://www.explainmycreditcard.com/sitemap.html">Sitemap</a><br/> Copyright © 2008 explainmycreditcard.com LLC. 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