How much can a credit card influence our lives?

Credit cards were once a novelty for some, regarding possession of one as being a status symbol. I recall the mid sixties when my father brought home a reasonably well maintained Vauxhall victor car. This car was supposed to replace the motorcycles that he had used for years. He was proud to bring this good looking, light green prize mobile home to show off to his friends and family. Suddenly, for my father, he was raised up on to a pedestal by attributes of wealth and possessions, which others only dreamed about. My mother was happy; she could now think about enjoying a family day out, with the whole family travelling at the same time. No buses, no trains, no walking, beaches in the summer, ease of shopping and much more which led towards an easier life. Within a few weeks of getting this car and having used it several times, I’d noticed that my father became worried. He wasn't his usual self. However, my mother knew what was wrong with him……

The credit card bill arrived

The day of accountability was coming and my father knew that he would be faced with pressures from the credit card company if he couldn't maintain the debt which he created. He reflected on his decision to buy a car on the never never, through his credit card and was very aware that he had made a bad financial decision. He knew that his debt needed to be honoured, as he also knew that further spending on the credit card also was unnecessary. But time passed, although the debt remained and grew with interest and other charges every month. My father carried on working which helped to support the credit card debt although his physical health suffered as a result of the accompanying worry about making ends meet in the family budget. My mother took on extra work to also helped out with finances; various luxuries and treats which we had all become used too also had to go. Eventually the car was sold, which, subject to further interest and other charges which had been applied to the credit card debt, wasn't enough to repay a by now, larger debt.

The pressure increases

After several months, the credit card debt was taken to court for recovery and eventually court bailiffs were instructed to enforce action for collection with authority to remove from my father’s house, suitable personal possessions to satisfy the debt. This was a very traumatic time for my mother and as a consequence, frequent arguments occurred between mum and dad.

Relief from debt

My father, after advice decided to relieve everyone in the family from the immense stress that existed by declaring himself bankrupt.Very soon after bankruptcy, everything settled down and life kind of became normal again, however the 2 year period between when my father first used his credit card to the point of bankruptcy could only but slowly fade into history. This period was indeed emotionally draining for everyone.

Prisoners of conscience

Credit card debt, indeed any debt, holds its incumbents as prisoners of conscience. It can take from a human being, dignity, good morals, joy, relationships, honour and fidelity and can give to a human being, worry, bad health, pride and dishonour and much more.

Re – branded financial products

Since the sixties, credit card companies and financial lending institutions have become wiser, as also have consumer protection agencies but in spite of tighter controls on credit, many national brand credit companies have only re branded their credit product to keep the consumer closer to their credit push, whatever the state of the economy. Unsuspecting people with money problems and equity in property therefore very easily grasp at such re branded products.

A light in a dark tunnel

In recent years some credit card companies and financial institutions operate a “no credit” policy on credit cards issued and for a small fee they will issue cards which can be used in a similar way as if they were credit cards, but without the credit. They function as debit cards but with a wider audience, particularly travellers and internet. These cards have become very popular and advertisers who market them frequently do so on the basis of credit repair in order to re-build your credit and create some good history with credit reference agencies.

Take advice before taking credit

If you have accumulated debt of any kind there are several organizations in many countries, particularly the west, who can advise you and whatever else you do about your credit, NEVER ignore your debt. 

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Successful Business Culture is no Accident

It's great to see set cultures from around the world impact nations and even continents worldwide.

Certain people from business, politics and religion have just taken the world by storm to the detriment of an almost powerless and quietly conquered indigenous peoples.

A good example of dominating cultures in business and finance and the service industry generally is the Jew. Once persecuted but now efficient at controlling politics and business and amassing wealth.

Then we have the Indians who are prepared to work long hours and combine family association to establish enterprise. In the UK, One politician said that the future of economic success rests on the shoulders of Indian origin entrepreneurs. WOW.

The USA has it's share of successful immigrants too with the Pakistani community topping the success tables in medicine and healthcare with other business interests providing real support to the USA's struggling economy.

Wherever we go there will always be the Chinese success story; from the mines in Africa to casinos in Los Vegas. The world have a lot to learn from the Chinese, for sure.

Russians are now a formidable force in business all over the world. Their impact, although apparently unwelcome by communities, is nonetheless, overpowering indigenous peoples.

The pompous Americans and the Lazy Brits have a lot to learn from all immigrant communities that essentially support to keep their country economically sufficient.

How to become a prisoner of conscience

Prisoners of conscience

Credit card debt, indeed any debt (including favours), holds its incumbents as prisoners of conscience. It can take from a human being, dignity, good morals, joy, relationships, honour and fidelity and can give to a human being, worry, bad health, pride and dishonour and much more. Even worst than money and material things is the non material personal debt of a favour or something owed.

Never lend and never borrow. You always have a choice. You have only yourself to blame when you get into any form of debt. 

Debt destroys more lives than war and famine - the debt killing machine

Debt can be a never ending cycle of confusion and for sure, decisions made while within debt may be very sensitive to criticism. However, on saying this, most people don’t start out in life to become creditors of the loan machine. Most people take an orderly and responsible approach to borrowing. They genuinely assess risks and balance repayments of loan borrowing within budgets. The lives and futures of many who have acknowledged the loan machine as a ticket to a quicker prosperity have led themselves into massive personal debt and a desperation that inevitably follows. Usually people caught up in such debt and desperation have moved through the stages of the loan machine and have become professionals at propping up their lives on equity that they may be able to release either from assets held or unearned future income. They may take on additional loans and then convince themselves they can repay from an income level that helped put them in debt in the first instance.

The “I want now” philosophy of the past few generations has crippled many families and even countries as people drag possessions from the future to have now, on the basis of income that is uncertain. They call it risk….

It’s not difficult therefore, to see that in most western countries, particularly the United States, both consumer personal and corporate debt have established themselves as foundations for growth in society. Western Europe and a substantial part of Asia and Russia and China, now also push for debt recognition in their societies; first corporate debt and then personal debt.

Many of the fastest growing economies in the world, such as Ghana, Ethiopia and India have been rated such by reference to their progression in the building of that nations’ infrastructure (roads, social facilities and social development) with little or no progress being made for the improvement in the living standards of their populous.

The step process after governments can create a framework for its people is for them then to inject capital into the community, through its people. This usually involves bank lending for business and large price tag items; in other words – debt. Eventually, the servicing of this debt can only come from the nations’ ability to be competitive and profitable in the world economy. Hence, to do so and to be competitive, wealth must pass through companies to individuals who will then borrow money to finance their progression through their own lives and communities and into another loan machine that is ostensibly at the control of their foreign paymasters.

Look all over the world now and it’s very easy to see how people get into debt and even easier to see how countries also become huge creditors of other nations. And so the cycle of the loan machine and debt will eventually come back to zero…..

Royal Mail knowingly Contributes to Multi Million Pound Fraud

As letter to the post office written to give advice and for public knowledge.

I was shocked yesterday when I called your office to complain at why you are allowing a mail redirection to be started without sufficient evidence of the customer’s residential identity. It seems that in spite of the impossible existence of a legal current dated document being produced by your customer, for example a recent utility bill for a fixed service like power or council tax, you are still allowing mail to be re-directed. In the circumstances an official letter or even a bank statement is insufficient evidence of residence as is, also, a passport or driving license. There is no doubt that the absence of appropriate proof of residence assists with fraudulent activities that may involve bogus benefit claims and bank or insurance frauds as well as other illegal activities.

In the circumstances relating to the re-direction from my apartment where I have lived for four months, there have been no other residents during the preceding 12 months due to refurbishment and with the request for re-direction being made for 12 months, it’s quite obvious that the Royal Mail have a caveat that is likely to cost someone in society millions of pounds every year.

My advice to you Mr Postmaster, please close your sack, your letters are falling out and people are losing money as a  consequence.

Ikea potentially in breach of pricing policies

Restaurant food in Ikea appears to adopt a pricing policy that unfairly favours the child portions. We not that when buying meatballs and chips for the adult that the portion of chips and ten meatballs is exactly double in size than the child portion of five meatballs and chips. However, prices for the child portion is £1.89 and for the adult, £4.50.

Note that when you buy two child portions you can save £0.74p but create a lot of work for the server and cleaners. My family of five saved enough to buy cakes. Why not have a go and do what we did. Swollow you pride as well as the meatballs.