Is it their job to get people into debt?

[Deleted User]

Called into my bank yesterday, to draw out £20.

Realised I had left my cheque book at home, so asked the cashier for a counter slip.

As she handed me the £20, she said "You are eligible for a Credit card on this account".

:shocked:

I only just paid off a £12,000 loan with them, 2 months ago.

torbrex

Owning a credit card does not mean that you have to get into debt.
I have 4 different credit cards and all of them currently have a zero balance and even when I do use them, I pay off the full balance as soon as the bill comes in.

Growurown

My take is that it is their job to sell their products and they don't really give a monkeys about whether or not that gets you into debt.

FireWyrm

I doubt the counter staff even knew. My guess is that she was just trying to sell you something so she gets the points. I dont think your full financial history is available for her to see, only your current transactions.

Still, it is bit like offering crack to a former heroin addict. Annoying but dont take it personally...just carry on serenely safe in the knowledge that you are almost debt free and they dont own you anymore.

midnight_express

They are a business not a charity, not your friend. They have sales targets to meet and profits to be made.

[Deleted User]

FireWyrm wrote: »

Still, it is bit like offering crack to a former heroin addict.

You can say that again.

It was 2 Credit Cards and a Store Card, that put me on the road, to the mess I'm emerging from now.

RAS

Basically - yes.

After all banks make money from the charges and interest.

I was once asked if I had their store card by a potential employer. Why not? Because I had worked out that it was cheaper to save up and buy what I wanted than to pay the interest on a store card.

They were not going to give me the card out of the goodness of their hearts, were they? They only did it in expectation of additional income and I preferred to have that money in my bank than theirs.

He looked shocked. Did not get the job

[Deleted User]

RAS wrote: »

I was once asked if I had their store card by a potential employer. Why not?

Did not get the job

Any evidence that the former lead to the latter?

RAS

No "evidence".

Just a complete change in body language.

[Deleted User]

of course it's their job to get you into debt; the global economy is debt driven

harrys_dad

RAS wrote: »

No "evidence".

Just a complete change in body language.

If it was a customer facing job I guess they thought you would not "sell" enough store cards.