Have you seen an ad like this: An instant credit card application for a secured credit card?
ANYONE CAN QUALIFY FOR A MAJOR CREDIT CARD!
Separated? Divorced? Bankrupt? Widowed?
BAD CREDIT? NO CREDIT? NO PROBLEM!
Make the call NOW and get the credit you deserve!
* Even if you've been turned down before,
you owe it to yourself and your family.
* Your major credit card is waiting.
If you see an instant credit card application like this, Don't believe it for a moment. Let's pick this ad apart.
1) Anyone can qualify for a major credit card. Baloney. There are always eligibility requirements like income or age. (Can you imagine your 10 year old with a Visa card. Ouch!).
2) "Make the call now and get the credit you deserve". I don't know, does everybody deserve credit. With an instant credit card application If someone has recklessly run up bills with no ability to pay it off, do they deserve more credit if they're just going to do the same thing again.
3) "You owe it to yourself and your family". Once again, does your family deserve the fallout of poor spending habits and bankruptcy?
And what about this 1-900 number. Don't be fooled by this. Any time you see a 900 number, it is a pay-per-call. That means you will be billed either for the amount of time you're on the line, or a flat charge. You could pay up to $50 for the privilege to listen to a "come-on" spiel from some sleazy credit company.
Deceptive ads often leave out important information.
· The cost of the '900' call,
· The required security deposit, application, and processing fees;
· Eligibility requirements like income or age;
Plus, an annual fee or the fact that the secured card has a higher than average interest rate on any balance.
Now you're much wiser.
Remember, many great credit cards such as Mastercard, Discover, American Express, Visa, Providian, Aria, and Capital One offer Instant Credit Card Application online. Many offer free secured and unsecured credit cards, and student cards as well. Applying online is fast and many offer great services.
