Chapter 5
Consumer Credit: Advantages, Disadvantages, Sources, and Costs

McGraw-Hill/Irwin

Copyright © 2010 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

Consumer Credit
Chapter Objectives
1. Analyze advantages and disadvantages of using consumer credit 2. Assess the types and sources of consumer credit 3. Determine whether you can afford a loan and how to apply for credit 4. Determine the cost of credit by calculating interest using various interest formulas 5. Develop a plan to protect your credit and manage your debts
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Objective 1
Analyze Advantages and Disadvantages of Using Consumer Credit • Credit
– An arrangement to receive cash, goods or services now, and pay for them in the future – Based on trust in people’s ability and willingness to pay bills when due

• Consumer credit
– Use of credit by individuals for personal needs, except a home mortgage – A major force in our economy
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Uses and Misuses of Credit
• Before you use credit for a major purchase, consider:
– – – – – – Do I have the cash for the down payment? Do I want to use my savings for this purchase? Does the purchase fit my budget? Could I use the credit I’ll need in some better way? Can I postpone this purchase? What are the opportunity costs of postponing this purchase? – What are the dollar and psychological costs of using credit for this purchase?

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Advantages of Credit
• Current use of goods and services • Permits purchase even when funds are low • A cushion for financial emergencies • Advance notice of sales • Easier to return merchandise • Convenient when shopping • Provides a record of expenses
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Advantages of Credit
• One monthly payment • Safer than carrying cash • Needed for hotel reservations, car rentals, and shopping online • Take advantage of float time/grace period • Rebates, airline miles, or other bonuses • Credit indicates financial stability
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Disadvantages of Consumer Credit
• Temptation to overspend • Can create long-term financial problems and slow progress toward financial goals • Potential loss of merchandise due to late or non-payment • Ties up future income • Credit costs money - more costly than paying with cash
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Objective 2
Assess the Types & Sources of Consumer Credit

Two Basic Types of Consumer Credit
•

Closed-End Credit
– One-time loans for a specific purpose paid back in a specified period of time

• Open-End Credit
– Use as needed until line of credit max reached 5-8

Closed-End Credit
• One-time loans for a specific purpose that you pay back in a specified period of time, and in payments of equal amounts • Mortgage, automobile, and installment loans for furniture, appliances and electronics • 3 most common types of closed-end credit 1.Installment sales credit 2.Installment cash credit 3.Single-lump credit
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Open-End Credit
• Use as needed until line of credit max reached

– Credit cards
– Department store cards – Home equity loans • You pay interest and finance charges if you do not pay the bill in full when due

• Revolving check credit
• Bank line of credit

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Sources of Consumer Credit
Loans
– Borrowing money with an agreement to repay along with interest within a certain amount of time

• Inexpensive loans
– Parents or family members

• Medium-priced loans
– Commercial banks, savings and loan associations, and credit unions

• Expensive loans
– Finance and check cashing companies – Retailers such as car or appliance dealers – Bank credit cards and cash advances
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Sources of Consumer Credit
• Home Equity Loans
– Loan based on your home equity
• Current market value of your home minus the amount you still owe on the mortgage

– Interest is tax deductible – Should only be used for major purchases

• Credit Cards
– Average cardholder has > 9 credit cards – Convenience users vs. Borrowers – Finance charge = total amount paid to use credit
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Sources of Consumer Credit
• Debit Cards
– Debit cards electronically subtract money from your savings or checking accounts – Most commonly used at ATMs

• Stored Value Cards
– Gift cards – Prepaid cards
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Sources of Consumer Credit
• Smart Cards
– Plastic card equipped with a computer chip that can store 500 times as much data as a normal credit card

• Travel and Entertainment (T&E) cards
– Not really “credit cards”; balance is due in full each month – Diners Club; American Express – You don’t pay for services or goods at the time you purchase them
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Objective 3
Determine Whether You Can Afford a Loan and How to Apply for Credit

Before you take out a loan, ask yourself...
Can you meet all your essential expenses and still afford the monthly loan payments ?
– What do you plan to give up in order to make the payment?
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General Rules of Credit Capacity
Debt Payments-to-Income Ratio

Monthly Debt Payments*
Net Monthly Income

Consumer credit payments should not exceed a maximum of 20% of your net income.
*Not including house payment which is a long-term liability
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General Rules of Credit Capacity
Debt To Equity Ratio

Total Liabilities Net Worth*

= Should be < 1

*Excluding home value
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The Five C’s of Credit
• Character - Do you pay bills on time? • Capacity - Can you repay the loan? • Capital - What are your assets

and net worth? • Collateral - What assets do you have to secure the loan? • Conditions- Lenders will review how general economic conditions will affect your ability to repay your loan

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FICO & VantageScore
• FICO Credit Score
– 350 to 850 – Higher score = less risk – Available from http://www.myfico.com for a fee

• VantageScore
– New scoring technique – Developed collaboratively by 3 credit agencies – Range = 501 to 990
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Factors of Creditworthiness
• ECOA (Equal Credit Opportunity Act)
– Gives all applicants the same rights. – Credit providers may not discriminate based on: • Age • Social Security or public assistance • Housing loans (redlining)

– If you are denied credit, you have the right to know the reasons
• You can request a copy of your credit report within 60 days if you are denied credit based on what is in your files
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Your Credit Report
• Credit Reports – Record of your complete credit history • Credit Bureaus – Agencies that collect information on how promptly people and businesses pay their bills – Experian, Trans Union and Equifax are the 3 major credit bureaus – Credit Bureaus obtain information from banks, finance companies stores, credit card companies and other lenders
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Your Credit Report
• Credit Files – Typically contain detailed credit data along with considerable personal information:
• Name, address, SSN, DOB (self & spouse) • Employer, position and income (current & previous, self and spouse) • Home owner or renter

• Fair Credit Reporting Act (1971) – Law allows out-of-date information to be deleted, as well as the right to correct misinformation
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Your Credit Report
• Who can obtain a credit report?
– Only authorized persons have access to

your report for approved legitimate business purposes
• Time Limits on Unfavorable Data
– Adverse data can be reported for 7 years
– Bankruptcy can be reported for 10 years

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Your Credit Report
Incorrect Information in Your File – You may request a copy of your credit information within 60 days of being denied credit – You may request a free copy of your credit report annually What are Your Legal Rights?

You have the legal right to sue the credit bureau or the creditor that has caused you harm
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Objective 4
Determine the Cost of Credit by Calculating Interest Using Various Interest Formulas
• Finance charge
– Total dollar amount you pay to use credit – Includes interest costs and fees, such as service

charges, credit-related insurance premiums, or appraisal fees

• Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
– Percentage cost of credit on a yearly basis
– Key to comparing costs when shopping for rates

It is important to shop for credit
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Tackling the Trade-Offs
• Term (length of loan) versus interest cost • Lender risk versus interest rate • To reduce the lender’s risk and thus the interest rate you can:
– Accept a variable interest rate – Provide collateral to secure a loan – Provide up-front cash – Take a shorter term loan

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Calculating the Cost of Credit
• Simple interest
– Computed on principal only without compounding – The dollar cost of borrowing – Interest = Principal x rate x Time

• Simple interest on the declining balance
– Interest is paid only on the amount of original principal not yet repaid

• Add-on interest
– Interest calculated on full amount of principal – Interest added to original principal – Payment = Total divided by number of payments to be made
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Calculating the Cost of Credit
• Cost of Open-End Credit
– Truth in Lending Act requires that open-end creditors inform consumers as to how the finance charge and APR will affect their costs

• Cost of Credit and Expected Inflation
– Lenders incorporate the expected rate of inflation when deciding how much interest to charge

• Avoid the Minimum Monthly Payment Trap
– The longer you take to pay off the bill, the more interest you pay
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Objective 5
Develop a Plan to Protect Your Credit and Manage Your Debts Fair Credit Billing Act (FCBA, 1975)
• Notify creditor of error in writing within 60 days
• Pay the portion of the bill not in dispute • Creditor must respond within 30 days • Credit card company has two billing periods but

no longer than 90 days to correct your account or tell you why they think the bill is correct
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Protecting Your Credit
Fair Credit Billing Act (FCBA, 1975)
• Disputed item won’t affect your credit rating while in dispute • Can withhold payment on damaged or shoddy goods or poor services if purchased with a credit card • Must make sincere attempt to resolve problem with creditor

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What to Do If Your Identity is Stolen?
• Contact the three major credit bureaus
– Ask the fraud department to institute a fraud alert – Request that creditors call you for permission before opening any new accounts in your name

• Contact creditors
– Check for any accounts that have been tampered with or opened fraudulently

• File a police report
– Keep a copy
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Protecting Your Credit From Theft or Loss
• Shred any papers that contain personal information • Close your accounts immediately if you suspect an identity thief has accessed the account • Be sure your credit card is returned after a purchase • Keep a record of credit card numbers • Notify your credit card company immediately if your card is lost or stolen
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Protecting Your Credit Information on The Internet
• Use a secure browser • Keep records of online transactions • Review monthly bank and credit card statements • Read the privacy and security policies of websites you visit • Keep personal information private • Never give your password to anyone • Don’t download files sent by strangers
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Co-signing a Loan
• Co-signing means guaranteeing the debt
– Lender would not require a co-signer if borrower were a good risk – Can you afford it if the borrower defaults? • If borrower doesn’t pay, cosigner is liable for the full amount plus any late or collection fees • If payment is missed, creditor can collect from the cosigner first

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Complaining About Consumer Credit
• First: Try to solve the problem directly with the creditor • If that fails: Use formal complaint procedures • A variety of Consumer Credit Protection Laws and Federal Agencies administer and assist with complaint procedures

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Consumer Credit Protection Laws
• • • • • • Truth in Lending and Consumer Leasing Acts Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA) Fair Credit Billing Act Fair Credit Reporting Act Consumer Credit Reporting Reform Act (1977) Electronic Funds Transfer Act – Complain to the creditor – File a complaint with the government – If all else fails, sue the creditor
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Your Rights Under Consumer Credit Laws

Managing Your Debts
Warning Signs of Debt Problems
• Paying only the minimum balance each month
• Trouble even paying the minimum balance • Total balance increases every month

• Missing loan payments or paying late
• Using savings to pay for necessities • Getting second or third payment notices

• Borrowing money to pay old debts
• Exceeding the credit limits on your credit cards • Denied credit due to a bad credit report
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Managing Your Debts
Debt Collection Practices
• The Federal Trade Commission enforces the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA)
– Prohibits certain practices by debt collectors

– Does not eliminate legitimate debts

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Managing Your Debts
• Consumer Credit Counseling Services (CCCS) – Non-profit and supported by contributions from banks, merchants, etc. – Provides education about credit – Provides help with spending plan – Provides debt counseling services for those with serious financial problems – Can develop a debt consolidation plan and negotiate reduced interest rates
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Other Counseling Services
• Universities, local county extension agents, credit unions, military bases, and state and federal housing authorities provide nonprofit counseling services • Check with your financial institution or consumer protection office for a list of reputable, low-cost financial counseling services
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Declaring Personal Bankruptcy
U.S. Bankruptcy Act of 1978 Chapter 7 = straight bankruptcy Chapter 13 = wage earner plan Personal bankruptcy is a procedure to distribute some or all of your assets among creditors

Bankruptcy should be the last resort, because of the damage to your credit rating
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