This "contact Jeff" form is only used for your convenience. This form does not make you a client of our firm. Jeff is licensed only in Pennsylvania. If you need an attorney outside of Pennsylvania, you can find one at National Association of Consumer Advocates. While we'll keep what you tell us private, remember that we can only give specific legal advice once you become a client of the firm. This is done by written agreement only.




Credit Card Collections are Big with Debt Collectors - Let's begin searching for the solution!

Credit card spending in today’s society is way out of control. Debt collector’s collect on old credit card debt like crazy. Now that the economy is spinning around in circles, many people might set aside the credit card bill prior to their mortgage, etc., in order to survive. This will only mean it will get sold to a collector for collection. Then the harassment will begin....

Maybe we need to start thinking about how this crazy credit card debt got out of control and start focusing on a solution!!!!

In a recent online poll held by the National Association of Retail Collection Attorneys (NARCA), reveals what students think about their credit card spending during their college years. NARCA’s findings show that a quarter of college students think it is realistic that they have to run up credit card debt in order to survive in college. Credit card spending is characterized as “enjoying the moment”.

“Our poll results show that too many young people are living for the moment and are not preparing for their financial future,” said Robert Markoff, president of NARCA.

I believe this is a true statement. Should credit card companies share part of the blame? Do credit card companies make it too easy for college students to apply and obtain credit cards? Or should we solely blame college students for not taking responsibility for their own financial future?

Personally, I think credit card companies should put stricter boundaries on college students applying for credit cards. The likelihood of this occurring is very small. Credit card companies make money off of college students and isn’t that what it is all about? Credit card companies are able to charge higher interest rates and higher annual payments to college students with very little or no credit history and a small income as compared to a middle-aged businessman with good credit history and a higher earned income. So OF COURSE, credit card companies like to “hand out” credit cards to college students.

Why do you think so many credit card companies set up shop on college campuses? (Although more and more colleges are getting rid of this.)

Yes, that’s right. Credit card companies will pay universities big money to set up shop. Some universities have done the right thing by refusing access to their campuses. Credit card companies will lure college students into applying for a credit card by sitting out on campus giving away “free stuff” in exchange for completing an application.

I blame today’s society, for 2 main reasons. First, if you think high school is a fashion show, then what is college? Everyone is in competition. We are slaves to the material things in life, such as clothes, jewelry, the latest hair style, etc. Not to mention, all the parties a college student might throw to earn the respect and praise of their peers. Being out of mom and dad’s house for the first time, it is easy for college students to take advantage of their “new free living lifestyle”.

College students, and adults for that matter, think they need to appear as if they “have money” in order to be respected. We often lose sight of what is really important in life. Credit card companies take advantage of this mentality. They go after college students with a vengeance. They want the college student to become “addicted” to credit, in the same way the drug dealer wants his/her customers to become addicted to the drug.

Secondly, I blame the education or should I say “lack” of education of a young adult’s financial future. Is there a reason high schools do not educate students of the reality of their future credit history? Maybe high schools should start making a class like this mandatory. Maybe, just maybe, if we educate our young minds about how important it is in today’s world not to get in over our heads with debt, things might change. Why wait until it is too late.

And credit card companies never stop, did you ever count the number of credit card applications and junk mail you receive in your mailbox every month?




Jeff Suher, Pittsburgh Consumer Attorney who specializes in the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and the Fair Credit Reporting Act. 

Jeff sues abusive debt collectors and helps consumers that have incorrect information on their credit reports.  

©2012 Jeffrey L. Suher, PC, All Rights Reserved, Reproduced with Permission Privacy Policy
Attorney web design by Foster Web Marketing, the best attorney website design solution on the Web offering search engine optimization for attorneys, lawyer website design, video for attorneys, and more.
Get SEO Tips from The Attorney Internet Marketing Blog