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Man offered credit card with 79.9% interest
WIS TV ^ | October 19, 2009

Posted on 10/19/2009 6:26:46 PM PDT by Jet Jaguar

"The first thing they do is laugh. They think it is one of the most ridiculous things out there." Gordon Hageman is talking about a credit card offer that just came in the mail, an offer he could hardly believe.

"I think they are trying to take advantage of me. I think that's what's going on right now with the economy, maybe just trying to see what they can get away with," says Hageman.

And this card comes with an interest rate you won't believe. Not 20 or 30 percent, not even 50 or 60 percent, the Mastercard offer from Premium Bank in South Dakota, 79.9 percent.

"My first thought was it was a mistake so I called the 800 number on the back of the offer and gave them the offer code and verified my information and sure enough they verified it at 79.9 percent," says Hageman.

"Gosh, I hope nobody would do that. I hope nobody would say I'm going to sign up for this card without even looking at the interest rate," says San Diego State University Marketing Professor Michael Belch.

But there's nothing in the letter that tells you the interest rate. For that, you have to read the fine print.

Belch says, "I think you're beginning to border on deception there."

San Diego State Marketing Professor Michael Belch says card offers like this are usually targeted at people struggling with their credit, the card comes with a 300 dollar limit and a 75 dollar annual fee.

"Anyone looking to rebuild their credit probably going to end up worse shape that probably before they got this card," says Belch.


TOPICS: Business/Economy
KEYWORDS: credit; creditcards; debt; usury

1 posted on 10/19/2009 6:26:47 PM PDT by Jet Jaguar
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To: Jet Jaguar

Vinny “The Knife” is impressed.


2 posted on 10/19/2009 6:28:05 PM PDT by Army Air Corps (Four fried chickens and a coke)
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To: Jet Jaguar

I sure would hate to see his credit for him to get that.


3 posted on 10/19/2009 6:30:22 PM PDT by mnehring
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To: Jet Jaguar
Whatever happened to usury laws????
4 posted on 10/19/2009 6:30:42 PM PDT by Red in Blue PA (Obama, Hitler, Stalin: Who are 3 people nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.)
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To: Red in Blue PA

Surely Lord Obozo wouldn’t let this happen in his Amerika.


5 posted on 10/19/2009 6:35:37 PM PDT by cripplecreek (Seniors, the new shovel ready project under socialized medicine.)
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To: mnehring
sure would hate to see his credit for him to get that

same bunch you might see walking the streets with a cell phone to their ear...phone doesn't work, and neither does the "card"......

6 posted on 10/19/2009 6:36:20 PM PDT by OBXWanderer
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To: Jet Jaguar

“I think you’re beginning to border on deception there.”

Paging Captain Obvious, white courtesy phone for Captain Obvious.


7 posted on 10/19/2009 6:37:54 PM PDT by EggsAckley (There's an Ethiopian in the fuel supply. W.C. Fields)
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To: Jet Jaguar
Man Offered Table - Told to Bend Over It
8 posted on 10/19/2009 6:39:04 PM PDT by Sax
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To: OBXWanderer
Free Government Cell Phones
9 posted on 10/19/2009 6:39:53 PM PDT by FreeperinRATcage (I am free because I know that I alone am morally responsible for every thing I do. - R. A. Heinlein)
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To: FreeperinRATcage

Sorry...bad link...

https://www.safelinkwireless.com/EnrollmentPublic/home.aspx


10 posted on 10/19/2009 6:40:53 PM PDT by FreeperinRATcage (I am free because I know that I alone am morally responsible for every thing I do. - R. A. Heinlein)
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To: mnehring

You’d be surprised. They’ll send these out to anyone they think is desperate.

Banks and their predatory business practices are the reason for our economic problems.


11 posted on 10/19/2009 6:41:50 PM PDT by driftdiver (I could eat it raw, but why do that when I have a fire.)
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To: Jet Jaguar

It must be the “new” government credit card being issued by the White House.


12 posted on 10/19/2009 6:42:06 PM PDT by Paved Paradise
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To: Jet Jaguar

It must be the “new” government credit card being issued by the White House.


13 posted on 10/19/2009 6:42:13 PM PDT by Paved Paradise
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To: driftdiver

Do you really believe your statement, or did you forget to /sarc. after your statement?


14 posted on 10/19/2009 6:46:12 PM PDT by rockinqsranch (Dems, Libs, Socialists...Call 'em What you Will, They ALL have Fairies Living In Their Trees.)
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To: Red in Blue PA
Usury laws are, for the most part, non-existent. I think that usury limits are just non-existent in most states; and for the others there are adequate loopholes for credit cards, such that they need not comply. If they avoid threatening to break someones legs, I think the sky's the limit.
15 posted on 10/19/2009 6:49:12 PM PDT by Nevermore (...just a typical cracker, clinging to my Constitutional rights...)
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To: Jet Jaguar

For the credit-worth deadbeat


16 posted on 10/19/2009 6:49:44 PM PDT by bigbob
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To: Red in Blue PA

South Dakota doesn’t have a usury law...

and now you know why Citibank and others set up operations there.


17 posted on 10/19/2009 6:51:09 PM PDT by bigbob
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To: rockinqsranch

“Do you really believe your statement, or did you forget to /sarc. after your statement?”

The govt forced banks to give a small number of home loans. They did not force the majority of home loans. Banks jumped in with both feet and took stated income (ie no proof) for mortgage applications. They encouraged buyers to borrow money and take loans the banks knew were bad for their customers.

The govt also didn’t force the $990 Billion in credit cards.

Large multi-national banks are in bed with Obama and the globalist movement.


18 posted on 10/19/2009 6:53:05 PM PDT by driftdiver (I could eat it raw, but why do that when I have a fire.)
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To: bigbob

“and now you know why Citibank and others set up operations there.”

You mean banks like Citi aren’t ethical?


19 posted on 10/19/2009 6:53:55 PM PDT by driftdiver (I could eat it raw, but why do that when I have a fire.)
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To: driftdiver
You’d be surprised. They’ll send these out to anyone they think is desperate.

Probably sent to Rent-to-own customer lists.

20 posted on 10/19/2009 6:54:35 PM PDT by Trailerpark Badass (Happiness is a choice!)
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To: Jet Jaguar
A credit card company so powerful...IT FORCES YOU AT GUNPOINT TO ACCEPT THE CARD! It even tries to force you to refuse to read the contract terms. If you are foolhardy enough to resist, your attempts to read the contract will be stymied by smaller font - FORCING you to sign despite being able to easily read the contract.
21 posted on 10/19/2009 6:55:14 PM PDT by M203M4 (Sorry - I lost them *ALL* during a camping trip last week.)
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To: Jet Jaguar

Must have been Bank of America, they’re scum. :)


22 posted on 10/19/2009 7:16:39 PM PDT by alice_in_bubbaland (Markets and Marxists Don't Mix! Audit the FED NOW!)
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To: Jet Jaguar

Kind of like some of those “rent to own” places, you could save up the cash to purchase outright in a couple of months.


23 posted on 10/19/2009 7:18:20 PM PDT by tiki (True Christians will not deliberately slander or misrepresent others or their beliefs)
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To: Jet Jaguar
I am a firm believer in the capitalist, minimal regulation system but for the first time I wish that I was a politician. I would spend my days finding out who the corksucker was that ok’d that 79.9% rate and I would pledge on my mother's grave to make the rest of his days hell on earth.

You just know that it's is someone that kicks dogs and cats when he thinks nobody is watching.

24 posted on 10/19/2009 7:18:59 PM PDT by Cyman
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To: driftdiver

You are making up your own history friend. That’s not the way it was. The Gov’t under the guise of CRA held the banks by their balls with threat to squeeze REAL HARD if the banks didn’t comply with the wishes of the Community Organizations such as ACORN. There were other such community organizations as well.

Pure and simple the government ultimately is/was responsible for the mess. It’s called extortion.

The banks were told the rules by the Community Organizations, and the government told them they had to have the numbers within the so called red lined districts controlled by the community organizations if they wanted to grow and profit.

Rather simplistic, but that’s the way it was, and the community organizers, and the government are still playing by those same rules.


25 posted on 10/19/2009 7:30:35 PM PDT by rockinqsranch (Dems, Libs, Socialists...Call 'em What you Will, They ALL have Fairies Living In Their Trees.)
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To: Cyman

Or if his credit is in the toilet THAT BAD, see if he can get a few more of them,max them out, then file for bankruptcy.I don`t know who the bad guy would be there.


26 posted on 10/19/2009 7:39:27 PM PDT by nomad
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To: rockinqsranch

I know many people who bought 5 “investment” houses with zero down on any of them. When the market tanks they walked away.

NO CRA there my friend.


27 posted on 10/19/2009 7:41:58 PM PDT by driftdiver (I could eat it raw, but why do that when I have a fire.)
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To: Cyman

Worse than that, he’ll try getting your grandmother to sign that card application. They do it every single day.


28 posted on 10/19/2009 7:42:58 PM PDT by driftdiver (I could eat it raw, but why do that when I have a fire.)
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To: driftdiver

“I know many people who bought 5 “investment” houses with zero down on any of them.”

You do eh.

Ever read this?

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1282/is_n25_v45/ai_14779796


29 posted on 10/19/2009 7:50:25 PM PDT by rockinqsranch (Dems, Libs, Socialists...Call 'em What you Will, They ALL have Fairies Living In Their Trees.)
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To: Sax

LOL!


30 posted on 10/19/2009 7:53:15 PM PDT by Freedom_Fighter_2001
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To: Army Air Corps

79% or your kneecaps


31 posted on 10/19/2009 7:57:30 PM PDT by woofie
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To: Jet Jaguar

Did it hve a picture of “The Chosen One” on it?


32 posted on 10/19/2009 8:19:03 PM PDT by chiefqc
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To: Nevermore

depends on the state. I believe Delaware has no usuray limit. In VA where I do business it is 38%, although we never go that high.


33 posted on 10/19/2009 8:20:00 PM PDT by When do we get liberated? (STATE CONTROLLED ECONOMIES SUCK ! LONG LIVE AMERICA.)
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To: Jet Jaguar

Just wait till you meet our collection department, Vincent “Knuckles” delToro and Giuseppi “Kneecaps” Schwartz. They are very effective.


34 posted on 10/19/2009 9:29:07 PM PDT by Swordmaker (Remember, the proper pronunciation of IE is "AAAAIIIIIEEEEEEE!)
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To: rockinqsranch

Yes I do, this kind of ‘investing’ was rampant here in Florida. The lenders, brokers, real estate people make a KILLING.

All of these folks had decent credit and a job. They didn’t have any money to put down. They couldn’t afford the mortgages long term.

The banks loaned the money knowing the value would continue to increase only it didn’t.


35 posted on 10/20/2009 4:27:47 AM PDT by driftdiver (I could eat it raw, but why do that when I have a fire.)
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To: Jet Jaguar

Capital One used to have a card that you had to put money on before you could use it. The only value was convenience, for ordering by phone and the like. You wouldn’t use it in public, as it screamed “loser!”


36 posted on 10/20/2009 4:37:49 AM PDT by firebrand
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To: Red in Blue PA

They’re still there. In the Bible.


37 posted on 10/20/2009 4:38:53 AM PDT by firebrand
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To: Jet Jaguar

I read the story and had a completely different take for some reason. The card has a $300 limit and is offered to people who have bad credit but are deemed to be credit worthy. If you had lost a job, lost a house, etc. and were getting back on your feet, this card could help you build your credit back up. Pay your $75 annual fee, put $300 a month on it and pay it off each month. It has a price and purpose. Spending beyond your means is not the purpose.

I would agree though, anyone who would get a card with a $300 limit, essentially pocket money nowadays, max it out and pay the 79% interest should be removed from the gene pool.

Running up big credit card balances and paying 20% interest is only marginally more intelligent than this offer.


38 posted on 10/20/2009 4:41:46 AM PDT by IamConservative (I'll keep my money. You keep the change.)
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To: Red in Blue PA

REPEALED BY THE SENATORS FROM BANK OF AMERICA - CARPER AND BIDEN. BANK OF AMERICA WROTE THE BILL AND THE TWO LOYAL EMPLOYEES GOT IT PASSED. AMERICA SCREWED AGAIN.


39 posted on 10/20/2009 5:27:57 AM PDT by NTHockey (Rules of engagement #1: Take no prisoners)
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To: driftdiver

“All of these folks had decent credit and a job. They didn’t have any money to put down. They couldn’t afford the mortgages long term.

The banks loaned the money knowing the value would continue to increase only it didn’t.”

I’ve heard it said that “It takes two to tango”

Those folks didn’t have the down payment, but had decent credit, and income, the banks loaned to them, but it’s totally the banks fault they couldn’t make the payments!?

If they didn’t have the money to put down, why did they take the risk of up to five homes as your original post stated?

There’s something wrong with this picture.

I see shared opportunism here, thus shared responsibility for a failure that should never have been had there not been government pressures on the banks to make such loans. Doesn’t really matter the pressure to loan was on the banks by government for specifically minorities, or “Po Folk” living inner city in allegedly “red-lined” areas when the pressure is on, it’s on everybody.

Trickle-down economics Liberal style if you will.


40 posted on 10/20/2009 5:41:15 AM PDT by rockinqsranch (Dems, Libs, Socialists...Call 'em What you Will, They ALL have Fairies Living In Their Trees.)
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To: rockinqsranch

Never said it was totally the banks fault. It was their money though.

It sure wasn’t CRA on these loans, it was greed on both parties.


41 posted on 10/20/2009 5:43:59 AM PDT by driftdiver (I could eat it raw, but why do that when I have a fire.)
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