Way back when I was doing my masters, I had to travel alot and while all my expenses were covered for project related travel, I had to pay out of pocket and the cooridnator would square up with us every month.
I would have killed for a credit card, but there wasn't a bank that would give me one. Now they are so easy to get that its just a joke.
The punchline being, banks knowingly issue credit to the 100% unworthy, and then go crying in Washington when they default. They have forgotten about credit as a speculative investment.
LOL! Years ago, in Valdez AK, hubby and I were debt-free except for a small mortgage. We paid CASH for everything. Anything that had to be paid by mail got a bank money order. When we got ready to leave, we applied to our bank for a $1000 limit card, and were refused because we had no credit history. LOL! THOSE were the good old days!