Are you a ninth grader?

Hi p1kef1sh I wouldn't say that I don't understand the small print p1key I just don't bother to read it haha It is always the same, spend something on the credit card, pay it in full when the bill comes or spread it over a period of time and pay interest, that's about it isn't it haha

I could read exceptionally well from the age of 5. (I think it's probably because Mum read to me, but I didn't actually read by myself, until I was 5, because I would ONLY read to a teacher, I've always been ahead in my reading). Yes, I do read small print, because that's usually where the APR is normally, I read through a really brilliant advert the other day, it said we could definitely have a loan, with no credit checks (I always get a tad concerned when they don't credit check) and we wouldn't have to provide any proof of either identity or income, can't remember which. I thought that it sounded too good to be true, after reading the small print, I realised I was right, it was one of them 'pay day loan' type things, we'd have to pay it back within a month and the APR was over 2000%! So, I'm very pleased I read the small print on that. I think the best thing to do, if it's at all possibly, is live within your means, don't be greedy, do you really, 'need it now'? OK, you may need a new car, because it's the only way to get about etc, but getting a loan or a credit card to pay another loan or credit card just seems silly. Sorry, bit of a tangent there, but I've had a problem with debt before, I did HAVE to use credit, because at one point, we only had £12 per week to live on and I knew we'd have more than that after the first month, so I know from experience how to deal with debt.

Well Hello there Mr P1ke where have you been hiding do you know how much I have missed you and worried Ok no I am not a 9thGrader And I have to be honest I do not always read the small Print and yes I know I should but there is so much of it but now I do not sign a lot of things any more so I have learned to be double careful Hugs to you and good to see you again

Hey, p1key! Where ya been?

The very first thing I do when receiving credit card offers is check the fees. I've had some wherein once you've been charged the annual and monthly "service" fees (not counting the interest), you have less than $50 credit to use!!! And, these morons (Yes, I'm insulting them - they know using these cards cost money, but they never look to see how much) only see the card and dollar signs begin swirling in front of their eyes as well as images of sugar plums and trips and new clothes, etc. I may not get past the fees section (I rarely do), but the next thing I look for is what the grace period is - how long do they give you to pay without being charged interest or considered late. Many are decreasing that time more and more, so your turn around time is potentially more and more costly. Credit card companies design their programs to obtain as much financial return as possible. They are not there to help consumers - they are there to gain from consumers. The sooner people realize this, regardless of reading level (and there are people with minimum reading levels who handle their money and credit quite well), the sooner the card companies will have to rethink their strategies.

Hi p1key, I don't have any credit card as I don't like ordering goods from anywhare, I maybe old fashion, but I like to pay for things with hard carsh, if I don't have enough, then I don't buy, with credit cards, there are loophole and once you sign buy whatever, then you have to pay more interest, that is the reason I don't like credit cards. Hugs. Tamara xxxx

lol...I'm so paranoid, I read ONLY the small print and miss the BIG PICTURE!! Weird but true:) I try not to bother with things that fly above my head and leave it to my husband to decipher and take a decision in such matters.

Funny you should mention this. The other day I received one of those little booklets that fits into a business sized envelope. It is 62 pages long!! I know it's a smaller size than normal but written in almost legalese, there's no way I will be reading it. It's all the rules pertaining to the variety of accounts they have onoffer of which I have four.. Ditto the ones I get with insurance products...there is too much for me to read and understand so I don't. I just hope that the bits they actually told me are the crucial ones and I sign on the dotted line.

Hi, old friend! I do read it. I suspect you comprehend it as readily as I do. Most of us could, if we would make the effort. All too often, people expect that they can't, so they don't try. Others just don't want to go to all that effort. I think they expect some sort of beneficent force will protect them from all the harm that can do.

I read it all, because a lot of companies want to worm in extra charges that they know people would never consent to if they knew about it. But most of all, when I was applying for credit cards, I assumed I would never carry a balance and if I did have to, I would do without whatever it is I "needed". I don't think that reading comprehension if the problem. It's people that are not willing to save up for an item, that can't wait to get it and don't have the imagination to make do with what they have till they get the money for it. Then again, with so many people unemployed, there are lots living off their credit cards. Even if they read the fine print, they're stuck.

I read it the first time and then I forget about it. But yeah, I pretty much understand it...

i think a lot of people dont read the fine print but yeah that is an interesting fact.. i try to skim over it and read the areas i know will be important later such as fees or apr etc.. a lot of it just seems like babble even though i can read well lol

Hi p1, isn't that condescending, Creditcards labeling card holders? I am one person who sigh at documents because I do not like to delve on the nitty-gritty details of legalities. The language is not my type. But when I was in the ninth grade level, I was reading James Michener and Irving Wallace, aside from Tolstoi and EA Poe. But then I am no American. Still, it is unkind to say such things. If Creditcards want the average American to understand, write the conditions in simple parlance which the busy bees could have a glimpse and know right away what they are committing to.

Thats sounds like an Idea Tv Execs to Create another Game Show. Drop Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader, Becuase We Know No One Can Smarter Than Them. Start a new Show Called " Can You Read?" Lol

Yeah, we usually just skim over the boring stuff to jump straight into getting to the fun stuff. It is true that this is what causes major problems with people and their credit cards. I think that they should rewrite it to at least a 7th or 8th grade level average so people can understand it more easily and go over it with them so they understand it all clearly.

I read all the small print and make sure I understand it. It drives Mr Croc nuts at times. If I can't work out what the small print means I don't sign anything.

OMG! You look vaguely familiar! How are you P1key, my good man? I have so missed you now that you are a FB turncoat! It is still so wonderful to see you! I read very well, might not totally understand all that tiny print (am waiting for the new glasses), but sign away my life anyway! I know I'm definitely not very astute when it comes to math and have no idea how they calculate the APR. etc., so I just have pay whatever they say I owe them and hope that someday I will be debt free and that may not be for a very long time now that I have found how much fun it is to buy online!

Hi pIkefIsh,Where had you been so long? I missed you for long time. I have a visa card. I use it very rare. Because the bank takes very high interest. I heard most of the Americans depend on credit card.Ultimately it becomes burden to them . They become trapped.

When I first got my first credit card it was in college and had a small credit limit. The credit card companies came out to our college all the time and people would line up to get these cards. I racked up some credit card debt after college too. I eventually paid it off. At the time the general public was not educated on how to use credit cards. Yes they provided us with material we were supposed to read but it was so much and made no sense. Today there are so many television programs, books and information on the internet that we should be more educated on credit cards.