Put the Credit Card in Your Wallet!

Money has been the important part in our society for a long time. Everybody uses
money to buy things everyday. Would not it be better that you spent the money and got the many benefits? The credit card can respond this proposal. Some credit cards offer additional benefits, such as discounts from particular stores or companies, bonuses such as free airline miles or travel discounts, and special insurance (“Advantages”, n.d., para.5).In contrast, in the past, Thai people did not understand well about the credit card. They did not use it carefully, so they became debt. After that, they focused on the disadvantages of credit cards and blame them. For example, many people argued that credit cards are not safe. In addition, people thought that credit card is unnecessary. However, the bank and the financial institution tried to give the right and scrupulous information for the people. Thus, the credit cards have become popular until present. The cards’ important advantages, such as the ease of purchase or the purchase power, and the protection of certain purchases, are making our life easier and helping us to solve problems sooner (Gilliland, n.d., para.2). From this statement, we can see the example of advantage of credit cards. Moreover, the credit cards also have many advantages that we should focus because credit cards are convenient, useful in emergency case, privileged, and safe.

The definition of credit card is “a plastic card having a magnetic strip, issued by a bank or business authorizing the holder to buy goods or services on credit, also called charge card” (“Credit Card”, 2004, para.1). “There are two types of cards the first one is credit cards. They allow the consumer to pay a monthly minimum on their purchases with an interest charge on the unpaid balance. The second one is charge cards. They require the consumer to pay for all purchases at the end of the billing period. Consumers may also use bank cards to obtain short-term personal loans .Credit card issuers receive revenue from fees paid by stores that accept their cards and by consumers that use the cards, and from interest charged consumers on unpaid balances” (“Types”, n.d., para. 1). Moreover, Credit cards can help people in order to buy the things. A credit card allows consumers to purchase products or services without cash and to pay for them at a later date (“Background”, n.d., para.2). Actually, the first credit card was issue in 1950. Diners Club and American Express launched their charge cards in the USA, the first "plastic money" (“History”, n.d., para.4). It came to be one part of many people because it could answer their wants such as ease, speed, and safety to use. However, according to (n.d.) illiland “The disadvantages can be important if the card is not wisely used. The biggest disadvantage is that they are inviting people to spend more money that they don't yet have” (para.3). On the other hand, many people are still using credit cards because they have some positive points.

The first reason to support credit cards is that credit cards are very convenient for everybody to use. The credit cards make people life easier because there are a lot of products and services sell in the internet. The credit card holders can use their credit cards buy these products and services. If the credit card holders have the internet, they can buy things in their house. The products that they order will be sent by mail. For example, I have been use my credit card paid TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) fees from the internet, and I can know test date, time, and place immediately. Moreover, the credit card holder can use credit card in order to buy many things instead of cash. The indication and process are very quickly. The credit card holders’ just strip their credit cards and signs the name in the receipt. The credit cards help the people not only life easier but also faster than the past. Therefore, the people should use the credit cards instead of use cash because credit cards make their life more convenient than the past.

The second reason to support credit cards is because credit cards are very useful
in the emergency case. Money is important for every people, and they always lack
money. The credit card can help them in urgent case. For example, in Thailand some
people does not have accident insurance. If some member of their family have an
accident, they have to make money in order to pay the bill from hospital. If they do not have enough money, their family members will die or be handicapped. So they can use credit card pay the bill in order to save their member life. After that, they can work with happiness and pay credit card bill in the next month. Moreover, the credit card can help people manipulate funds in the necessary case. For instance, my friend from Thailand he does not have enough money but he wants cash in order to pay the apartment rental (In Thailand the apartment receive only cash). He invited friends in order to have the dinner. When we finish dinner, he used his credit card to pay the dinner cost. Then, friends give cash to him. Therefore, the people should put the credit cards in their wallet because the credit cards can help them from the serious and unfortunate situations.

The third reason to support credit cards is because credit cards give many
privileges to the holders. There are many privileges from the credit cards, and the
rewards depend on the kind of the credit card. Some credit cards give discount for
travel, shopping, and automotive retail. The people can choose benefits that they want. For example, the people who do not have the credit cards they have to pay more
expensive than the credit card holders because the credit card holders can use the
discount from their cards. Moreover, the credit card holders can choose to collect bonus point or cash back. The banks return the profit to the credit card holder by these choices. If the credit card holders use the credit card frequently, they will receive the high bonus point. The more credit cards they use, the more bonus points they receive. They can use these bonus point exchange many things. These privileges are only for the holder. The bank design many kind of credit card in order to answer the customers wants. Therefore, the people should not miss this privilege and apply for the credit card that can response to their wants.

The fourth reason to support credit cards is that credit cards are safe to use. The
banks, financial institutions, and government have the suggestion for the people in order to prevent the credit card fraud. For example, the credit card holders should sign credit cards as soon as they arrive, avoid incorrect receipts, and destroy carbons. Moreover, some financial institutions hire the professionals in order to develop technology for credit card and credit card system. For instance, American Express has fraud protection guarantee for customer (“Fraud Protection”, n.d., para.1). This financial institution also uses secure encryption technology and Fraud Detection system for their products and services. Therefore, the people can have confidence in the bank and financial institutions security system in order to use the credit cards.

However, the opponents argue that credit cards bring about debt. In fact, many
people did not study the credit card information well before use it. They should search the information from the bank, financial institution, and internet. This information is very important for people in order to know and choose which type of credit card is suitable for them. For example, in the internet have many web sites to suggest, case study, advantages, and disadvantages of credit card. In addition, the banks and financial institutions launch the prepaid credit cards. People can have their own prepaid credit card easily. They can use their credit card without debt. In the past, if you had a bad credit history then you were unlikely to be able to get a credit card. However, prepaid credit cards are becoming increasingly available, and it doesn't matter if you have had financial problems in the past (Howard, 2007, para.1). For instance, the prepaid card holders have to add their money in their card before use. If their cards do not have money credit, they cannot use their cards. They have to plan their budget before use their credit cards. So they will not be debt from credit cards. Therefore, everybody have to study a lot of credit cards information and after that choose the credit cards that suitable with them.

In conclusion, the credit cards have proven to benefit to our society. As a result
of this cards, people from many country around the world accept them. They have many
advantages than cash because credit cards can help the credit card holder buy the
things convenient, pass the hard situation, buy the discount things, and save from fraud.Consequently, people should use the credit cards instead of cash due to the fact that use credit cards have many benefits than cash. In addition, there are many banks that people can choose from their wants, and each bank also has many kinds of credit cards. People should choose the credit cards that suitable for them. For example, my friend always shops at Macy’s. She should use Macy’s credit cards because she can receive a discount and collect the bonus points. Moreover, the credit card holder should use credit cards wisely. There are many ways in order to use the credit cards wisely such as plan budget, manage credit, pay on time. To sum up, the credit cards have advantages and disadvantages. Therefore, we should learn how to take the highest advantages and avoid disadvantages from credit cards in order to makes happiness to the credit card holder.

References

Advantage of credit card (n.d.). Mountain State Centers for Independent Living.
Retrieved April 26, 2007, from http://www.mtstcil.org/skills/budget-12.html
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Background (n.d.). Answer.com. Retrieved April 26, 2007, from
http://www.answer.com/topic/charge-card
Credit card (2004). The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language,Fourth
Edition. Retrieved April 26, 2007, from http://www.answers.com/topic/charge- cardGilliland, D. (n.d.). Credit Cards. Mystic Wolf Articles. Retrieved April 26,2007, from http://mysticwolfpress.com/articles/Article/Credit-Cards--Advantages- And-Disadvantages/3857
History of credit cards (n.d.). Did you know? Retrieved April 26, 2007, from
http://www.didyouknow.cd/creditcards.htm
Howard, F. (2007,March 19). Prepaid Credit Cards. Ezine Aricles. Retrieved April 26, 2007, fromhttp://ezinearticles.com/?Prepaid-Credit-Cards---The-Credit-Card-
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Types (n.d.). Encyclopedia. Factmoster.com. Retrieved May 2, 2007, from
http://www.factmonster.com/ce6/bus/A0813973.html