Abstract
The paper ascertains the attitudes of students relative to credit cards, examining their attitudes towards their perceived convenience, risk and the extra cost of potential transactions. The analysis includes both the students' and their families' income, the frequency of parents' fights over money and credit cards, specifically, and the number of credit cards carried. The paper discusses the conclusions from this research, that shows the marketing of credit cards for college students, both to their parents and to the students themselves, is extremely effective. The paper explains that credit card companies are successfully imparting the messages of control, ego gratification and the rationalization of emergencies.

Outline:
Executive Summary
Research Issue
Methodology
Analysis of Results
Conclusions/Recommendations
Limitations
Appendices

From the Paper
"Fifty students were given the printed questionnaire and assured complete anonymity and privacy, and also were left alone in classrooms after sessions were over to complete the survey. A $3 Starbucks Card was offered to the first ten students to complete the survey, so that motivation to quickly finish the research instrument would be assured. Graduate-level students were asked to complete the survey during an evening course break. "The sampling focused primarily on business students, with an even mix of women and men in the samples to rule out gender bias in the analysis of the results, a research design advocated by Hair, J.F., Anderson, R.E., Tatham, R.L., & Black, W.C. (1995) in their book."

Tags:control, ego, gratification, emergencies, cost, payment

Abstract
The paper identifies the main concerns regarding college students using credit cards and highlights the implications of student debt on individual students, colleges and the economy. The paper considers potential solutions for colleges, but notes that there is only so much that colleges and the government can do, within the bounds of reason and free enterprise.

From the Paper
"Credit card companies are increasingly targeting college students. A recent survey showed that 76% of students had cards marketed to them on campus, and a third of them said that free gifts were offered as an inducement to sign up . Card companies love the student market because students typically have few ties to financial institutions, and are thus a source of new customers. In particular, college students represent a demographic that is expected to secure good, white-collar employment once they graduate."

Tags:debt, loans, salaries

Abstract
In the first part of this paper, the writer discusses the rise in credit card use and looks at the reasons behind this increase. The writer then examines how the availability of easy credit caused a fundamental shift in American tastes. The writer also evaluates how these trends could affect a consumer's purchasing power, the credit industry, and even the national economy. The writer concludes that a combination of consumerism, economic need and the easy availability of credit have contributed to the revolving debt figures in the US. Further, the writer argues that as more people become knowledgeable about credit and are turning to debit cards and cash, creditors will have to devise new ways to encourage credit spending.

Outline:
Credit History
Credit Aftermath
Economic Effects
Works Cited

From the Paper
"Previous research has suggested that only a small amount of credit-card holding households were responsible for the vast majority of credit card debt. Others have shown that as credit cards became more common forms of payment, average balances increased across the board. The fact that credit cards became more readily available in the early 1990s partly accounts for this phenomenon, and tends to support the latter conclusions. It is far more likely that all people are using credit cards more, rather than merely a fraction of American households."
"Bernthal et al attributes this increase in revolving debt to intense competition among lenders. There was therefore a strong incentive for lenders to extend loans to riskier households. In the 1980s, credit cards were seen as a status symbol, only acquired by those who had disposable income. By 1995, however, the average credit card holder had lower income and was more likely to be single. The average credit card holder was also more likely to rent rather than own their home, worked in a blue collar profession and often carried higher credit card balances."

Tags:debt, payment, borrowing, balances

Abstract
Over the past several decades, the American middle class has expanded by hundreds of thousands of households. Record numbers of families, headed by minorities, as well as female-headed households and single individuals have joined the middle class. The paper shows that with this growth and diversity throughout the class, the economy has witnessed record years in spending, especially through the use of credit. This increase in commitments of spending future income has resulted in a class-wide precarious financial position that has heightened their vulnerability to financial ruin. The paper examines the history of credit cards in the United States and shows how this form of payment is affecting the middle class in contemporary American society.

From the Paper
"Now, many credit card companies actually avoid frugal types who use a credit card as a convenience and pay off balances every month. Instead, they statistically look for spenders who have an appetite for debt, are willing to make minimum monthly payments and tolerate high percentage rates and fees. They know that fees for late payments and fees for exceeding a credit limit increase profits. Sometimes an extra like credit protection, coupled with a late charge, is enough to put a customer over his credit limit, thereby giving companies another excuse to levy a charge (Gorham, On-line). The actual sub-prime market, which includes high loan-to-value ratios, includes mortgages, car loans and credit card debt, is "estimated at $200 billion dollars and growing by an estimated 50 percent a year" (Skelly 8)."

Tags:income, American, Express, Visa, bankruptcy

Abstract
Examines concepts and practices relevant to the feasibility of marketing credit card software to Internet businesses.

From the Paper
"EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This paper is an analysis of the feasibility of selling a line of credit-card enabling software for companies wishing to do business on the Internet. As a part of this paper, 25 typical marketing definitions are restated to have more power and importance as part of a unified organization.

The concept of unification as opposed to pluralistic is also discussed, along with its benefits of adoption. The paper concludes with an analysis and description of market power and force analysis, using the concept of DADDIE.

The research in this paper reflects the first step of an ADDIE process -- that of analysis. The next step after this analysis would be to design and develop a plan that could be implemented and then evaluated."

Abstract
This paper discusses the problem that students have with credit cards in the college community. According to the paper, credit card debt can become a serious problem for college students because financial problems can harm a student's credit, make it difficult for a student to obtain employment, and harm future relationships. The paper further notes that college students need to have counseling and education about credit cards and laws should be passed on credit card companies to limit the amount of credit given to students.

From the Paper
"Before the first semester of college ended, Joanna Hannah had over seven credit cards and four of these credit cards were over the limit and late. On the college community, many students have at two or three credit cards that they use to pay their tuition, books, supplies, gasoline, and food. Only 27% of students in the college community do not have any credit cards (Homan). Often students receive 25 to 50 solicitations for credit cards during one semester (Homan). Credit card debt can become a serious problem for college students because financial problems can harm a student's credit, make it difficult for a student to obtain employment, and harm..."

Tags:credit cards, solutions, students

Abstract
Six page paper exploring the recent and out of control trend of college students getting themselves deep into debt by getting easy credit cards at school.

Tags:college, card, debt

Abstract
This paper uses secondary data to analyze the credit card industry along five constructs: (1) Competitive analysis: Porter's Five Forces and PEST analysis, (2) monopoly vs. perfect competition, (3) standardization vs. localization, (4) competition vs. collaboration and (5) revolutionary vs. evolutionary change. The author points out that the existing credit card industry is a mature market, but it still has room to grow as more people become familiar with the allied financial services their credit and debit cards can provide. The paper relates that VISA enjoys the most powerful credit/debit card position in consumer cards especially in business credit cards, with it has extensive and integrated work in payments processing; however, the founders of First Data/Concord EFS were particularly aggressive business people. Many tables and charts.

Table of Contents
Introduction
In Brief
Background
Flies in the First Data Ointment
Objective
Methodology
Structure of the Dissertation
Literature Review
Competitive analysis
Porter's Five Forces
Porter's Five Forces Example
PEST Analysis
Economic Factors
Socio-Cultural Factors
Technological Factors
Literature Review
Monopoly vs. Perfect Competition
Standardization vs. Localization
National Initiatives
Competition vs. Collaboration
Revolutionary vs. Evolutionary Change
Opportunities
Overview of Credit and Debit Card Industries
Top Ten Card Issuers Compared
Bank Card Profitability
Differences between Credit and Debit Cards
U.S. Payment Cards-in-Force (in millions)
Off-Line Debit History
Top 10 U.S. Issuers by Card Loans
Developed vs. Less Developed Nations' Credit Card Use
VISA Volume
2003 Top 10 Countries
Global Financial Cards in Circulation - 2003
Corporate /Commercial vs. Consumer Use
Analysis of VISA's Strategy
VISA's Strengths
VISA's Weaknesses
VISA's Opportunities
VISA's Threats
STP Strategy (Segmentation, Targeting and Positioning)
Conclusion
Conclusions and Recommendations

From the Paper
"From the merchant's point of view, the merger was seen as one that would give them an alternative to VISA and MasterCard. Shortly after the merger, major STAR network contracts with high-profile banks such as Wells Fargo, Wachovia and BankOne were set to expire; this opened the field to some turmoil, in all likelihood, because VISA was already making a play to sign the same institutions for its processing and acceptance capabilities. FirstData/Concord was assumed to have the upper hand, however because analysts thought those two institutions, despite their disparate original sizes, understood contracts of that sort and banks themselves better then VISA. As it turns out, STAR did lose some of its bank contracts, reducing the value of the merger somewhat from the First Data standpoint."

Tags:billpay, constructs, star, debit, aggressive

Abstract
While credit cards give the consumer many advantages, this paper takes a look at how credit cards have pushed the margin on high interest rates, at hidden fees and negative marketing strategies which have put society into debt.

Table of Contents
I. Introduction
A. Americans in credit card debt.
II. Origin of credit cards
A. Dates
B. Statistics
C. Relevant background
III. High Interest rates
A. Interest rates in recent years
B. Usury Laws
C. Who sets these laws?
IV. High Hidden Fees
A. The inflating Interest Rate Game
B. The Grace Period
C. Extra Fees
V. Negative Marketing Strategies
A. What to do first, if you have a complaint
B. Government agencies to contact
C. Can the company get penalties?
VI. Laws and Legislation regarding high interest rates, hidden fees and negative marketing strategies.
A. Truth in Lending Act
B.Governing finance charges
C.EFT Act
VII. CONCLUSION

From the Paper
"Credit cards have become a symbol of the American way of life. Until recently Americans were enjoying a period of wealth and freedom never before experienced in history. They were in a mood to buy, and buy they did. Many turned to credit cards to make the purchases that they desired. Some commodities, such as rental cars cannot be obtained with out plunking down a credit card. While credit cards give the consumer many advantages, credit cards have pushed the margin on high interest rates, hidden fees and negative marketing strategies, putting society in to debt."

Tags:interest, consumer, dept, economy, loan, social

Abstract
The author of this project plan is an employee of a major credit card company. In this paper, the writer examines issues of consumer confidence, trust and convenience in credit card use. The paper seeks to identify what initiatives have been used by financial institutions in recent years to provide consumers with the confidence they need to safely use their credit cards while avoiding fraudulent transactions in both brick-and-mortar and on line settings. The stated aim of the paper is to suggest what steps can be made to improve consumer confidence in a bank's credit card administration services.

Outline:
Project Plan
Brief Description of the Context of the Study
Project Rationale:
Provisional Reading List
Information about Data and Artifacts
Time Line
References

From the Paper
"Data collection will be accomplished by consulting relevant resources in public and university libraries as well as reliable online research sources such as EBSCO and Questia. Organizational resources including those maintained by Citi Cards will also be consulted. The data to be collected will focus on the impact of initiatives designed to improve consumer confidence in credit card use in quantifiable ways. Keywords and phrases to be used for this purpose will include: "credit cards," "credit card fraud," "Citibank," "international credit," "credit card industry," "online credit," "online credit transactions," "online fraud," "identity theft," "banking security," and so forth. The research process will progress in a step-wise fashion, beginning at the top of an inverted pyramid in terms of generality concerning the areas of interest and proceeding more specifically to the issue of defeating credit card fraud at Citibank. Serendipitously identified resources were also incorporated where appropriate. Exclusion criteria to be included in identifying these resources will be those resources that are less than 10 and preferably less than 5 years old, and published in the English language. This approach is highly congruent with a number of social researchers who emphasize the need to review the existing literature as part of virtually any research project today. For example, Gratton and Jones (2003) note that a review of the relevant literature is an essential task in all research... "

Tags:consumers, accounts, virtual, identity, theft, financial, EBSCO, questia