6 - 1 COPYRIGHT © 2008 by Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Ltd Chapter 6 – Borrowing on Open Account

6 - 2 Chapter 6 – Borrowing on Open Account Chapter 6 - Learning Goals LG 1-Describe the reasons for using consumer credit, and identify its benefits and problems. LG 2-Develop a plan to establish a strong credit history. LG 3-Distinguish among the different forms of open account credit. LG 4-Understand how to apply for, obtain, and manage open account credit. LG 5-Understand how to choose the right credit cards and recognize their advantages and disadvantages. LG 6-Understand how to avoid credit problems, how to protect yourself against credit card fraud, and understand the personal bankruptcy process. Learning Goals

6 - 3 Chapter 6 – Borrowing on Open Account Internet Links and On-Line Resources Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC) to learn about credit scores and how credit card rates are calculated.Financial Consumer Agency of Canada Charge Cards – a site where you can compare credit card features and rates.Charge Cards Money Sense’s Credit Card Calculator SafeCanada Web site to safeguard your identitySafeCanada Web Equifax Canada Trans-Union Canada Northern Credit Bureaus Inc. Credit Counselling Canada Web Links

6 - 4 Chapter 6 – Borrowing on Open Account Key Chapter Terms Debt safety ratio Open account credit Credit limit Credit statement Bank credit card Line of credit Cash advance Balance transfer Rebate (co-branded) credit card Rebate (co-branded) credit card Grace period Retail charge card Prestige cards Affinity cards Secured (collateralized credit cards) Secured (collateralized credit cards) Student credit card Debit card Prepaid card Revolving line of credit Overdraft protection line Unsecured personal credit line Home equity credit line Credit investigation Credit bureau Annual percentage rate (APR) Average daily balance method Daily balance method Consumer proposal Straight bankruptcy Personal bankruptcy Credit counsellor Terms

6 - 5 Chapter 6 – Borrowing on Open Account Definitions Debt Safety Ratio The proportion of total monthly consumer credit obligations to monthly take-home pay.  Low 10%  Manageable 15%  Maximum 20% Terms

6 - 6 Chapter 6 – Borrowing on Open Account Definitions Open account credit A form of credit extended to a consumer in advance of any type of transaction; type of credit that accompanies charge accounts and credit cards. Terms

6 - 7 Chapter 6 – Borrowing on Open Account Definitions Credit Limit A specified amount beyond which a customer may not borrow or purchase on credit. Terms

6 - 8 Chapter 6 – Borrowing on Open Account Definitions Credit Statement A monthly statement that summarizes the transactions, interest charges, fees, and payments in a consumer credit account. Terms

6 - 9 Chapter 6 – Borrowing on Open Account Definitions Bank Credit Card A credit card issued by a bank or other financial institution that allows the holder to charge purchases at any establishment that accepts it; can also be used to obtain cash advances. Terms

Chapter 6 – Borrowing on Open Account Definitions Line of Credit The maximum amount of credit a customer is allowed to have outstanding at any point in time. Terms

Chapter 6 – Borrowing on Open Account Definitions Cash Advance A loan that can be obtained by a bank credit cardholder at any participating bank or financial institution; it begins to accrue interest immediately and requires no formal application Terms

Chapter 6 – Borrowing on Open Account Definitions Balance Transfer A program that enables cardholders to readily transfer credit balances from one card to another. Terms

Chapter 6 – Borrowing on Open Account Definitions Rebate (co-branded) credit card A bank credit card that combines features of a traditional bank credit card with an additional incentive, such as rebates and airline mileage. Terms

Chapter 6 – Borrowing on Open Account Definitions Grace Period A short period of time, usually 17 to 26 days, during which you can pay your credit card bill in full and not incur any interest charges. Terms

Chapter 6 – Borrowing on Open Account Definitions Retail Charge Card A type of credit card issued by retailers and oil companies that allows customers to charge goods and services up to a pre-established amount. Terms

Chapter 6 – Borrowing on Open Account Definitions 30-day (regular) charge account A charge account that requires customers to pay the full amount billed within 10 to 20 days after the billing date. Terms

Chapter 6 – Borrowing on Open Account Definitions Travel and Entertainment (T&E) Card A credit card, such as American Express or Diner’s Club, accepted by travel and entertainment-related establishments, as well as a growing number of other businesses and stores. Terms

Chapter 6 – Borrowing on Open Account Definitions Prestige Card A type of bank or T&E card that offers higher credit limits, has stricter requirements for qualification, and generally offers more features than its “regular” counterpart. Terms

Chapter 6 – Borrowing on Open Account Definitions Affinity Card A standard bank credit card issued in conjunction with some charitable, political, or other sponsoring non-profit organization. Terms

Chapter 6 – Borrowing on Open Account Definitions Secured (collateralized) credit cards A type of credit card that’s secured with some form of collateral, such as a bank GIC. Terms

Chapter 6 – Borrowing on Open Account Definitions Student credit card A credit card marketed specifically to university students. Terms

Chapter 6 – Borrowing on Open Account Definitions Dedit card A card used to make transactions for cash rather than credit; it replaces the need for cash or cheques by initiating charges against one’s chequing account. Terms

Chapter 6 – Borrowing on Open Account Definitions Prepaid card A plastic card with a magnetic strip or microchip that stores the amount of money the purchaser has to spend and deducts the value of each purchase; it eliminates the need to use cash. Terms

Chapter 6 – Borrowing on Open Account Definitions Revolving line of credit A type of open account credit offered by banks and other financial institutions that can be accessed by writing cheques against specially designated credit line accounts. Terms

Chapter 6 – Borrowing on Open Account Definitions Overdraft protection line A line of credit linked to a chequing account that allows a depositor to overdraw the account up to a specified amount. Terms

Chapter 6 – Borrowing on Open Account Definitions Unsecured personal credit line A line of credit made available to an individual on an as-needed basis. Terms

Chapter 6 – Borrowing on Open Account Definitions Home equity credit line A line of credit issued against the existing equity in a home. Terms

Chapter 6 – Borrowing on Open Account Definitions Credit investigation An investigation that involves contacting credit references or corresponding with a credit bureau to verify information on a credit application. Terms

Chapter 6 – Borrowing on Open Account Definitions Credit bureau An organization that collects and stores credit information about individual borrowers. Terms

Chapter 6 – Borrowing on Open Account Definitions Credit scoring A method of evaluating an applicant’s creditworthiness by assigning values to such factors as income, existing debts, and credit references. Terms

Chapter 6 – Borrowing on Open Account Definitions Annual percentage rate (APR) The actual or true rate of interest paid over the life of a loan. Terms

Chapter 6 – Borrowing on Open Account Definitions Average daily balance method A method of computing finance charges by applying interest charges to the average daily balance of the account over the billing period. Terms

Chapter 6 – Borrowing on Open Account Definitions Daily balance method A method of computing finance charges by applying interest charges to the balance at the end of each day for the billing period. Terms

Chapter 6 – Borrowing on Open Account Definitions Minimum monthly payment In open account credit, a minimum specified percentage of the new account balance that must be paid in order to remain current. Terms

Chapter 6 – Borrowing on Open Account Definitions Consumer proposal An arrangement for scheduled debt repayment, often for a portion of the debts, over future years that is an alternative to straight bankruptcy. Terms

Chapter 6 – Borrowing on Open Account Definitions Straight bankruptcy A legal proceeding that results in “wiping the slate clean and starting anew”; most of the debtor’s obligations are eliminated in an attempt to put the debtor’s financial affairs in order. Terms

Chapter 6 – Borrowing on Open Account Definitions Personal bankruptcy A form of legal recourse open to insolvent debtors in which they may petition a court for protection from creditors and arrange for the orderly liquidation and distribution of their assets. Terms

Chapter 6 – Borrowing on Open Account Definitions Credit counsellor A professional financial advisor who assists overextended consumers in repairing budgets for both spending and debt repayment. Terms

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