1. Credit

2. Overview: Credit 101
Credit: someone is willing to loan you money - called principal - in exchange for your promise to pay it back
Interest: amount you pay to use someone else’s money.

3. In addition to the APR, there may be other costs of using credit
Annual Percentage Yield (APR): amount it costs you a year to use credit, expressed as an interest rate
In addition to the APR, there may be other costs of using credit
Annual Fee: yearly charge for the privilege of using credit.
Finance Charge: Actual dollar cost of using credit, which is calculated by a lender.
Origination Fee: Charge for setting up the loan.
Over-the-limit Fee: Spending more than your limit.
Late Fee: Penalty for making a payment after the due date.
Universal Default: Hike in interest rate because you made 1 late payment.

4. Need to Know
Grace Period: the number of days in which no interest or finance charges will apply.
Minimum Payment: The smallest amount you must pay on your credit card each month (usually 2%).
Credit Limit: The maximum amount that you can charge on your credit card.
Loan Term: The length of time you have to pay off the loan.

5. 5 C’s of Credit Capacity –Can you repay the loan?
Collateral – What if you don’t repay the loan?
Capital – What are your assets and net worth?
Credit History – What is your credit history?
Character – Will you repay the loan?

6. Credit Benefits Access to cash in an emergency
The ability to use it now
Safety and convenience
Earn bonus points or miles

7. Comparing Credit Cards
What to look for:
Do I Qualify
APR
Loan Term
Fees
Prepayment Penalties
Maximum Loan Amount
Minimum Payment Amount

8. Type of Credit
Institution
Features
Credit Card
Banks, credit unions, stores, and gas stations
Some types of credit cards can be used just about anywhere, some only at a specific place.
No payoff deadline
Monthly minimum payments vary, based on the balance
Usually has the highest rate of these four types of credit
Installment Loan
Banks, credit unions, auto dealers, and other financial institutions
Typically used for large purchases such as a car or an appliance
Loan term can vary from a few months to many years
Monthly payment amount are often set for the life of the loan
Usually has a lower interest rate than a credit card

9. Banks, credit unions, stores, and the federal government
Type of Credit
Institution
Features
Student Loan
Banks, credit unions, stores, and the federal government
Used for tuition and other college expenses
Depending on your income level, some loan programs let you delay making payments until you graduate
Loan term is usually up to 10 years, depending on the amount borrowed
Monthly payment amounts are usually set annually
Usually has lower interest rate than an installment loan
May provide an income tax break on interest paid to the lender
Mortgage
Banks and credit unions
Used specifically for a loan to purchase a home
Usually repaid over years
Monthly payments may be set for the life of the loan, or changed more frequently, depending on the type of interest rate
Usually has a lower interest rate than an installment loan

10. Your Credit Record
Credit Report You credit history, a record of your personal (or family) financial transactions.
Credit History It is very important to an individuals ability to obtain credit. It is the equivalent of his credit reputation.
Credit Scoring
Lenders use a mathematical model to produce a credit score for you. The score helps lenders predict the likelihood that you will pay your bills as promised.

11. 3 Credit Reporting Agencies
Equifax Information Service Center
P.O. Box
Atlanta, GA
Experian National Consumer Assistance Center
P.O. Box 2104
Allen, TX
Trans Union Corporation Consumer Disclosure Center
P.O. Box 390
Springfield, PA

12. Most popular Credit Score
The score ranges from about 300 – 850
The higher your score the lower risk you are for the lender
A credit score of 680 or above is good
FICO
Most popular Credit Score

13. A good credit history just takes discipline:
Always pay your bills on time.
If you have a savings account, it’s good to make additional regular deposits, no matter how small.
Be choosy about your credit cards and loans
Apply for only the ones you need
Keep them for a long time
It is better for your score to maintain a low balance on one card and pay it off each month than to have no balance at all.

14. How to hurt your credit history and credit score:
Make late payments
Just one missed payment can affect your credit report.
Writing checks when you do not have enough money in your account to cover them
Having a lot of credit cards and loans
Maintaining high balances on your credit cards and loans
Changing credit cards frequently

15. LAWS

16. Truth in Lending Act - 1968 (Consumer Credit Protection Act)
Requires the credit card issuing company to disclose to the consumer:
APR that will be charged
How the APR is determined if it is a variable rate
The method for computing the balance at the end of the month
The annual fee that will be charged
The amount of the minimum finance charge
Transaction fee for purchases
It covers four major areas:
It requires lenders and merchants to fully disclose in writing the total cost of using their credit.
It requires lenders and merchants to be truthful in their advertising about the cost of using their credit.
It gives consumers the right to cancel credit within three business days on certain types of credit.
It limits the liability of a credit card holder to $50 per card in case of unauthorized use.

17. The Fair Credit Reporting Act 1971
Is designed to provide access to personal credit information on file with credit bureaus.
Requires the credit bureau to investment errors and correct the report.
Borrower’s have 30 days to review their file without charge if they are denied credit.
For a fee of approximately $10, they can review their file at any time.

18. Fair Credit Collection Practices Act
Protects you from the harassment of creditors. The debt collector is not allowed to:
Use abusive language with you
Call at unreasonable hours or an excessive number of times
Threaten to notify your employer
Attempt to collect more than you owe
Send you misleading letters that appear to be from a government agency or a court of law

19. Top Ten Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Sign on the Dotted Line
Do I really need this item right now or can I wait?
Can I qualify for credit?
What is the interest rate (APR)?
Are there additional fees?
How much is the monthly payment and when is it due?

20. Can I afford to pay the monthly payments?
What will happen if I don’t make the payments on time?
What will be the extra cost of using credit?
What will I have to give up to pay for it? (Opportunity cost)
All things considered, is using credit worth it?

21. How to Avoid the Pitfalls
Always read the fine print of a credit card or loan application before you sign on the dotted line.
To avoid the higher interest rates of credit cards, consider a loan for large purchases
Be choosy about your credit card, and don’t apply for more than you actually need
Pay as much as you can every month
Pay a bill at least a week before it is due
Arrange for automatic payments of your monthly bills
Get into a saving mode so you rarely need credit or loans for monthly purchases

22. Can you Believe?
_____% of students with a credit card don’t repay the entire balance each month.
2. _____% of teenagers say they have never discussed using credit cards responsibly with a family member. 28 68

23. _____% of teenagers say they are pretty familiar with credit cards
5. _____% of teenagers have access to a parent’s credit card.
6. _____% of teenagers aged already have a credit card in their own name. 56 9 31