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From: king@kestrel.ARPA (Dick King)
Newsgroups: net.consumers
Subject: credit cards
Message-ID: <4828@kestrel.ARPA>
Date: Thu, 13-Feb-86 18:03:35 EST
Article-I.D.: kestrel.4828
Posted: Thu Feb 13 18:03:35 1986
Date-Received: Sat, 15-Feb-86 03:33:22 EST
Organization: Kestrel Institute, Palo Alto, CA
Lines: 42


   From: suhina@kodak.UUCP (brian suhina)
   Newsgroups: net.consumers
   Date: 6 Feb 86 14:38:54 GMT
   Distribution: net

   Jane Bryant Quinn writes a column on consumer issues and her latest
   ( Feb. 6,1986 ) in the Rochester "Democrat and Chronicle" is about
   low interest credit cards and cards that have no annual fee. She says
   the low interest cards are in the 12 to 17 per-cent range. The cards
   that charge no annual fee generally charge 18 to 21 per-cent. She 
   doesn't list specific banks but says someone named "Bankcard Holders
   of America" publishes a list of banks that charge no annual fee for
   their credit cards and a list of banks that have low interest rates
   for their cards. Copies of both lists can are available for $2.95
   and a self addressed stamped envelope. The address is

	     BHA
	     333 Pennsylvania Ave. S.E.
	     Washington D.C. 20003

   I have never heard of this group. Has anyone had any correspondence
   with them? I'll post a summary to the net of any interesting responses.

BHA sent me a list of free credit cards which I used successfully.


WRITE TO YOUR CONGRESSMAN AND SENATOR to get them not to pass a
ceiling on credit card interest rates.  Free credit cards will GO AWAY
if they do that.  Those of us who either pay in full every month or
who only have plastic so they can get checks accepted easily will be
forced to pay fees so those who run up big, revolving (revolting?)
bills can get a free ride.


Since low-interest cards are available (although I must admit I never
wrote for that list) but probably require a good credit history t
obtain, the only people who need to pay high rates are those who won't
be picked up by a selective company.  Those people NEED high rates to
cover their losses.


-dick