How The Credit Crunch Is Affecting Existing Credit Card Customers

You might wonder why or how the credit crunch can continue to affect the everyday finances of people in UK? Don't forget it's not just the fact that the cost of living continues to soar; lenders are now putting limits on the level of credit we have available.

Different aspects of the cost of living have increased, even month on month, things like utility bills food restaurants and cafes, alcohol and even package holiday costs have increased from April 2008 compared to March 2008. This is because of the rising external costs to the companies operating in these goods and services.

It would also make sense for loan and mortgage lenders to tighten their lending criteria, and we've seen that over the first few months of spring lenders have indeed made it more difficult for people to get hold of credit. I think this is a good thing in the light of mortgages and loans including secured loans. Something like 60 per cent of people who consolidate their debts with a loan will then use additional loans and other forms of credit to, perhaps, fund a lifestyle they simply cannot afford. It is time for people to wake up and budget within their means.

However, what I do not agree with is the recent 2.5 million or so credit card customers who've had restrictions put on their accounts because of the credit crunch! Forgive me for thinking this way but wasn't it the banks that got us into the credit crunch mess in the first place? If they had not lent money irresponsibly to people who could not afford the repayments this would never have happened?...

Credit card companies have cut spending limits, issued annual fees and even closed some accounts. But what makes this even more insulting is that many of these customers are ones who use their credit card occasionally and generally pay off the balance in full. i.e the kind of customer that doesn't really make any profit for the banks! Surprise, surprise, it's all boiled down to money, or should I say, profit for the banks. As if the banks profit margins weren't big enough already, it's the average, every day customers who are now having to pay for their mistakes.

The Financial Blog
A blog on the world of credit cards, loans, mortgages and anything financial!