This just drives me nuts. I currantly don't have any major credit cards and don't want any. The last time I applied for a credit card I was denied do to bad credit. The thing that gets me is I just recently bought my first home and everytime I go to the mailbox there is another credit card company that wants me to sign up for their card. What do they think that because I have a house that I will now be able to afford to have a credit card? That I magically have become better at my finances. I am so glad that I have learned my lesson when it comes to credit cards or I might be enticed to accept one of them. But I know that I am not good with them so I just stay away and don't even put myself in the situation of getting in debt to credit card use.

I've been getting more than the usual amount of offers lately, too. I suppose this time of year it's because they think people will apply for the card to do Christmas shopping. I'm expecting another onslaught of offers the first couple months of the new year when many struggle with paying off the holiday bills.

If you've bad credit it's tough to get mortgage loans if not impossible, and if you pass that hurdle the signal is your credit rating is good to apply for a credit card.

You can get loans and credit if you have a bad credit rating - the problem is, you get absolutely screwed for interest rates. Bad credit loans are actually one of the most profitable areas of finance, because

a) The lender wouldn't lend if they didn't think you would probably pay up
b) The lender can hit you with higher rates because of the (often slight) increased risk factor

That is what confuses me on the whole thing though. I had been denied for a Walmart credit card do to bad credit but then three months later we get a mortgage loan. Go figure. But you are so right on the interest rates. You really have to make sure you don't get shafted on the interest rate.

Great site about credit cards, the interest, and the traps.

Just as the holiday season gets ready to kick into high gear, Consumers Union is warning shoppers about the increasing number of credit card traps that can trip up consumers and lead to spiraling debt. To help get out the message and mobilize support for reform, the group is releasing "It's Always Christmas Time (For Visa)," an animated satire that takes aim at abusive credit card fees and practices.

"You can find yourself buried in debt if you aren't careful to avoid the credit card gotchas," said Michelle Jun, Staff Attorney for Consumers Union. "Too many credit cards are deisgned to get you in debt and keep you there."

A must read for anyone looking to get into credit cards

Fraud, Phishing and Financial Misdeeds: Consumers Union Calls for Credit Card Reforms on the Eve of Black Friday

my mother has been recently getting endless calls from various banking companies, enticing her to accept their credit card offers. besides the good credit history she has, i guess it's because of what you pointed out--the nearing of christmas day.

I get credit cards in the mail all the time. I just throw them away. Years ago I really got into a mess by accepting all the credit cards, not looking at the high interest that they were charging, and it got me in a real bind. I will never do it again.

Don't just throw them away. There are people who dig through the garbage just hoping for some of these "to activate your account" kind of cards. We shred or burn any thing that we don't want to use!

This is a great stance, if you know how disciplined you are. If you think you can't handle them then you should not be trapped in their lure.