Understand credit management

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What is credit? Credit is the privilege of using someone else’s money for a period of time.

Who uses credit?◦ Individual people◦ Businesses◦ Government

Main types of credit for individuals◦ Charge Accounts◦ Credit Cards◦ Installment Credit◦ Consumer Loans

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Charge account is a contract between creditors and debtors. Charge accounts allow debtors (customers) to receive goods or services from suppliers (creditor) and pay for them at a later date.

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◦ Types and examples of Charge Accounts: Regular

Buyer required to make full payment within a stated period of time. Usually 25 to 30 days.

Example - A charge account with an electrician who re-wired a house Budget

credit agreement which requires customers to make payments of a fixed amount over several months

Example - A budget plan (charge account) with Duke Energy utility company

Revolving Customers may charge purchases at any time, but only part of the

debt must be paid each month. Several features: credit limit (max amount may be charged);

finance charge. Can lead customer to overspend! Example – MasterCard, Visa, Home equity credit line

Credit cards allow debtors (customers) to receive goods and services from suppliers (creditor) using credit cards and pay for them later.

◦ Types and examples of credit cards: Bank (multi-use credit card)

MasterCard and VISA Travel and entertainment

American Express, Carte Blanche, and Diners Club Oil company (single-use credit card)

BP Oil Retail store (single-use credit card)

Belk

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Installment sales credit - a contract issued by the seller that requires intermittent payments at specified times such as bi-weekly or monthly.

Differs from credit cards in the following ways:◦ Must sign a sales contract showing terms of purchase◦ Seller has the right to repossess the item purchased on credit◦ Down payment required at the time of purchase◦ Pay finance charge on the amount owed◦ Regular payment schedule is made until the loan is paid off

◦ Examples of Installment Credit Rooms To Go Furniture Store, Aaron’s Rent a Center

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Consumer loans require debtors to make monthly payments of a specified amount for a period of time.

Types of consumer loans:◦ Installment Loans (discussed on previous slide)◦ Single payment loan – repaid in one payment on a

specific date◦ Promissory Note – a written promise to repay a loan.

◦ Example of a consumer loan Borrowing $1,000 from a bank and agreeing to make $100 payments

for ten months

Corporate Bonds – used to finance building and equipment

Small Business Administration Loans – offers a number of financial, technical, and management programs to help business

Municipal Bonds – state and local governments use these to finance projects

US Savings Bonds—sold by federal government

Supplier Credit—used by companies for supplies purchased on a regular basis

Convenience◦ Credit can make it easy for you to buy. You can shop

without carrying much cash.

Immediate Possession◦ Credit allows you to have the item now. A family can buy a

dishwasher on credit and begin using it at once.

Savings◦ Sometimes credit allows you to buy an item on sale at a

good price.

Credit Rating◦ A person’s reputation for paying bills on time.

Useful for Emergencies◦ Access to credit can help in unexpected situations, such as

car repairs.

Overbuying◦ A common spending hazard of credit involves buying

something that is more expensive that you can afford.

Careless Buying◦ Credit can tempt you to not wait for a better price on an

item you want now.

Higher Prices◦ Stores that only accept cash may sell items at lower prices

than stores that offer credit. Giving credit to customers is expensive for stores and the results can be higher prices.

Overuse of Credit◦ If you buy too much on credit your monthly payments may

be to much for you to afford. This problem can result in bad credit history, repossession, or loss of home.