Action Center
College
students graduate with close to $4,000 on average in credit card debt. The
credit card industry vigorously markets to college students as new consumers,
but they work hard to hide their unfair practices that pile on the debt.
Meanwhile, colleges face more budget cuts and less student aid, so students use
credit to pay for textbooks and even tuition! It’s time to put a stop to the
worst practices of the credit card industry on campus that plunge students into
too much debt.
Day Of Action
USPIRG
is holding a Day of Action on March 27th, but your event may occur
anytime this Spring. You can download fact sheets and even a full
consumer education guide in our Resources section. You can even inquire
about showing the award winning documentary “Maxed Out” on campus. USPIRG is
partnered with the Americans for Fairness in Lending coalition to sponsor showings.
Check the Resources section.
Register
your event!
Looking
for ideas? Below is a partial list of events you might hold on your
campus:
1. Hold a FEESA “counter marketing” educational event. Students can dress up
like credit card marketers, including polo shirts and visors, and “solicit”
students to sign on to the Principles for Responsible Credit Card Marketing on
campus. Additionally, they can distribute consumer education booklets and
pass out lollipops that say “Don’t Be A Sucker.” We even have credit card
sleeves that help remind students about fees. To find out more about holding a
FEESA tabling event, contact Christine Lindstrom at USPIRG. |
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| 2. Show a
documentary about practices of the credit card industry at your campus. Build in a panel to discuss the movie with
faculty members after the movie wraps up. USPIRG is teamed up with AFFIL, the Americans for Fairness in Lending
coalition, to show the award winning documentary Maxed Out on campus. Visit the Resources section to find
out more. |
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3. Host a photo shoot
on campus. Students love to pose for the
camera as you can see below. With a
digital camera, you can take photos of students with their cards. They can write their message to the credit card
company on a white board or on white paper bubbles. Put the photos in a booklet and send the
booklet to decision makers on campus, statewide and nationally.
Share the photos here on
the Recent Events and Photos page to help us show how widespread the
problem is!
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| 4. Bring a lawmaker to campus. Members of US Congress and US
Senators are currently looking at five different pieces of legislation that
curb marketing practices and rein in unscrupulous tactics by the credit card
industry. Invite the Representative or Senator from your state to campus
to discuss the issue. To find the representative from your area, visit www.house.gov and input the campus zip code. To find the senators from your state, visit www.senate.gov and look up your state. Even state legislators are acting; legislation
has been introduced in CA and AZ to curb aggressive credit card marketing. Invite the state representative or state senator from your campus; to find
them, visit your state’s Secretary of State website. |
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