flashes from the past

[bobski]

there was a time when I had to put a cash deposit down on a rental car since I didn't have a credit card. do they still do that these days?
what was your first credit card?
mine was a sears card.
sears invented the discover card so I closed my sears account and applied for a discover in the early 80's. it was my first card, but not many places took them, so I piggy backed off dads American express business account as I traveled the world serving our nation.
how about you?

 

[Bob Wright]

The first plastic credit card I had was the old BankAmerica Card. Some places still display that old style card though now its a Visa.

Bob Wright

 

[Bob Wright]

And, later on, I got a Discover Card as well. I had a membership in the Allstate Motor Club, and could cash checks at Sears Courtesy Counters (remember those?) and just felt like a bigwig.

Until the bills came due.

Bob Wright

 

[bobski]

I think they called them bankamericards.

 

[Gator89]

Montgomery Ward card, Sears was next.

 

[bobski]

the courtesy counter is where I applied for a sears card, but I had buy something on time on layaway to establish credit. so I bought a vacumm cleaner...that lasted 30 years.

 

[bobski]

monkey wards.

 

[Jeepnik]

Right after we were married my wife, both 19, applied and received a card from JC Penny. I still remember it was called a "Young Modern" card. Penny knew that young folks were a fairly good bet for future customers. But the covered themselves with a fairly low amount you could charge per month.

 

[loaded round]

Mine was a Texaco gas credit card right out of college. My Dad had to co-sign for me.

 

[nrobe50]

Mine was a Sears card then an American Express in the early 70's. I have been using a gm card from the early 90's. Never had a late charge or an interest charge in all those years.

 

[protoolman]

I remember my dad had a Texaco gas card before any other credit cards. Next was American Express probably.

 

[blume357]

I think it was a Radio Shack card.... I bought a VCR with it.... would you believe I took that think apart three times over the years and fixed it?

 

[arfmel]

My first was a Sears card. They’d give one to just about anybody I guess. I was a college kid when I got one. I had a part time job on campus.

 

[Mobuck]

I didn't have a credit card until I got a job that required overnight lodging for training and such. Motels wouldn't take a personal check so I had to get a CC. Don't remember which I had initially. Now, I carry one for work expenses(gas/lodging/meals/misc), one for repair expenses, and one for personal purchases--makes bookkeeping easier.

 

[Dan in MI]

I applied at 35 for my first card. I needed one to travel. They said I was a "credit ghost." I told them You've been my bank since I was a kid you have my only loans on record. You know my account history.
"you didn't use enough credit. If you let us lock up x amount we can give you a card for x amount"
Screw that.
Luckily shortly after that was when rewards cards started and Ford was issuing one. I worked for Ford so it was a no brainer and no issue. So my first was a Ford Citicard

I had the same issue when I went to get a car loan. I told them there is enough in your bank to pay cash for it. Once again, let us lock up your money and you get the loan. At that point I learned how their rules work and abused their system for my gain. In the 25 years since, the credit industry has gained a whopping $34 interest. (dang lost mail... )

 

[Fox Mike]

My first wife had a couple cards, in my name, (don't remember what kind cuz I didn't know they existed) that I had to pay off after our divorce. My first card was a BankAmeriCard. Was at the Dover NASCAR race and needed something to carry all the junk I had (cushions, cooler, camera, etc.) they were offering shoulder tote bags if you signed up for a card. I signed up, got the bag, and got the Dale Earnhardt card. Still use it today though it is now a VISA and no longer has Dale's face on it. Up till then it was cash and carry for me.

 

[6GUNSONLY]

Sears and J.C. Penney. That Penney's card had "666" in the card number TWICE! Guess that tells you the origin of credit cards. Ha.

 

[Bob Wright]

We, my family ~ my Dad, my Mother, sister, and I ~ took a trip right after World War II. Dad sent off to Esso for a credit card and got a gas credit card, a map, and travel brochures. The map had our route highlighted in purple ink. This long before highlighters.

Bob Wright

 

[Pat-inCO]

Got my first credit card just after I hired on with a blue computer company. Had a
new job, new wife, and an ever expanding amount of debt. Divorce cured the
mountain of debt (after a year or so) and I've paid less than $40 interest since a
year after the divorce ('76). (like someone else in the thread, slow mail delivery)

I do one thing that drives them crazy. I NEVER pay the full amount. I ALWAYS pay
three to five dollars MORE than what I owe. That and having my house paid for
since 1992; any time I buy a car I pay cash; my credit rating is "above average". :wink:

There have been a LOT of times I wanted to deviate from that, but I managed to
resist temptation (NO I didn't break my arm patting myself on the back).
It just works (had many S L I M years, but it was worth it). 8)

P.S. If I had a house payment and a car payment, I would not survive.
Since I do NOT have either of those, I do fine.
(sorry about the bragging :wink: )

 

[Wyandot Jim]

While in the USAF at 17 I bought a Ruger Single Six at Sears on a revolving credit account before they had a card. After I got out I applied for a Sears Card in 1962 no luck since I wasn't 21. Go figure. They also wouldn't let me charge anything else on my charge account.
So my first card was a Shell Card in 1964. It was a long time before I applied for a Sears Card, my choice

 

[Blazenet]

My first card was with JC Penny. Bought a Remington 870 which I still have to this day.
Remember when JC Penny sold guns?

 

[bobski]

use to buy my ammo at jc penny's.

 

[Colonel Daddy]

My first plastic was a Pure Oil Credit Card. Guess I about told my age! 8)

 

[toysoldier]

Mobil, then Texaco, back when you had to go inside and give them your license plate number. I don't remember what my first non-gasoline card was.

 

[bobski]

remember those mechanical 3 copy imprinters they used at gas pumps?

 

[bogus bill]

1965 I got a sears cc. Soon I needed engine mounts and had them put in by the sears garage.
Time to pay they wouldn't honor the card. Said I had already used too much as a new customer on cloths.
I was a young hot head and didn't have the money to pay on me. They said they would keep my car. I shoved the
guy out of the way and drove off. I drove to my sisters house, cooled off and called the manager. At first tried to
BS me and said he happened to be waiting on a cop. I told him who do you think your BSing? Final word was they
would honor the card. (I hadn't even been billed for the cloths yet as I had just got the card a few days prior.

 

[bobski]

I had a firestone card for the longest time until they pulled fast one on me.
I liked the idea of 0 interest time payments in case I broke down nationwide.
then my card got stolen when I left my wallet on the hood and drove off.
I closed all the cards for safety and explained this to firestone. I asked to renew for a new card over the phone, but I couldn't remember my password. so I went into a shop and explained this and told them I wanted a new account, but wouldn't give me one as long as the old one was frozen. I identified myself in person to no avail.
so to this day, my firestone account is frozen and they don't get my business.

 

[wolfsong]

I have one credit card, the only one I've ever had. Visa. Never had or saw the need for any others.

 

[bogus bill]

Am I the only person to see it a little weird and suspicious that government entered the credit card business with giving credit cards for your stimulus? Maybe I read too much about "666" in the bible?

 

[bobski]

or how about smart phones, so they can track your habits.