What is consumer credit?

To put it simply, consumer credit is a system that allows consumers to borrow money or take on personal debt to finance transactions, like the purchase of goods and services. The consumer can then defer repayment of that debt over time with interest. 

This is a vital aspect of the U.S. economy. 

After all, the more financial flexibility a consumer has, the more they can stimulate the economy by making purchases. When consumers make more purchases, it raises the GDP (Gross domestic product, or the total market value of all goods and services produced). Companies increase supply in anticipation of more demand, which further boosts the GDP. Finally, banks respond by lending more money, and the cycle of growth continues. 

If you have a good credit score, meaning that you have a history of repaying your debts in full and on time, you’ll be able to borrow money more easily. If you have bad credit, you’ll find it much harder to borrow money or get approved for things like loans and credit cards. 

It seems pretty simple, right?

However, what you may not realize is that consumer credit breaks down into two broad categories: installment, or closed-end credit, and revolving, or open-end credit.

What is installment (closed-end) credit?

With this type of credit, the lender issues the borrower a fixed amount to use for a defined purpose over a set period of time. Put another way, installment or closed-end credit allows consumers to purchase things in multiple payments. 

An agreement or contract specifies the amount of money, the interest rate, and the total amount of time it will take to pay off the debt. Payments are usually made in installments of equal amounts, often at monthly intervals, and the purchased item itself serves as collateral should the borrower default. 

What is revolving (open-end) credit?

On the other hand, revolving credit is a line of credit that remains open-ended, or continuous, up to a certain dollar amount. This type of credit enables consumers to access a set amount of money from a lender as often as needed. As long as the borrower makes minimum partial payments each month, the line remains open and available for any purchase less than the limit or available funds. 

Credit cards fall under this category of consumer credit. 

What are the advantages and disadvantages of consumer credit?

Both categories of consumer credit offer advantages and disadvantages. 

For example, installment credit is useful for expensive items, such as furniture, cars, or appliances. The ability to “buy now and pay later” has become increasingly popular in recent decades. However, installment credit is not without risk. Depending on the lender, a missed payment could incur deferred interest or other hidden penalties. Additionally, it can lead to overspending, especially in younger consumers.  

Meanwhile, revolving credit gives the consumer more freedom to spend and repay the money, unlike a loan for a specific purchase or an installment plan with regular payments. 

However, interest rates for revolving lines tend to be higher, as there is no collateral to secure the credit. As a result, this type of credit is challenging to pay off in full. Instead of paying the balance off entirely, making the minimum monthly payments is usually not enough to prevent interest from accumulating and the borrower’s debt from rising nevertheless. 

Generally speaking, consumer credit can be very advantageous when managed responsibly. 

In the event of an emergency, for example, it can help defray a heavy financial lift. Furthermore, credit cards are much safer to carry than large sums of cash, and the United States has been moving even faster towards being a cashless society since the pandemic. 

On the other hand, don’t forget that banks, lenders, and financial organizations make most of their money from interest and fees. As such, they will never hesitate to raise your interest rate if you make a single late payment. If you cannot pay off your balance in full each month, a line of revolving credit can quickly become overwhelming. 

If you do find yourself overwhelmed, you are not alone and there are consumer credit counseling organizations that can help. 

Reputable credit counseling organizations advise on managing money and debts, help develop a budget, and usually offer free educational materials and workshops. Certified counselors have trained in consumer credit, money and debt management, and budgeting and will discuss the person’s entire financial situation to help develop a personalized plan. 

How can I find the right consumer credit counseling near me?

There are many ways to get credit counseling, and most credit counselors can provide their services through local offices, the internet, or the telephone. Schools, military bases, credit unions, and other organizations can also offer you advice and referrals.

Be careful of any service that wants to charge you before they’ve even looked at your situation. 

A reputable credit counseling agency will provide information about their services for free without requiring any personal details. Check out the state Attorney General, local consumer protection agency, and Better Business Bureau to see if the company has any complaints against it.

It would be best to avoid any credit counseling organizations that push a debt management plan (DMP) as the only option before analyzing the individual’s financial situation. 

A DMP is a savings strategy that requires you to put money into an account each month with the credit counseling organization, which uses the funds to pay off unsecured debts according to a planned payment schedule. However, this can be a risky move if you are working with a disreputable organization. 

Additionally, you should be very cautious when dealing with debt negotiation companies. 

Debt negotiation is not the same thing as credit counseling or a DMP. It can be risky and harm your credit report. In fact, many states even have laws regulating debt negotiation companies. Remember, just because a company describes itself as a “nonprofit,” there’s no guarantee that the services offered are legitimate. 

Be careful of debt negotiation companies that:

  • Guarantee they can remove unsecured debt.
  • Promise that unsecured debts can be paid off with pennies on the dollar. 
  • Require substantial monthly service fees. 
  • Demand payment of a percentage of savings. 
  • Tell the individual to stop making payments or communicating with creditors. 
  • Require the individual to make monthly payments to them rather than the creditor. 
  • Claim that creditors never sue consumers for non-payment of unsecured debt. 
  • Promise that using their system will have no negative impact on the individual’s credit report. 
  • Claim that they can remove accurate negative information from the individual’s credit report.

In closing…

One way or another, there’s no avoiding consumer credit in the modern world. But by understanding it in more detail, examining the pros and cons of different categories of credit, and finding the right consumer credit counseling, you can feel confident that you are managing your credit responsibly and ensuring a secure financial future.

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