Learning A Lesson -- Teens Who Accept Credit Cards May Find Themselves In Debt

I read your July 21 article about the way some credit card companies are giving away credit cards like they were candy. Aren't there enough problems with today's youth?

I am only 23 years old and recently I had to go to Consumer Credit Counseling to get help on all the bills that I have. My minimum payments added up to 75 percent of my income. If only I knew what lay before me when I signed on the dotted line. If only I knew what trouble I was getting myself into. I will be debt-free in two years.

Hopefully, I will have learned a good lesson from all of this. I would never recommend credit to anyone unless they had a steady job and knew exactly what can happen if they fall behind. I was very disturbed to read that two credit companies were giving high school students $500 in credit when they don't even have a decent-paying job yet. I had enough trouble when I had my first credit card at 18.

I thought I would have to only pay the minimum payment, which of course is true, but for eight years until all of the interest is paid off.

Who is going to make the payment for the teens who still work at minimum-wage jobs. Their parents?

What a good way to start your adult life, bankruptcy before graduation. David Kerchinsky

Seattle