UNITED STATES—I’ll be the first to admit, I have not always been one to whip out my credit card every time I make a purchase. I kind of believe the philosophy of buying only what you can afford to prevent any unwanted debt sneaking up on you. But I do understand sometimes curveballs are delivered in life where you don’t have much of a choice and you have to do what you can do. So using the credit card is the only option.
Recently, Americans are becoming much more skeptical about pulling out that piece of plastic or that debit card with hackers continuing to find their ways into many retailers systems and obtaining people’s personal information. I will be the first to admit the entire security breach at Target last year during Black Friday freaked me out.
I was one of those individuals who shopped there, and I was worried that by chance my information may have been confiscated. In fact, I had to get a new credit card to ensure that it was safe. That didn’t bode well with my perception of my credit card company, which has resulted in my being much more cautious about where I use my credit and if I use it at all. The last thing any of us want happening is to examine our credit card bill and see a load of charges that should not be there in the first place. Unfortunately, it happens to so many people all the time.
I mean I can recall shopping at some retailers, I won’t name any names, where I just slide my card and I’m on my way. I never sign the back of my credit card because I prefer for the cashier to ask for my identification; I don’t want anyone just being able to use my card if there were to get their hands on it. That scares me a lot, when it’s just a slide and go mentality. I guess that could be a direct result of the American people. We live in this nation where we want everything so fast, so quick, in a hurry, we never think about the consequences of such actions. For example, the idea of the new iPhone 6 having the ability to just make a purchase with your phone and many retailers is crazy. I mean are people thinking about what could happen if someone steals your phone or gets a hold of it? Major trouble could be coming your way, and there is not much you can do to prevent it.
That whole idea of taking photos of a check with my phone and depositing into my account does not float with me at all. Sorry, but any check I get is being deposited into my bank account. I need to physically see the transaction take place, not guessing that because I took a picture and got a confirmation all is good to go. Not always the case people. And it’s just a nightmare waiting to happen to have all your bank information on your phone. I mean people drop and lose phones all the time, why even give yourself the opportunity of something of that magnitude happening.
I think this retail season will be an interesting one as more people are choosing to shop with cash to prevent such atrocities or incidents of question from happening. I’ve already made that decision myself, if I don’t have the cash, the item just won’t be purchased. It solves two problems: 1) I won’t accumulate unwanted debt 2) I don’t have to worry about my personal information or data leaking into the hands of the wrong people. Think of it this way America: it’s better to be safe than to be sorry!
By Trevor Roberts
