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Wahaha. I’m evil. I’ve been encouraging all my student friends to apply for the new Citi Clear Card so they will stop bugging me to help them pay their online gaming subscriptions with my credit card.
I really think this card is quite brilliant, being the first credit card in Singapore that doesn’t require a minimum income.
There are people who believe that students shouldn’t be given credit cards but I don’t see why not. I was given a supplementary credit card when I went overseas to study and I didn’t abuse the card, even though I didn’t have to worry about paying credit card bills (all paid for by my doting dad).
Students who are getting the Citi Clear Card on their own most probably have to pay their own bills, so wouldn’t that make them more wary of over-signing?
OMG can you imagine what this means to gamers?? You can now play any MMORPG you want to without having to beg your parents, aunties, uncles, working siblings or friends to let you use their credit card!
Let’s play Warhammer Online together when it launches, ok?
I am quite jealous. Why didn’t Citibank come up with this idea when I was a student? I would have felt so cool and trendy using the Citi Clear Card instead of my dad’s gold card, which is so… well, so not fitting a trendy youngster’s image lah.
Actually, I have been a loyal customer of the Citibank Clear Card since it was first launched in 2002. (This was the first Clear Card with a minimum income requirement of $30,000.) Yes, that’s my first and only self-acquired credit card and I’m still using it. I’ve been really pleased with it all these years because there are always promotional tie-ins and discounts at my favourite restaurants and retail stores.
About half a year ago, Citibank upgraded my Clear Card to a Clear Platinum Card. I didn’t know it then, but NOW I know it was to make way for the Citi Clear Card for tertiary students and working adults who don’t want to bother with having to prove their income.
So, whaddya know, now the Clear Card and all its cool benefits can be enjoyed by even students. Can you blame me for being jealous? I had to work for my Clear Card in the past!
If I were still a student, I would definitely get one. It’s really quite tough to get around without a credit card these days. I mean, you need a credit card for just about anything: Book movie tickets online, play online games, buy stuff online because there are so many things you can’t get in Singapore (but don’t buy banned products or they’ll get confiscated by the gahmen, lol).
So, all you students, go apply for your own Citi Clear Card and stop bugging me to lend you my credit card. Hmm, then again, I don’t really mind doing that because I can earn rewards points off you. Haha.
Nah. Go earn your own rewards points. Just remember to be responsible with your spending and don’t spend more than you can afford to pay or your parents will disown you if they keep having to clear your debts for you. Haha.
If you’re gonna apply for the card, do it before Sep 30 to get a one-year fee waiver and a $100 Tivoli voucher. So cool lor.
Actually, I don’t know what Tivoli is. Gosh, I’m so out of touch and not cool anymore. *sob*
Click here to find out more and apply.
Have fun!
But have fun responsibly! (Must put advisory warning or else later kena bash for encouraging students to anyhow spend money.)
I want I want!
But then I can’t even spend my pocket money properly…
Got Credit Card sure GG-fied!
Just don’t abuse the power of the credit card… I know a lot of people who suffered because of the inappropriate use of it… it is eeeeviiillll… :D
good evening jiejie … :)
I am against the idea of a credit card for minors as the risk of putting them in debt is very high and especially when they do not have an independent source of income.
The limited may be $500 but if minors who don’t understand the mechanism of this lending facility and be tempted into rolling over to the next month by merely settling this month’s minimum payment. The total amount at the end of the day (assuming the norm of 2% per month aka 24% per annum), the amount may blow up in their face before they know it.
It may be one Citicard today but other banks would soon catch up on this trend and the next thing we know, the minor may end up having multiple cards which in turn translate to multiple times of the same 24% p.a. problem.
I think it is too much to ask of a minor to think maturely like an adult when many of us adults are still behaving like children.
Yes, I understand in this day and age where internet is very much part of our lives, internet transactions are getting more and more mainstream.
As an alternative, I would recommend a debit card instead like the Visa Electron where you can only spend what you have in your bank account.
Safer alternative.
hate to spoil the party but I do agree with JayWalk on this, I for one got hit by this before and was pretty much in debt for a while. Thank God I managed to wake up, clear my debts and start saving instead of spending…but that was really long ago.
The interest is really really really no joke, I can’t tell you how much it can accumulate and before you know it u dug yourself a huge hole. I sincerely hope that Citibank will be there to help those in money trouble (though I seriously doubt so). Sure it may be convenient but please please please use it wisely..the stuff you buy ain’t free..u still gotta pay for them ;)
On a lighter side, the first card I got was a Clear Card…yeah it looks real good (I mean..woah..its clear man) and during those days, you can walk right into some cinema ticketing areas without queuing and purchase your movie tickets…ahhh..good times good times… :)
Jason: I believe that its good to let them experience credit card first hand. Some people learn from mistakes, just like what you did.
And $500 can only land them into small problems. Its not very hard to pull them out if they land themselves into trouble. That is provided that they will land themselves into trouble. Credit card is like fire. You learn to control it, it will give you warmth and cook your food. If you cant control it, you will burn down the whole place.
It they can’t handle this $500 credit card, what makes us think that they can handle it when they are out working and got a $5000 credit limit card?
Actually I agree too. It’s one way to teach them responsibility. It’s not like parents can’t monitor their bills.
BTW, I linked you!
(:
(hint hint heh)
yh: What’s GG-fied? Well, I think it’s already a good sign that you know you have problems managing your allowance. I’m sure you can manage a credit card if you really want to.
btw, thanks for the link! I linked ya too! ;)
modchip: Yeah, I don’t really understand how people can get into debts so easily. Well, I think money is evil!
misha: Hello misha dear! Sorry my replies are so late! I’ve been so busy over the weekend!
JayWalk/Jason: Yeah, I know what you’re getting at. But students under 21 years old actually need parental consent before getting the card, so I think the parents would act as a safeguard against abuse of the credit card.
If I were a parent, I would allow my child to apply for it, but I would monitor his transactions and confiscate his card the moment he fails to setlte his debt promptly and tries to roll over credit.
I really do think it’s good practise for minors because getting into trouble with a $500 credit limit and supervised by parents is way better than getting into trouble with a $5000 credit limit as an adult.
Anyway, I don’t think 18 is too young. I think many 18 year olds these days are so much more financially independent, mature and savvy than I was when I was 18. :P
DK: Great analogy with the fire, heheh.
Bobo: Yup, that’s true.
Wah got Daddy’s card to use very good liao, still hiam. Heh.
18 years old…… Get a card to swipe for cigarettes, since it is getting to expensive to buy with cash. I think they should lower it to 16. Since 16 is the legal age to have sex, then a card will come in handy to book a room, instead of doing it at stairwells and parks.
Rachel: Haha. Never hiam wat. Just saying daddy’s card not as appropriate for youngsters as a purely youngsters card mah. :P
The Goonfather: Eh, you talking rubbish lah. From credit card can talk until doing illicit activities in stairwells. wtf.
This is a very cool program. I wonder if I can trade all my credit cards for this one. I’m keeping the black AMEX though. I love my black AMEX!!