James was upset that he couldn't get J.J art supplies for his birthday because his credit was denied.


How the hell was james in position to use credit when he had a low paying job?????????????????????????????????????????????????????-LOL

James was upset that he couldn't get J.J art supplies for his birthday because his credit was denied.


How the hell was james in position to use credit when he had a low paying job?????????????????????????????????????????????????????-LOL

The same way College students are able to get credit cards without having a job or a part time job making minimum wage. As long as your credit is in good standing, anyone can get credit from a store.

The same way College students are able to get credit cards without having a job or a part time job making minimum wage. As long as your credit is in good standing, anyone can get credit from a store.

Usually you are not approved for credit if you have NO job or a PIECE of job.

Usually you are not approved for credit if you have NO job or a PIECE of job.

Yes you are. That is the reason why credit card companies target College students. During my College orientation there where tables set up and Visa, Chase and Master Card, Bank of America and AMEX were recruiting people to open up accounts. It didn't matter if you had a piece of a job, as long as your credit was in good standing. It is like that today. You can have a Part time job waiting on tables, Selling shoes or working at McDonalds you can get a credit card. Your credit limit might be low but anyone with OK to Good credit can get a line of credit.

Why do you think a lot of young people have bad credit?

Yes you are. That is the reason why credit card companies target College students. During my College orientation there where tables set up and Visa, Chase and Master Card, Bank of America and AMEX were recruiting people to open up accounts. It didn't matter if you had a piece of a job, as long as your credit was in good standing. It is like that today. You can have a Part time job waiting on tables, Selling shoes or working at McDonalds you can get a credit card. Your credit limit might be low but anyone with OK to Good credit can get a line of credit.

Why do you think a lot of young people have bad credit?

But James wasn't in position to be offered anything

But James wasn't in position to be offered anything

Well, James had bad credit, so that was the reason why he couldn't get the store credit. They have had their phone disconnect and were late on the rent.

The question you should ask is....Why didn't they go down to the store and use Flordia's name and credit? Since I'm guessing all of the bills were in James name.

But James wasn't in position to be offered anything
It wasn't about what money he had or what jobs he had, it was about the fact he never ruined his credit. Everyone pretty much starts out with great credit. James ruined his when he said he missed two payments on something, can't remember what it was, but that was dumb of him to not know that once you miss a payment or two, that is the beginning of ruining your credit.

It wasn't about what money he had or what jobs he had, it was about the fact he never ruined his credit. Everyone pretty much starts out with great credit. James ruined his when he said he missed two payments on something, can't remember what it was, but that was dumb of him to not know that once you miss a payment or two, that is the beginning of ruining your credit.

My point is credit is given to someone based on their income and how would he get credit when he was barely trying to survive juggling 2 low paying jobs?

My point is credit is given to someone based on their income and how would he get credit when he was barely trying to survive juggling 2 low paying jobs?
Not always. This is why people who are in college and who DO NOT have jobs, tend to get credit cards because the credit card companies figure if you are getting school loans and such, you are likely to pay that back and that is the start of establishing credit.

What was it that James had missed two payments on?

The department store didn't know James' status as far as how he was struggling at home. All they needed to know what his income was. I don't think he sat there and told them his business and how he is feeding five people, struggling to pay rent on occasion, etc. He just probably showed them his check stubs and that was all the store would have cared about - his income, not what his bills were. He was wanting to buy art supplies, not a vehicle or a home.

Not always. This is why people who are in college and who DO NOT have jobs, tend to get credit cards because the credit card companies figure if you are getting school loans and such, you are likely to pay that back and that is the start of establishing credit.

What was it that James had missed two payments on?

The department store didn't know James' status as far as how he was struggling at home. All they needed to know what his income was. I don't think he sat there and told them his business and how he is feeding five people, struggling to pay rent on occasion, etc. He just probably showed them his check stubs and that was all the store would have cared about - his income, not what his bills were. He was wanting to buy art supplies, not a vehicle or a home.


No one who is living in the projects should be issued a credit card-lol he was in the projects in the first place because it was LOW INCOME housing so whoever gave him a credit card was desperate for business

No one who is living in the projects should be issued a credit card-lol he was in the projects in the first place because it was LOW INCOME housing so whoever gave him a credit card was desperate for business
But that is how many people who don't have the means to pay for things up front, pay for the things they want - credit. People who can't afford to pay for an item in full, can afford to do it in payments as long as they have the credit to do so. There are many people with good jobs who accrue huge balances and default on their credit cards so, I can't say all people in the projects are bad risks. There are bad risks everywhere.

Although in James' case, I will admit he was walking on thin ice as it seems he seemed to be getting laid off a lot. He was betting on money he couldn't be sure would be there when he needed it. I don't think the art supplies cost that much, but if he was being committed to 3 or 4 monthly payments, that is too far in advance for James to be relying on a job that he wasn't sure he would have.

But that is how many people who don't have the means to pay for things up front, pay for the things they want - credit. People who can't afford to pay for an item in full, can afford to do it in payments as long as they have the credit to do so. There are many people with good jobs who accrue huge balances and default on their credit cards so, I can't say all people in the projects are bad risks. There are bad risks everywhere.

Although in James' case, I will admit he was walking on thin ice as it seems he seemed to be getting laid off a lot. He was betting on money he couldn't be sure would be there when he needed it. I don't think the art supplies cost that much, but if he was being committed to 3 or 4 monthly payments, that is too far in advance for James to be relying on a job that he wasn't sure he would have.


Anyone living in low income housing is not eligible for a credit card so it wouldn't matter if they were a bad risk or not.

True, but anyone, even someone with the WORST credit rating, CAN get a DEBIT card.

True, but anyone, even someone with the WORST credit rating, CAN get a DEBIT card.
You upload YOUR OWN money on a debit card. James never had any money! :lol:

You upload YOUR OWN money on a debit card. James never had any money! :lol:


Thank you, it would have been no point for him to get a debit card LOL

There were no debit cards in the 70's.

Anyone living in low income housing is not eligible for a credit card so it wouldn't matter if they were a bad risk or not
That is not true. Through my work, college kids, some of whom come from low-income housing, have credit cards. I know many of the parents from those low-income housing who have made many purchases with the use of a credit card. It's the only way they can afford to buy or pay for certain things.

There were no debit cards in the 70's.


That is not true. Through my work, college kids, some of whom come from low-income housing, have credit cards. I know many of the parents from those low-income housing who have made many purchases with the use of a credit card. It's the only way they can afford to buy or pay for certain things.


I can understand college kids because I received one in college, but I don't believe that a low income person on the poverty level would be issued a credit card

I can understand college kids because I received one in college, but I don't believe that a low income person on the poverty level would be issued a credit card

Just because a person has a low income that does not mean that they wouldn't be approved for a credit card. Credit card companies go by your credit rating or if you're employed. If you're credit is OK, if you have any form of credit and you do not owe everyone then you could be issued a credit card. If you're credit is messed up but you're employed and you have some sort of bank account, chances are you will get approved for a credit card. You are giving credit card companies way too much "credit."

Just because a person has a low income that does not mean that they wouldn't be approved for a credit card. Credit card companies go by your credit rating or if you're employed. If you're credit is OK, if you have any form of credit and you do not owe everyone then you could be issued a credit card. If you're credit is messed up but you're employed and you have some sort of bank account, chances are you will get approved for a credit card. You are giving credit card companies way too much "credit."


well I know i got rejected by American Express and already have a AMEX CARD which made no sense-lol

I was like..."I'm employed and have a AMEX card in good standing and I get rejected???

Well I think the credit cards you are talking about are STORE CREDIT CARDS. a person with a low income would be able to get one of those

well I know i got rejected by American Express and already have a AMEX CARD which made no sense-lol

I was like..."I'm employed and have a AMEX card in good standing and I get rejected???

Well I think the credit cards you are talking about are STORE CREDIT CARDS. a person with a low income would be able to get one of those

No, I'm not talking about store credit cards, who still has and use those?? Just about anyone can get an AMEX, Visa, Master Card, and Discover. You can get a card just by putting down a deposit, you might have a low credit limit but you'll get the credit card. Back in the 70’s their standard were probably a lot lower than what they are nowadays.

No, I'm not talking about store credit cards, who still has and use those?? Just about anyone can get an AMEX, Visa, Master Card, and Discover. You can get a card just by putting down a deposit, you might have a low credit limit but you'll get the credit card. Back in the 70’s their standard were probably a lot lower than what they are nowadays.

So someone like James with...."Inconsistently Low Income" would have gotten a credit card in the 70's??

So someone like James with...."Inconsistently Low Income" would have gotten a credit card in the 70's??

On that episode, James didn't try to get a credit card, he was trying to get store credit. But in today's world, if James credit was decent then yeah he probably could get a credit card. He was working two jobs, he had been at those jobs for a few years, he had a line of some sort of credit since he was paying rent and utilities. His credit limit might only be about $300-600.

So someone like James with...."Inconsistently Low Income" would have gotten a credit card in the 70's??
Only if his credit was good. But as mentioned above, James wanted store credit, NOT a credit card. That is two totally different things. Back in those days some stores had their own credit cards, such as Sears, where your credit was only good in their store, not anywhere else. They also didn't do much of a background check either as far as calling your job to verify you are an employee. If James had to prove income, most likely it was a couple of checkstubs, but if I recall correctly, back then all one had to do was fill out an application, write down your income and if your credit was good, then you received a credit card from the store. I seem to think if there was nothing negative on your credit, then your credit was good in their eyes.

It was probably only a low amount and could have been at an extremely high interest rate. Even after bankruptcy you can get a credit card.

It was probably only a low amount and could have been at an extremely high interest rate. Even after bankruptcy you can get a credit card.


James had problems paying the Bills he had so he definitely didn't need any credit-lol


BTW: Welcome to the Boards. Hope to see more of you

James had problems paying the Bills he had so he definitely didn't need any credit-lol
Most definitely a reason why James should have saved that $35 instead of splurging it.

Remember during the Black Jesus episode, James splurged there too when he won that money. I get it is nice to splurge, but save some money too.