Credit Cards

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Today I talked with my Skype teacher about credit cards and would like to write about it.

The most surprising thing here about credit cards is we can spill the bill very easily just by giving each credit card.  Actually, it was several months after I got here that I notice the fact.  In Japan, restaurants accepts only one credit card, so if you go there with friends and wants to pay by credit card, someone pay all the bill by his/her card and others pay him/her to spill the bill.  This is burdensome for everyone, as you see.  So I definitely think this US custom should be allowed in Japan too.

Some rewards makes credit card more popular in Japan, unlike US.  In Japan, credit card is far more popular than debit card.  This is mainly because of historical reason, but one of the reason currently valid for popularity of credit card is some rewards, like discount, free service or millage.  Actually, I can upgrade our seats to Japan by using airline company's millage which I got from shopping by the credit card before.  On the other hand, I rather see many native US students have and use their own debit cards, but seldom see credit card.

Although credit card is widespread in Japan, some elderly people do not like it because they feel like they borrow money when use it.  Actually they are right.  Card users has to pay for the monthly billing statement one month after their shopping.  Though it is reasonable to use credit card rather than paying in cash because we can get value of one month earlier for free from economical point of view, that is not true in most cases.  We spent more when using credit card on what we would not buy if we only pay in cash, which is not necessary must item or service.