Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Klein, Lloyd, 1951- It's in the cards : consumer credit and the American experience Lloyd Klein. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 0-275-95757-8 (alk. paper) 1. Consumer credit -- Social aspects -- United States. 2. Consumer credit -- United States. 3. Credit cards -- United States. I. Title. HG3756.U54K59 1999 332.7'43 -- dc2l 97-9177 British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data is available. Copyright © 1999 by Lloyd Klein All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, by any process or technique, without the express written consent of the publisher. Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 97-9177 ISBN: 0-275-95757-8 First published in 1999 Praeger Publishers, 88 Post Road West, Westport, CT 06881 An imprint of Greenwood Publishing Group, Inc. www.praeger.com Printed in the United States of America ∞+⃝TM The paper used in this book complies with the Permanent Paper Standard issued by the National Information Standards Organization (Z39.48-1984). 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 -iv- |