Credit card companies are now a major presence on college campuses, targeting students to sign up for credit cards and leaving them with growing amounts of debt. Credit companies are targeting students through mailings, phone calls and on-campus pitches, offering them free gifts for filling out an application. Some companies even affiliate themselves with school organizations to appear more legitimate to students. According to a study conducted by U.S. Public Interest Research Group, college students receive an average of five mailings and four phone calls each month, urging them to apply for credit cards. The result? About one-quarter ended up paying late fees, 15% paid over-limit fees and 6% had a card canceled because of delinquency. Student members of the Arizona Public Interest Research Group are doing something about it. The students recently held a press conference at the State Capitol urging their peers to educate themselves about credit. The students have also started a campaign on campus at Arizona State University called FEESA, a play on VISA. The campaigns slogan reads, “Free gifts now, huge debt later.” The students are working to generate support for House Bill 2518, currently under review, which will prohibit credit card marketers from offering gifts to students in exchange for credit applications.

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