A survey for the homeless charity Shelter has revealed that in 2007, more than one million people in the UK have used a credit card to pay their mortgage.
It seems that young people, including first time buyers are so eager to remain on the property ladder that they have resorted to this drastic action. More that 7.5% of people aged 18-24 have admitted paying their mortgage with their credit card.
But if you think that’s bad, it gets even worse.
It has been reported that some mortgage lenders are actually advising their customers who have repayment problems to take this course of action.
Truly Shocking!
The interest rate on most credit cards is at least 50% higher than even the worst mortgage rates available in the sub-prime sector. And the repayment schedule for your credit card debt will be spread over a much shorter period of time.
So in effect you’re swapping long-term, low-cost debt for short-term, high-cost debt.
Even if you use a credit card that provides 0% interest on purchases, the debt will still have to be repaid at some point in the future.
Okay, it might buy you a little time when you don’t...