Credit Companies Discouraged From Targeting BU Students

Despite Boston University’s attempts to keep credit card companies from soliciting students on campus, students still run into credit card vendors.

Several years ago, University President Jon Westling barred solicitors from the BU campus. The administration also asked the school’s bookstore to remove flyers advertising credit cards that were formerly put in bookstore bags.

According to BU spokesman Colin Riley, most schools in the Boston area do not allow solicitors on campus.

“It’s a lot of responsibility for students when they go to college, living by themselves, managing their budget and doing homework. They don’t need the further complication of something that makes them think they have money they don’t,” Riley said.

“I think credit card soliciting is bad for people our age that aren’t … responsible,” said College of Communication freshman Ariel Palin.

The administration’s decision to ban credit card company representatives on campus does not extend to bank representatives, Riley said. With the approval of administrators, certain banks are allowed to set up tables on campus.

“Banks are a benefit to students because they may need financial services. [Soliciting credit cards] is not their primary purpose,” Riley said.

Although BU does not allow credit card solicitors on campus, the sidewalks that run through campus are public property, and the BU administration has little control over people soliciting on the sidewalk.

Sometimes credit card vendors set up tables on the sidewalk and use free T-shirts or CDs to entice students into signing up for a credit card, Riley said. In these situations, the Boston police could be notified to ask the solicitors not to block the sidewalk.

Because it is impossible to prevent students from being solicited by credit card vendors, Riley said staying in touch with parents is one way a student can protect himself.

“We tell parents of the students to keep in touch with your son or daughter and find out what they have,” Riley said.

As administrators cannot always stop the solicitors, some students have taken on the role of warning other students about the responsibilities of credit cards.

The PEN players, a small group of students who use humorous skits to educate incoming BU students at summer orientation, perform one skit in which representatives of a credit card company and bank attempt to convince a student to sign up. The purpose of the skit is to make the incoming students aware of the financial responsibilities that come with owning a credit card.

COM sophomore Carly Norton said she regrets her decision to sign up for a credit card on campus.

“All my friends did it, so I did it too,” Norton said. “I threw it away when I got it, but they still call me and send me emails.”

College of General Studies freshman Lily Sweikert said she was skeptical of the credit card vendors.

“I heard that interest rates were really high, and if you charge $1,000 it takes 10 years to pay it off,” Sweikert said.

Alexis Schmiedigen, a sophomore in the College of Arts and Sciences, agreed.

“I just don’t think that that is the way to go about getting a credit card,” Schmiedigen said. “If you want one, you shouldn’t get it off the street.”