>>From CNN
>>
>>Fees collected by credit card companies is a major business in the United States. How about $43 billion during the last year? Interesting how a penny here and a penny there add up to a significant amount.
>
>And the more they make this year the more they have to make next year, just to satisfy the stock market. Which means yet more fees!
>
>Gotta love that full-blown all-out every-corp-for-itself capitalist system.

If you do not have a cell phone, pager, FAX, HDTV, new car, credit cards, and a lifetime membership in 24 hour Fitness, you are not contributing to the economy! These are must have items!

About thirty years ago I stopped using my credit cards. I still made purchases but I paid cash. One day I received a letter from one of the stores which stated, "You are not using your credit card! You are hurting our company by not doing so. We are dependant upon the 22 1/2 percent interest rate required by credit card purchases".

I am truly sorry I am the one responsible for this store going out of business. :) The store was Montgomery (Monkey) Ward.

One question: If you have a cell phone you pay a specified amount each month. If you use more time than allowed by your plan (they change almost weekly for marketing purposes) you pay an additional amount for most plans.

My question is – how much income is derived by cell phone companies in user overcharges compared to annual contract fees?

Amazing how pennies add up! :)