MAJORING IN CREDIT CARD DEBT, part 2 of 4

CONFESSIONS OF A CREDIT-CARD PUSHER

One student's story of how he was recruited to peddle credit cards on campus and the troubles he found for himself.


It all started as a way to make some quick cash. In 2002, at the beginning of his freshman year at the University of Pittsburgh, Ryan Rhoades needed some extra spending money. So when his friend told him about an Internet ad offering Pitt students a way to make some cash in a couple of hours, he didn't hesitate. Rhoades rounded up some of his buddies and headed over to the designated classroom at the student union.

What he saw in that room offers a view of how creative credit-card companies have become in marketing their services to college students.