Bank Qualifies Crippled Beggar for Credit Card
The BBC is running a remarkable story about a beggar from Calcutta who is crippled with Polio and who has spent the majority of her life begging. Laxmi Das, 60 years old, started begging on the streets of India when she was 16.
Unlike many beggars, Ms. Das was wise enough to save most of what she obtained. Recently she took her years worth of savings, roughly 200 pounds of coins, to the bank and opened an account. I think this a great story but what really caught my attention was the fact that the bank said she now qualifies for a credit card. Are you kidding me? Hello! She is a beggar; she has no job. I know banks have to make money too, but this is a bit ridiculous.
Having said that, however, this woman does seem smarter than most of us, having proven that she can actually save instead of spending money frivolously.
July 16th, 2008 at 2:27 pm
Wow! What a story. I think we will see more and more people putting money away in the years to come. This economic downturn has awakend everyone.
July 17th, 2008 at 9:51 am
That’s unbelievable! Really makes you wonder what the banks are thinking!
July 21st, 2008 at 6:22 am
great story very inspiring, sure she is wise enough to put up an account…
August 11th, 2008 at 12:49 pm
Sounds like this lady has more common sence than the bank she deposited her money in. I wish her well.
August 13th, 2008 at 9:39 am
I do not see why someone has to have a job to gain credit. If they have assets and an income then they deserve to have the opportunity to obtain credit just as anyone else. What bothers me here is that the lady was able to pan handle for enough money to save.
August 28th, 2008 at 6:02 pm
These days, the banks will do just about anything to put you into debt.
Nice post. Thanks for sharing.
September 4th, 2008 at 4:46 am
woow , what a story man, it is a very interesting.
September 12th, 2008 at 7:44 pm
Very nice story. A few years ago she could have got a home loan.
September 12th, 2008 at 7:46 pm
i have no problem giving a little money to beggers. I am blessed that I am not in their position. GOD bless her.
September 14th, 2008 at 9:40 am
I don’t fault the banks for trying to hand out credit cards to anyone that they can, but I just wonder how they plan to collect on the debt if this woman were to default on her loan. She has no home mailing address or any other way to be contacted, so it just doesn’t seem like a smart business decision to me. Who ends up paying if she runs up a credit card bill and doesn’t pay it? To me, it seems that the rest of the bank’s cardholders will end up being the ones to pay in the form of higher interest rates.
September 18th, 2008 at 7:30 am
Yes if buyers would just save some money and put some money down we would be way better off. We get alot of buyer with no money and they cant save. Of course the higher cost of living is hurting the savings a little.
September 25th, 2008 at 3:32 am
Its a great human story but not so good for the bank.
October 25th, 2008 at 11:53 am
I admire the beggar in this story. Many people who are well-off could not bring themselves to save. Well, most of the time it is because of choice.
I wonder what would happen if she really got a credit card. She’s 60 years old, and a beggar at that.
October 30th, 2008 at 8:17 am
I recieve credit cards for my dogs consistantly. You see i use the dogs names when I fill out something I think is going to spam me or junk mail me. I even had one offer me a $10,000 dollars credit limit. Do you think they could put my dog in debters prison? JK
October 30th, 2008 at 10:29 am
@Cedar City real estate: That’s pretty funny. Not too long ago, I bet you could have bought a house in your dog’s name.
October 30th, 2008 at 6:02 pm
@Cedar,
Hahahah..that’s so clever of you to do away with spammers! Now, I am thinking of doing it myself. Probably I can get one for my cat.
November 4th, 2008 at 8:44 am
Thats so good. My 14 year old is often being offered goods and services over the phone. A bank asked if they could speak to him about a credit card and when I laughed they asked me if my Dad was there.
November 22nd, 2008 at 12:10 pm
That was pretty funny Cedar, I do the same thing. But i use people names that i dont like.