Credit card reforms could help statements
Deborah Bosley dug into her credit card disclosure statement to find the section on average daily loan balances. It took a few minutes for the English professor to locate the section, buried among lines of complex fine print.
What she found was a 102-word paragraph laboriously describing how the amount was calculated. Bosley, a plain language expert, translated the text into common English, and carved nearly 30 words out of the passage. "The language is so convoluted in these documents,” said Bosley, a professor at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. "They don’t have to write it that way.” Reforms enacted last week require that credit card disclosures must be written in plain language. The new law is aimed at helping consumers perplexed by the highly technical disclosures that come with credit card accounts. But, Bosley said, plain language also could boost the fortunes of the companies that now are required to employ it. Evidence indicates that plain language efforts "can increase assets and profits for a business, and increases customers,” she said.
Related Topics:
Culture and Lifestyle, Language and Linguistics, Domestic Policy, Political Policy, Politics, Government and Politics, Consumer Credit Policy and Regulation
Woman is 51 But Looks 25
Mom reveals simple wrinkle secret that has angered doctors...
ConsumerLifestyles.org
Mom reveals simple wrinkle secret that has angered doctors...
ConsumerLifestyles.org
53yr Old Mom, Looks 25
53yr Old Mom publishes 1 simple wrinkle trick that has angered doctors.
www.ConsumerLifestyleMag.com
53yr Old Mom publishes 1 simple wrinkle trick that has angered doctors.
www.ConsumerLifestyleMag.com
Prev
If you prefer your thoughts to appear in The Oklahoman, we encourage you to submit a letter to the editor.
Would you like to leave a comment?
Log in or sign up (it's free).