From the grace period to hidden fees: Rospotrebnadzor explained to students the features of credit cards

      From the grace period to hidden fees: Rospotrebnadzor explained to students the features of credit cards. Specialists from the Elabuga territorial department of Rospotrebnadzor for the Republic of Tatarstan conducted a lecture for students of the Elabuga Medical College on the topic "Credit Card: Advantages and Disadvantages for Consumers." During the event, specialists thoroughly examined the main features of this financial instrument: they explained how the grace period works, how a credit card differs from a debit card, and what hidden fees cardholders might expect. Special attention was paid to risks — the lecturers talked about high interest rates for late payments, fees for cash withdrawals, and the danger of falling into a debt trap with irresponsible use of borrowed funds. Students learned about the advantages of credit cards: the ability to make purchases without having their own funds, the presence of cashback and bonus programs, and the positive impact on credit history with responsible use. Rospotrebnadzor representatives provided specific examples from practice, including cases of consumer rights violations by banks, and explained how to protect their interests in such situations. Additionally, listeners were given practical advice: how to read a contract before signing, which points to pay special attention to, how to control expenses, and not to exceed the budget. At the end of the lecture, participants were able to ask their questions — for example, about the procedure for disputing unauthorized charges or how to verify the accuracy of advertising for banking products. The event took place in an active dialogue format and proved useful for future specialists who need to possess financial literacy.