Students in teacher Michael Holowka’s Accounting Class at Hilton High School received a warning from Chief Bankruptcy Judge for the Western District of New York, Judge John C. Ninfo II, about the dangers of credit cards in their class on Jan. 11. “It’s not free money,” Judge Ninfo warned the students. “There are hundreds of thousands of traps out there if you get into credit trouble. You can’t beat credit card companies at their own game. Armies of lawyers are there to take your money.”

Speaking from personal experience with thousands of people coming through bankruptcy court every year, Judge Ninfo founded an organization, C.A.R.E. [Credit Abuse Resistance Education], trained Monroe County Bar Association attorneys, and takes the message of credit card abuse on the road – to schools and other settings where young people are routinely inundated with offers to open up credit cards.

“Credit card companies don’t want you to think about the consequences of credit,” Judge Ninfo said. “Everyday we see people who have ruined their lives over credit card debt.” According to Judge Ninfo , bankruptcy of young adults, age 25 and younger, has increased 96% in the last 10 years. In addition, 4% to 10% of college students will drop out of college due to debt problems.

In an effort to help young people consider the consequences of credit, Judge Ninfo speaks about budgeting, the need for savings, the true cost of credit cards and finance charges, and recommends students visit C.A.R.E.’s web: http://www.careprogram.us/

“Pay your balance off every month,” he said. “Don’t go through life doing all the things others’ want you to do – buying things you really can’t afford. Pay cash. Say ‘no’ to living beyond your means. Don’t buy things you don’t need.”