Credit card debt increased 180 percent in 1 year

■ Cem YILDIRIM

Support Struggling citizens cling to their credit cards. Individual credit card spending increased 122 percent and card debt increased 180 percent in the past year. In September, the number of credit cards was 112.7 million, the number of debit cards (ATM) was 184.4 million, the number of prepaid cards was 84.5 million and the total monthly expenses made with these cards it reached 807.7 billion TL. Credit card debts increased to 991.9 billion lira at the end of 10 months. The card debt rate has doubled the average rate of 180 percent in poor and underdeveloped provinces. While the increase in the individual credit card borrowing rate in Hakkari was 230 percent, it increased to 238 percent in Şanlıurfa, 228 percent in Kilis and 243 percent in Diyarbakır.

200 PERCENT IN 14 PROVINCES

The 10-month increase in individual card debts nationwide exceeds 200 percent in 14 of 81 provinces, while in other provinces it ranges between 150 and 200 percent. The debt of 83 percent of individual credit card holders increased 2.5 times in 10 months.