Companies that want to make sure customers with shaky credit histories make their car payments on time have a new weapon: the starter-interrupt device. The device, attached to the car, flashes before a payment is due and keeps the vehicle from starting if a payment is missed. About 1 million of the devices are in use now, according to The Associated Press. RedEye asked Chicagoans downtown Monday afternoon if they thought it was a good idea for companies to restrict what people with bad credit ratings can do.
“Credit is key–you’ve got to have credit unless you’re a millionaire and you have cash. I pay a little bit at a time. I’m not working now, but I still send them a little something [every month] …”
TONY CLARK
[ 51, South Side ]“I think that if you have bad credit, it shows a lack of responsibility. Perhaps a device like this will instill some sense of responsibility. … I managed to put myself through college, and I’ve got good credit.”
AMY SUTHARD
[ 23, Old Town ]“It’s an incentive to keep [their credit] good. “
EDWARD STEED
[ 26, Dearborn Park ]
