新职业英语_2_通用版_Unit4.pptVIP

Notes-1 Notes-2 Text A-2 In the early 20th century, charge accounts became popular. With automobiles and airplanes, people now had the option to travel to a variety of stores for their shopping needs. In an effort to capture customer loyalty, many stores and gas stations began to offer charge accounts for their customers which could be accessed by a card. Unfortunately, people needed to carry dozens of these cards if they were to do a day of shopping. Text A-3 A credit card that could be used at multiple stores was not invented until 1950. It all started when Frank McNamara, head of the Hamilton Credit Corporation, and two of his friends went out to supper to discuss a problem customer in 1949. This particular customer had lent a number of his charge cards to his poor neighbors who needed items in an emergency. For this service, the man required his neighbors to pay him back the cost of the original purchase plus some extra money. But many of his neighbors were unable to pay him back and he was forced to borrow money from the Hamilton Credit Corporation. Text A-4 At the end of the meal, McNamara was shocked to discover that he had forgotten his wallet. To his embarrassment, he had to call his wife and have her bring him some money. Merging the two concepts from that dinner—the lending of charge cards and not having cash on hand to pay for the meal, McNamara came up with a new idea: a credit card that could be used at multiple locations. He discussed the idea with his two friends and they started a new company called the Diners Club in 1950. Text A-5 Instead of individual companies offering credit to their own customers, the Diners Club offered credit to individuals for many companies. The companies who accepted the Diners Club credit card were charged 7 percent for each transaction while the subscribers to the card were charged a $3 annual fee. In the beginning, progress was difficult. However, the concept of the card grew and