COMMON disasters can strike anyone any time, which is why experts say you should have at least one emergency credit card on hand, even if you rely on cash or a debit card for everyday purchases such as groceries, petrol and clothes.

But with the latest initiatives by the government in curbing the credit card debt in the Sultanate, many victims of the credit crunch have resorted to clear up their debts and hopeful to put an end in the use of credit cards to avoid being in the vicious debt cycle.

However, credit cards can be a superior purchasing tool than any other in most emergency situations, and despite all the expert advice about creating an emergency fund, yours could either be nonexistent or has already been used up.

This is why some Bruneians, those who have shared their experiences with The Brunei Times recently, have decided to keep one for that purpose.

Hj Khairul Hj Salleh, a primary teacher in a government school said that true emergency is defined as something affecting basic life needs such as health, shelter, food or getting home while travelling, and that the use of credit cards for the purpose of emergencies can be a practicable solution if managed wisely.

"The rule of thumb when deciding to have a credit card is that you should set a realistic credit limit, one that doesn't exceed your minimum wage, so that you are able to pay it off quickly and not end up in huge credit card debt, a common mistake made by most people," he said.

After years of successfully wiping out his credit card debts, he has decided to maintain just one mainly for emergency use.

"There will be a time when your car breaks down just a few days before your next salary, and the cost of repairs could get so high that you will be completely immobile if you don't get them fixed, disrupting your day to day duties. This is where credit cards can be put to good use," he said.

Youth Activist Ak Kamal Ghadafi Pg Hj Suhaimi shared his sentiments on the use of credit cards as a lifesaving tool for his travels.

A frequent traveler, he has stumbled into a number of incidents where the need for emergency credit arose while he was abroad.

"There has been a couple of incidents where my flights were delayed and I had to resort to checking in to a hotel for the night, and so I had to resort to my credit card ($200) because I was already low on cash," he said.

He also said that it can be difficult to book hotels without a credit card, as most hotels book reservations on them.

In another incident, he said, he was charged for excess baggage prior to his flight home from Dubai.

"It was a shock for me because this is something that we are not always prepared for.

"It's times like these where credit cards can really save your life," he said.

"Credit cards can be a lifesaver especially when you are away from home," said a government officer who only wished to be known as Emran.

Emran is among the few who strictly uses his credit card strictly for emergencies only, but most of his emergency situations occur outside the country, where access to extra cash can be almost impossible.

In his previous working trip in Jakarta with his colleague, an incident occurred where his colleague lost his smartphone in the city streets.

"At that point he needed a smartphone as the job demanded him to have one at his disposal, but because he did not have sufficient cash to invest on a new phone at such critical time, we resorted to utilize my credit card, in which he agreed to pay back when the overseas assignment was over," he said.

However, others such as Rozana Hj Halim, a restaurateur, disagree in the use of credit cards for emergency use, and said that there are alternatives that may outweigh the advantages of utilising them.

"If you can get by without a credit card, saving is still the best way to set aside funds for emergencies. It's hard work, but in return you are not tied up to any obligations, and have a better piece of mind," she said.

She also suggested the use of debit cards as a viable alternative to credit cards.

"While debit cards will depend on whether you have enough cash in your account, in actual fact, debit cards outweighs the advantage of credit cards as the more dispensable tool in disaster management," she said.

She said that most debit card facilities are integrated to the banks' respective ATM cards, and many banks provide Cash Deposit Machines (CDM) which provides 24 hour service for depositors.

"If you are away and in need of funds, you can call your family member or friends to help deposit cash into your account via their nearest CDM at any time of the day, and the card will be topped up instantly," she said.The Brunei Times