CCs are not popular in my part of Europe because they're effectively shark loans. you get smacked by the bank for withdrawing money (high interest rates), you get smacked by the bank for not withdrawing money (high fees that only go away if you withdraw). either you have the money and then you don't have to borrow from the bank (and pay through your nose), or you don't have the money and then using a CC is a short road to forfeiture.