[General] Credit - meaning in a text

[GoldLight]

I don't understand what "credit" could mean as written on a sign in a cafe. In our country I didn't see something like that. It is from BBC Learning English page.

...Go into a pub and there's a message from the manager: "Please do not ask for credit as refusal often offends"....

 

[SoothingDave]

Credit. As in "let me drink now and I'll pay you later."

 

[GoldLight]

This possibility I wouldn't thought that it could be the meaning.

 

[SoothingDave]

You are familiar with "credit cards," right?

Before they became common, as bank-based credit for general use, it was customary for different stores and such to offer their own credit to customers.

A department store or gasoline station would provide a charge card for their qualified customers. Balances were usually expected to be paid off every month.

Bars or pubs did not usually offer such a thing. Have money or get no drink/food.

 

[GoldLight]

Thank you for the explanation, SoothingDave.
I got the meaning.
It is the same here where I live. If I go in a restaurant, I have to have money. I wouldn't go there without money. A little confusing is the word "credit" for me, because when there began to be used "credit cards", I could used it only if I had some money in a bank that gave me this card. It wasn't possible to buy and to go in minus. Credit is for me a certain amount of money that I have, e.g. "charged" my internet or mobile phone credit.

 

[SoothingDave]

Technically, if you are paying in advance and any charges/spending subtract from your account, then that is a debit card.

A credit card is for a "minus" balance, as you say.

 

[Peedeebee]

Exactly so in BrE too.

 

[Tarheel]

Thank you for the explanation, SoothingDave.
I get the meaning.
It is the same here where I live. If I go to a restaurant, I have to have money. I wouldn't go there without money. A little confusing is the word "credit" for me, because when there began to be used "credit cards", I could used it only if I had some money in a bank that gave me this card. It wasn't possible to buy and to go in minus. Credit is for me a certain amount of money that I have, e.g. "charged" my internet or mobile phone credit.

Say:

When credit cards began to be used I could use one only if I had money in the back to cover the charge to my account.


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As SoothingDave pointed out, those are actually debit cards. With a credit card the bank loans you money that you have to pay back.

 

[GoldLight]

Thank you for correcting me, Tarheel. I supposed that this long sentence wasn't good. I still have a problem with word order.
As for "credit" and "debit", it is clear to me, and understand. I have had to "relearn" the meaning of "credit", because we called those first cards for ATM colloquially as "credit cards", as I mentioned it in my previous post.

 

[MikeNewYork]

Debit cards are a more recent invention.