In message , at 11:01:57 on Mon, 5 Mar 2012,
Stephen Sprunk remarked:
A lot of credit card holders use them in effect as charge cards, as a
substitute for the "monthly credit" that the middle classes used to get
from tradesmen.

I've never heard of "monthly credit"

It's the classic way tradesmen dealt with householders. Supplying them
goods with a single bill at the end of the month.

In commerce it's even more common, with a chain of such agreements
between manufacturer, wholesaler and retailer.

--
Roland Perry