Financial expert Dave Ramsey is unapologetic when it comes to the credit card industry. His message is consistent: credit card companies don't deserve your trust, and their advice is often designed to keep you in debt.

On an episode of “The Ramsey Show,” a 60-year-old nurse named Carla called in from Florida. She was making $138,000 a year, had no mortgage, and had just finished paying off six credit cards. When she mentioned that a card company told her closing an account would hurt her credit score, Ramsey pushed back hard.

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"Let me get this straight: a credit card company told you it's not a good idea to get rid of a credit card?" he asked. "Of course they did."

He told Carla the truth about credit scores: "There’s only one thing a credit score is good for: borrowing more money. Going into debt. Which is kind of the opposite of having money for retirement."

Ramsey put it bluntly: "We don’t take advice from credit card companies on anything. You are the cigarette of the financial world."

Ramsey praised Carla for her income and progress, encouraging her to ignore credit score warnings and continue her debt-free journey. "You are killing it with $138,000. Girl, I'm proud of you," he said. "Let's get these credit cards chopped up and get rid of this car payment."

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In an October appearance on “The Tucker Carlson Show,” host Tucker Carlson asked Ramsey, "What's wrong with having a credit card if you pay the balance every month?"

Ramsey didn't hold back: "Most people don't. That's the great lie." He continued, "Everybody talks about this theoretical discipline that they just freaking don't have."

According to Ramsey, 78% of people carry balances month to month. He compared it to mortgages, saying, "Just like 97% of the people don't pay a 30-year mortgage like a 15."

Ramsey, who hasn't owned a credit card in more than 30 years, said debit cards offer all the same convenience without the risk. "If you’re going to pay your credit card off every month and you’re really going to do that, then a debit card will work. It’s the exact same freaking thing."