Credit card issuers like to get their cards in the hands of college students because they believe it creates a customer for life.

But parents with children in college need to be mindful of their children's use of credit cards, warns Howard Karger, author of "Shortchanged: Life and Debt in the Fringe Economy" (Berrett-Koehler).

"It's easy for college students, even responsible ones, to find themselves in a debt trap," said Mr. Karger, professor of social policy at the University of Houston. "High credit card debt is often hidden by shame, hopelessness and the fear of alienating parents."

If not caught early, "Credit card debt can establish a lifelong pattern of indebtedness that is almost impossible to escape," he warned.

So what should parents do?

Help children shop for credit cards when there's no time pressure -- perhaps before a child leaves for college, Mr. Karger suggests. "The first few weeks in college aren't conducive to reading fine print or making major financial decisions."

Avoid teaser rates. "They're more expensive in the long run than credit cards with higher rates, especially after the teaser expires," he noted. Keep in mind that teaser rates typically apply either to purchases or cash advances, but not both. So it's quite easy to make a misstep and accrue more interest than anticipated. Also, expect a teaser rate to revert to a higher interest rate if a payment is late. That could be on top of late fees. Over limit fees also can drive up debt.

Some cards may charge an annual fee, but with some searching, it's easy to find one with no annual fee, Mr. Karger said.

Students also need to determine whether they truly need a credit card. Although some say a credit card is necessary for emergencies, at least one survey has indicated that students frequently use them for nonemergencies.

What if your child already is in serious credit card debt?

A careful evaluation is in order, Mr. Karger said: "Is this a chronic debt resulting from a long-term pattern of overspending? Or, does the debt come from one or two financial mistakes made by an otherwise responsible student?"

If the problem is minor, Nellie Mae suggests:

Cutting recreational expenses.

Developing a budget and sticking with it.

Looking into credit counseling services.

Asking a card issuer for help with anything except the interest rate could hurt a student's credit score and/or trigger higher rates on any other credit cards or loans.

If your child decides to see a credit counselor, be sure to select the agency carefully. Major networks for credit counseling agencies are:

The National Foundation for Credit Counseling, Silver Spring, Md., at www.nfcc.org. Phone: 1-800-388-2227.

The Association of Independent Consumer Credit Counseling Agencies, Fairfax, Va., www.aiccca.org. Phone: 1-800-450-1794.

Be certain the credit counseling agency you select is properly licensed in your state and check for complaints filed against it with your state attorney general, the Better Business Bureau and www.ripoffreport.com. Also, consider obtaining a commitment in advance that there will be no notation of the first counseling session on the student's credit report. Such a notation could result in less favorable loan terms in the future.

Credit counseling agencies largely are funded by the largest credit card issuers and fees, including those built into debt management plans. So be certain to ask about any fees that might be charged as well as the qualifications of the counselor you consider visiting.