If a law enforcement agency leaves an unlocked bicycle on the street, a car with the keys in it, a plasma TV on a porch or stoop and someone comes along and avails themselves of the easy gain, that is stealing and the perp goes to the slam if caught. At least on TV. It's not "entrapment", no one made them do it, people are expected to be honest no matter how easily items can be stolen.

However, if a bank dangles a credit card in front of someones face and that person grabs it and heads off to the mall, then society is supposed to feel sorry for the victim which is the person who now has several bicycles, several cars and a plasma TV or two and some bills.

I'm not sure I can follow that well. I have no sympathy for the banks when they change terms, interest rates, and that sort of thing. They have made what is at the option of the lendee a long-term loan, and the terms should be fixed at the time of the loan. The greedy bastards should not be able to change that.

But as to whether they deserve the principle and interest, somehow that seems obvious.

Arf