WASHINGTON — A survey sponsored by collection industry lawyers has suggested that at least part of students heavy debt load arises from their bad credit habits.

According to the National Association of Retail Collection Attorneys, which sponsored the survey, more than a quarter of the self-selecting respondents thought it "reasonable to run up a debt that might take months or years to pay off to 'enjoy the moment.'"

"Our poll results show that too many young people are living for the moment and are not preparing for their financial future," said Robert Markoff, president of NARCA. "We conducted this poll to better understand college student views on debt. Having good credit probably has more impact on your life than having a minor criminal record. The type of impulsive behavior our data demonstrate can have significant and lasting effects on students' lives."