Credit-scores are a thing here too. It used to be called credit-rating and was essential for lending as you say. It's a good way for creditors to force people into credit spending and it works a treat considering the credit debt in this country.
On the Christmas spending...Yeah, people are taught that they are lesser people if they don't have Christmases that look a certain way, as dictated to by corporations and those that market services and products. It's pretty disgusting really. Still, people have the choice and I, for one, choose a other path...many do not.