“Credit Cards” Archive
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Well, I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t come up with the other $1,000 we were short for my husband’s tuition. I made a joke to my husband about selling his tools – he didn’t think that was funny and quickly hid the most expensive ones just in case.
I also joked that my husband should perhaps skip this semester…
Considering this is his last semester before graduation, he thought that was even less funny.
We tried to negotiate with the school in person again. Turns out, the staff is just as unfriendly face to face as they are over the phone.
So…I was forced to make the call I was dreading. I had to *gulp* call Bank of America and ask for money. Even though the card was thoroughly shredded, I had not yet permanently closed the account.
I did stumble when they asked, ‘Has the card been lost or stolen?’
‘Um. Scissored?’ I answered.
They were more than happy to Fed-Ex me a new set of cards…
with a higher credit line and a zero percent interest rate.
Apparently we’re both a little desperate.
My co-worker lost her sister suddenly to an unknown health condition. Understandably shaken from the unexpected loss, she took a few days off work. During that time, she tried her best to notify her sister’s creditors of her death.
She came back to work this week and I stopped at her desk to see how she was doing and ask if she needed anything. She talked to me for a little bit and when she finished, I started to walk away. She caught my arm and said, ‘I have another reason for you to hate credit cards.’
Hmm. I may be a little too vocal about my hatred for credit cards. I’m starting to get a reputation.
She told me she had called one of the credit card companies to inform them about her sister’s death and the jerk on the phone said, ‘Are you planning to pay your sister’s remaining balance?’
‘N-n-n-o’ she stuttered, shocked.
‘Someone needs to pay this debt. Can you or your parents make payments? Does she have any other siblings who can pay this debt? Are you willing to sign on this account?’ he demanded.
She couldn’t even answer. She was crying so she hung up and has not called back.
What kind of SLEEZE demands payment from the sibling of a person who recently passed away?!?!?
Leave it to credit card companies to take advantage of the emotional roller coaster of death to force payment.
What is your worst credit card company story?
Until we built up our full 3 – 6 month emergency fund, my husband and I made the silly decision to keep our credit card open. We don’t carry it with us, and we keep it hidden at home to prevent us from using it.
We haven’t used it…
But that didn’t stop the continuing Bank of America mess.
I received a letter in the mail today and according to ‘Bank of America Global Fraud Prevention’, my account information was leaked – by Bank of America.
Rather than say, “Oops, we goofed…again. Sorry”, they said my account “may have been compromised at an undisclosed third-party location”.
They spent the next two pages telling me about the steps that were taken to ‘protect my security’. Meanwhile, all I could think was, “If you people didn’t lose my information in the first place… I’d feel A LOT more secure.”
So, I’m slicing the parachute. Goodbye emergency B of A credit card. I’m sure I’ll figure out a way to survive without you.
OK, OK, I really need to stop beating this dead horse, but in case you needed another reason to not use credit monitoring agencies, here’s another:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/08/your-money/credit-scores/08credit.html
Not only has freecreditreport.com had to pay two hefty legal settlements over the last five years, they are now dancing around new FTC regulations.
The FTC wrote new rules for companies that offered ‘free credit reports’. Websites are required to include a prominent notice across the top of the screen that directs consumers to annualcreditreport.com for truly free credit reports.
Not surprisingly, FreeCreditReport.com decided to start charging $1 for the report to avoid the requirement to put the disclaimer across the top and explained the new charge by saying, ‘due to federally imposed restrictions, it is no longer feasible for us to provide you with a free Experian credit report.’
Really?
Dear FreeCreditReport.com,
How stupid do you think we are?
I was excited to hear about the Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009. I thought it would finally give people trying to reduce debt, a real chance at making headway.
Silly optimistic me.
NBC reports new ways credit card companies can sneakily get around the rules and find ways to make paying off debt more difficult.
It’s up to us to keep up with the game.
Read the article here: http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/business/ConsumerMan__Have_a_credit_card__Read_this-85107382.html
Every four months, I check my credit report from one of the three credit reporting agencies. Consumers are entitled to one free report from each agency per year – and I’m not one to let ‘free’ go to waste.
This month: Experian
I discovered the credit reporting agencies are getting a little sneaky. It’s becoming increasingly difficult to navigate these sites to find the free reports. Be careful where you click!
I like to spend a little time on the last day of each year and reflect on what I’ve learned.
1. When you pay off credit cards and car loans, banks turn into the very worst version of your mother. They write sappy love notes telling you how much you are missed and wouldn’t it be nice if you’d care to spend the holidays with them?
2. It’s never too early to start teaching children about the perils of debt – but constantly singing ‘If you’re happy and debt free clap your hands’ to your six month old nephew may annoy his mother.
3. It was somehow possible to lower my already sub-par vacationing standards. I went from ‘Motel 4 type establishments’ to ‘tents with 25 cent showers’ – and it wasn’t bad!
4. Marrying my best friend and celebrating five years of wedded bliss was the best decision I ever made – well…other than the decision to wear clean underwear in case of an emergency.
5. Blog readers are awesome, supportive, and helpful. Thanks for helping me grow.
6. I’ve had more than my fair share of laughter and joy. Regardless of the numbers on my bank statement, the interest rate of my mortgage, or drama of life, my family and friends are unchanging. I am a very lucky girl.
Please be safe tonight. Save money, stay home.
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About This Site
My Debt
- Original Debt: $97,293.06
- Paid: $1,927.89
- Remaining: $95,365.17
- Emergency Fund: $1100
- Broken Down
- Line of Credit 2: $0.00
- Line of Credit 1: $0.00
- Credit Card 1: $0.00
- Credit Card 2: $245.00
- Credit Card 3: $405.00
- Credit Card 6: $1,785.00
- Credit Card 7: $2,381.17
- Consolidation Loan: $11,000.00
- Credit Card 10: $14,519.00
- Auto Loan 1: $16,093.00
- Credit Card 11: $23,873.00
- Auto Loan 2: $25,064.00
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