MR

Ok, thought I'd vent while I'm still irritated. First time my emotional state has dipped down into the red this new year... haha!

Credit card company shipped me a replacement the other day, and I just got thru activating it. Went thru all the automated motions, then it transferred me to a live person (or more possibly, a cyborg). Once I was transferred, my connection went nuts and was very staticky... About every few words, the static would overwhelm the Indian voice on the other line. I jumped thru the additional hoops, and she congratulated me that I'd successfully activated the new card. Then she went into the expected long spiel about card features, etc., and my wife began shouting for me upstairs. Rather than simply come downstairs to find me, she just raises her voice louder and louder until she gets a response... haha!

So anyway, I'm dealing with Indians and static in one ear, and my wife yelling in the other. As I'm waiting for the lady to finish, I hear her say something about "you can cancel anytime", and instantly I'm on red alert... (little deja' vu here). I ask her, "Wait... you aren't signing me up for anything are you?", to which she tells me something about a free trial (probably some type of credit protector), and that it doesn't actually begin until I receive some materials in the mail. I had to deal with this exact same crap the last time I activated my card, so I knew what was coming. Basically, they hope you forget to cancel and then start gigging you a monthly fee. So I immediately and quite clearly decline the trial. She proceeds to push past my refusals and tell me that I don't understand, that I will be receiving a $15 check that is mine to keep with the trial... LOL. I'm getting annoyed at their tactics that are engineered to exploit weak-minded people without resolve, so after the 3rd "NO", I tell her, "Ok, since you will not listen to me, please transfer me to someone that can close my account." That does the trick every time!

Man, I tell ya what... these companies... There is a great audio clip around of a guy who had an unbelievably hard time closing his AOL account, and also a Niteline or 20/20 interview clip with that guy, including excerpts of his recording. Few things irritate me as much as companies with brute-force sales tactics, that will trick you into signing up for crap with a bunch of fast talk, and won't let you go when you try.

Rip Rokken wrote:Ok, thought I'd vent while I'm still irritated. First time my emotional state has dipped down into the red this new year... haha!

Credit card company shipped me a replacement the other day, and I just got thru activating it. Went thru all the automated motions, then it transferred me to a live person (or more possibly, a cyborg). Once I was transferred, my connection went nuts and was very staticky... About every few words, the static would overwhelm the Indian voice on the other line. I jumped thru the additional hoops, and she congratulated me that I'd successfully activated the new card. Then she went into the expected long spiel about card features, etc., and my wife began shouting for me upstairs. Rather than simply come downstairs to find me, she just raises her voice louder and louder until she gets a response... haha!

So anyway, I'm dealing with Indians and static in one ear, and my wife yelling in the other. As I'm waiting for the lady to finish, I hear her say something about "you can cancel anytime", and instantly I'm on red alert... (little deja' vu here). I ask her, "Wait... you aren't signing me up for anything are you?", to which she tells me something about a free trial (probably some type of credit protector), and that it doesn't actually begin until I receive some materials in the mail. I had to deal with this exact same crap the last time I activated my card, so I knew what was coming. Basically, they hope you forget to cancel and then start gigging you a monthly fee. So I immediately and quite clearly decline the trial. She proceeds to push past my refusals and tell me that I don't understand, that I will be receiving a $15 check that is mine to keep with the trial... LOL. I'm getting annoyed at their tactics that are engineered to exploit weak-minded people without resolve, so after the 3rd "NO", I tell her, "Ok, since you will not listen to me, please transfer me to someone that can close my account." That does the trick every time!

Man, I tell ya what... these companies... There is a great audio clip around of a guy who had an unbelievably hard time closing his AOL account, and also a Niteline or 20/20 interview clip with that guy, including excerpts of his recording. Few things irritate me as much as companies with brute-force sales tactics, that will trick you into signing up for crap with a bunch of fast talk, and won't let you go when you try.

See, that's why I don't have any Credit Cards....closest thing I have is a Credit/Debit card....which only works when I have enough $$ in my Checking Account.

The only reason I got it was to get Airline Tickets at those Kiosk things. Seriously.

Hell Nora, you can buy prepaid Visas at the Supermarket. No APR%. Just a 5 dollar fee once you pay for it.

First off, I never and I mean NEVER deal with someone on the phone who is out of this country. What they fail to tell you is that you can ask for and demand an agent in the USA and they must connect you with one. Why in hell would anyone give some bimbo/idiot in a foreign country the opportunity to look through your c/c records. These phone banks are notorious for hiring people with criminal records. I have 3 cards and when I need to call, I always ask the person who answers where they are from and 9 times out of ten, I always get tranferred.

Perrydise wrote:First off, I never and I mean NEVER deal with someone on the phone who is out of this country. What they fail to tell you is that you can ask for and demand an agent in the USA and they must connect you with one. Why in hell would anyone give some bimbo/idiot in a foreign country the opportunity to look through your c/c records. These phone banks are notorious for hiring people with criminal records. I have 3 cards and when I need to call, I always ask the person who answers where they are from and 9 times out of ten, I always get tranferred.

YOU RACIST! I was sitting here reading the thread, and my damn soup boiled over on the stove! I forgot I put it on.

Rip Rokken wrote:Man, I tell ya what... these companies... There is a great audio clip around of a guy who had an unbelievably hard time closing his AOL account, and also a Niteline or 20/20 interview clip with that guy, including excerpts of his recording. Few things irritate me as much as companies with brute-force sales tactics, that will trick you into signing up for crap with a bunch of fast talk, and won't let you go when you try.

Yep. I've seen the AOL Clip. Its hilarious but frightening at the same time.

G.I.Jim wrote:

Perrydise wrote:First off, I never and I mean NEVER deal with someone on the phone who is out of this country. What they fail to tell you is that you can ask for and demand an agent in the USA and they must connect you with one. Why in hell would anyone give some bimbo/idiot in a foreign country the opportunity to look through your c/c records. These phone banks are notorious for hiring people with criminal records. I have 3 cards and when I need to call, I always ask the person who answers where they are from and 9 times out of ten, I always get tranferred.

YOU RACIST! I was sitting here reading the thread, and my damn soup boiled over on the stove! I forgot I put it on.

Perrydise wrote:First off, I never and I mean NEVER deal with someone on the phone who is out of this country. What they fail to tell you is that you can ask for and demand an agent in the USA and they must connect you with one. Why in hell would anyone give some bimbo/idiot in a foreign country the opportunity to look through your c/c records. These phone banks are notorious for hiring people with criminal records. I have 3 cards and when I need to call, I always ask the person who answers where they are from and 9 times out of ten, I always get tranferred.

I concur with this completely, safety first.

TRAGChick wrote:See, that's why I don't have any Credit Cards....closest thing I have is a Credit/Debit card....which only works when I have enough $$ in my Checking Account.

I actually learned how to make mine work for me. Mine are cashback reward cards that I pay off every two weeks. I budget for 2 months in advance and keep the cash on hand, and use the cards to purchase most everything, keeping within budget. Then I take the cash and pay off the cards. I haven't paid a single cent in finance charge interest in over 5 years... haha! But, every few months, the CC companies send me a check for up to $150 just for using the cards. Bummer is that they've changed their cashback percentages since I first joined up, and those checks have been getting smaller. Interest rate on my cards really isn't an issue, as long as the balance is paid in full before the cycle date. My cards also allow for the creation of "virtual account numbers" good for single purchases -- perfect for online purchases, as the numbers are worthless if stolen. Man, I got all sorts of tricks up my sleeve... haha!

Debit cards are necessary for a lot of people (especially for ATM use), but I don't use mine for purchases except in places that don't accept credit cards. I'd just read an article in Reader's Digest yesterday about how debit cards are high on the hit list for ID thieves, and the story was about this woman whose debit card had been stolen and the thief kept dipping into even new accounts she would open after closing the others -- she couldn't shake her for like 6 months, but eventually she literally saw the woman and physically chased her for blocks until the cops arrived and arrested her. One thing they mentioned is that many banks don't offer the fraud protection that credit cards do, making debit cards especially hurtful if they are compromised.

Deano's idea of getting pre-paid Visas is great, though I've never tried that. I may do so, though. I'm getting especially wary of ID fraud, and am taking extra steps to prevent it.

Here's a tip that I took advantage of recently -- all those unsolicited credit offers you get bombarded with in the mail are a HIGH risk for ID theft. It is actually the main three credit reporting bureaus (Equifax, Trans Union and Experian) that sell this info off to the solicitors! There is an opt-out number you can call which works like the Do Not Call list -- one call lasts for 5 years, and ever since calling it, those offers have disappeared from my mailbox for both myself and my wife. The number to call is: 888-567-8688.

Rick wrote:

G.I.Jim wrote:

Perrydise wrote:First off, I never and I mean NEVER deal with someone on the phone who is out of this country. What they fail to tell you is that you can ask for and demand an agent in the USA and they must connect you with one. Why in hell would anyone give some bimbo/idiot in a foreign country the opportunity to look through your c/c records. These phone banks are notorious for hiring people with criminal records. I have 3 cards and when I need to call, I always ask the person who answers where they are from and 9 times out of ten, I always get tranferred.

YOU RACIST! I was sitting here reading the thread, and my damn soup boiled over on the stove! I forgot I put it on.

Do I get points for not being sexist? I mean i did list both bimbo's and idiots