Trying (unsuccessfully) to destroy a credit card
Alisande
5 years ago
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The cards are rolling in
Comments (75)Late but checkin' in. GO BUCKS Thank you all for the lovely, funny, glittery, eggy, puzzling, yummy, cards this year. I'm speechless. Once again I can't bear to throw any of them away so they'll go into my buffet (egg ON the buffet) with the last two years. Kids are still asking me why I hang a picture of a cat named Pisser on our tree. GO BUCKS I love and cherish each and every one of them. You guys that got the winter scene...my front yard when we were snowed in!! GO BUCKS Only cottagers could be this creative!!!! Love you all and Happy New Year. georgeanne GO BUCKS P.S. Diana...counting the days!...See MoreThe College Credit-Card Hustle
Comments (28)bethesdamadman-"Show me any instance in the entire country where a college or alumni organization sold students' DOBs & SSNs to credit card companies." You can find this 'instance' in the very first post, by the OP. Their link is titled "The College Credit-Card Hustle". "Universities and their alumni associations have discovered an unlikely and disturbing source of revenue: Increasingly, they are selling students' personal information to big credit-card companies eager for young customers. Bethesdamadman, you live in (near) Maryland, don't you? You didn't happen to catch this recent story, did you? Does this article 'qualify' (as a serious enough identity breach by a university), or do they have to have SOLD this information first? "UMD Releases Students' Social Security Numbers July 18, 2008 - College Park, Md. University of Maryland said Thursday they accidentally released the addresses and social security numbers of thousands of students. The University of Maryland's Department of Transportation Services sent all students, a total of more than 23,000, registered for classes a brochure with on-campus parking information. It was sent by U.S. Mail. One student said, "That's really irresponsible for the university to do that." The University discovered the labels on the mailing had the students' social security numbers on it as well. The brochure was sent using third class delivery and some students may still have not received the item. Isha Misra, one of the students put on alert for identity theft, said she originally never thought twice about it. "I was on vacation." The University said they apologized and deeply regretted the mistake. "We are initiating immediate action to ensure that this error does not recur. We strongly recommend that you take appropriate precautions to mask, black out or destroy this document after use," stated an e-mail, signed by DOTS Director David Allen. The mailings were sent out July 1, but the problem was not discovered until July 8. A website was set up in response to the mistake. The university is offering free credit reports to students for free. The problem happened when the labels were printed for the mailing. Staff members overlooked the numbers on the label, since the system can also print university identification numbers, as well as the SSN and addresses." Links that might be useful: www.wjla.com/news/stories/0708/536794.html www.transportation.umd.edu/parkingmailer/...See MoreMassive credit card debt!!
Comments (14)Lucy 2222, I'm glad that your credit card debts aren't at the usual high rates that they charge - usually 15 - 18%. That makes it much more difficult to get the amount still owing reduced, as so much of the regular payments must go to pay interest. If it's any consolation - store-issued cards are usually much more difficult to clear, as they usually charge 25 - 28%. I'm glad that you don't have any of them to cope with. If you can have the persistence to keep plugging away at the payments without getting the feeling of satisfaction that comes with getting one paid off fairly soon, I prefer paying the extra amount monthly, or at least most of it, on the HELOC, as it carries the highest interest rate. And if interest rates go up, it could be raised even higher. On a larger amount still owing. As credit card debt is unsecured, in case of serious problem, the credit card co. can hound you, but not take your house. As the people that carry the HELOC have secured debt, the loan being secured by a lien against your house, they could cause your house to be sold, if things go really bad with that one. That seems to me another reason to get rid of that one as soon as possible. Are the interest rates on the Visa debts fixed throughout the full term that the amount is owing? Sometimes they offer low rates, but that rate is for a limited period, e.g. a year or so, or even only a few months. After that, the interest rate becomes much higher. And usually if one doesn't make the full minimum payment, or the payment is a day late, etc., the rate goes to the usual higher rate immediately. I hope that you won't run yourself down into the dirt for getting into this problem. Lots of people have sort of wandered into a similar kind of a bind. It's really easy to get bogged down in debt - really easy: as you've found out. But while I ask that you not hate yourself for this mistake, I also ask that you be honest with yourself, and face the real issues and choices that you have made that are hurting you now. You have made a really good start, in recognizing the problem, and making a reasonable plan to get the problem fixed. A plan that is, according to your evaluation, do-able. As someone has suggested, I agree that it would be a good idea for you to get some information from the library to help you along the line of learning how debt works and how to manage it. It's really a situation where you gave yourself a pay cut - for, as you bought the goods that were more than you could afford on your current earnings, you set up a situation where you had to pay for it out of future income. Not only that, you had to pay rent on the money that you borrowed to buy goods before you had saved enough to buy them with your own money. That rent on the borrowed money is an expense to be paid in future , that you would not have had to pay had you been less impatient, could have waited until you could pay for the items out of your income at the time. After you get the loans paid off, please follow the suggestion offered above, of saving most of the $900. monthly to build an emergency fund to be available in case some unexpected but necessary expense crops up. When one has a such a cushion, it eases one's mind greatly. And can I offer a further suggestion? But that you go even one better ... get some materials that will help you learn how to manage your investments so that they produce better results for you than many obtain, plus reducing or deferring income tax, etc. In over 20 years as a personal financial advisor, I've told a number of people that learning how money works is an interesting hobby ... ... and it's a hobby **that pays well**!! Maybe you could retire early. Or retire a millionaire. Dream some great dreams ... but not of the castles in the air kind, but of ones that can be brought to pass, with increasing skill, effort, some self-control, and persistence. You can do it - and when you need some advice, or support, or to cry on someone's shoulder - come any time. We want to see you succeed in this noble enterprise that you've chosen. Good wishes for getting these debts whittled down. ole joyful...See MoreAnyone Get a New Credit Card Lately? Gripe!
Comments (9)I have had a Visa card, (from the bank where I have banked for about 50 years.) I decided to try the Discover card, and stopped using the Visa. Recently I received a new Visa card in the mail, along with info about a fraud protection that would cost $10 a month. I didn't sign up for it, but it showed on my next statement. I went to the bank (I prefer eyeball to eyeball rather than phone calls.) They insisted I MUST have requested it. Also the new card had to be activated by phone, which I did not do, but I found out they had done that for me!! I finally convinced them to remove the monthly charge. I decided I would never use the Visa card again, but I kept it. It came in handy when I went to buy a fifty # bag of sunflower seed, and they didn't take Discover. Haven't used it since and won't go back there to get my Bird seed. I have liked the way Discover card handles things. Then, I got a mailing from them about a Wallet Protection for $3.99 a month. I didn't request that, but there it was on my statement last month. I emailed them saying I didn't request and please remove it. I got a reply right away which said they would remove it as of that day, but would begin "an investigation" into the matter and would go back over my history, which could take 4 months. It was time to pay my bill so I deducted the charge and paid it in full like I always do . Saturday I got a letter in the mail from Discover saying the matter was resolved and the charge was removed. I guess the lesson is: ALWAYS check your statements carefully. and if there is an error, stand up and don't allow yourself to be taken advantage of. I thought it was humorous that the 4 month investigation was done in two weeks! Still using my Discover card. Sue...See More
biondanonima (Zone 7a Hudson Valley)
5 years agoAlisande
5 years ago
sjerin
5 years ago
socks
5 years agolast modified: 5 years agoAlisande
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marylmi
5 years agolast modified: 5 years agoAlisande
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albert_135 39.17°N 119.76°W 4695ft.
5 years agoAdella Bedella
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5 years agoAlisande
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