Credit Card Dump

Ever call to cancell a credit card? If you have, you have probably gone thru the scare tactics that probably keep some people from cancelling.

In October I received a renewal credit card. I only have 2 credit cards to begin with, and that one is almost never used. I haven't even activated the renewal card yet so decided just to cancel it. I called and told the "advisor" that I wanted to cancel. "John" (the actual name he gave me - who knows if that is real) gave me all the reasons and benefits that I should keep my card. Hey, there is 0% interest for 6 months. There is a 3.9% fixed interest rate for life etc. etc.

He asked me why I wanted to cancel and I told him that I never use it. "That's not true, you used it only a couple of months ago," he excaimed. "No," I corrected him, "I used it last May for a $30 purchase and that was just to keep it active. I only ever use it once a year for some small purchase, just to keep it active."

"But you've had this card for, . . . Wow! 14 Years. Now I know most financial advisors say to cancel some credit cards, but even financial advisors will tell you to keep your old credit cards and cancel the new ones. That is because the old credit cards are a history of your credit. Now, you don't want to lose the history of your credit do you?"

"Look, John, I've owned a house for 18 years. If they can't figure out my credit from that, then they are too stupid to deserve my business."

"Oh, house payments don't really show your credit record," John said, then with an ominous voice he continued, "But, I've just cancelled your account. Now you've just lost 14 years of credit history, It's gone, poof just like that after the cancellation . . . . "

I didn't stick around to hear the rest of his spiel, I said "Thanks, Bye." and hung up. He was still talking when I hit the "Off" button. I'm sure if I had stuck around that he would have confided that he could probably get it back (and gee, "I'm not supposed to, but you are such a good customer") blah, blah, blah.

I wonder how many people fall for the truckload of crap he was trying to sell me. I wonder what John would have rebutted with if I had told him that was my youngest credit card (the other being 15 years old). I wonder what his commission would have been if I had decided not to cancel (not much, I'll bet, since they haven't made any money off of me).

Gosh, all kinds of questions I will never know the answer to.

Comments

[Wichi Dude]

You could be like me and call him back. Just to torque him off.

Ask Dudette, I LOVE to talk to the telemarketers. Keeps them away from innocent victims.

[Cop Car]

LMAO

[Bod]

nice one. cant stand these pushy people who like to use scare tactics for business.