I love trying to find a way to shut credit card reps up. Often times it is similar to your method you described above. Nowadays, I just interrupt them on the first time, telling them that I don’t want to pay for any extra service.

I always feel like they’re going to get fired for not signing up enough customers. Then I realize that most people probably think it’s a great idea to pay $1.99/month for a service with more red tape than the DMV. Being a credit card rep has to be one of the worst jobs imaginable.

It’s pretty much standard that you’re going to get that spiel. Used to be, you called to activate your card, punched in a few things and were on with the rest of your day. In fact it was one of the few times that having an automated system handle everything was actually beneficial. Now, as soon as I enter in the information and hear the dreaded “transferring you to the next available agent” I just sigh because I know exactly what’s coming. And, yes, you have to say no at least twice. I keep my patience because I realize the people on the other end are probably not making very much money and probably hate having to do what they do anyways.

Oh dear…Please, please, pleeeeease be careful with the company that handles these accounts (it’s not VS directly)! I had a horrendous experience that necessitated the closing of my account. I’ve never been more discouraged with a credit card company before.

Long story short, they credited my payment to another account and didn’t send me a statement for almost 3 months, which of course showed all kinds of wild late fees, etc. The kicker was that I had opted in for e-statements but never received an email. Even better was that the statement came while I was out of the country so it sat around in a giant pile of mail for the weeks while I was gone. When I got home and called to sort things out, they claimed to have lost my email address in their system and berated me for not paying my bills?!

It took 1.5 weeks to get everything straightened out and I promptly closed the account after dealing with the 590th rude customer service rep that explained “when people don’t pay their bills, they incur late fees-this isn’t a charity, it’s a business” even after I confirmed that they’d received the fax from my bank clearly showing the money pulled out of my account 17 days before it was due!!

It’s sad because I did love that card for all of the little perks (they send you a free $10-20 gift card every year for your birthday).

Sorry for the rant; my blood boils a bit every time I think about this experience!

I think your last line is so important and hits the nail on the head: When we attach our self-worth to the stuff we own, debt is second nature. This really is the issue. I can relate to this too because I grew up with parents who very much associated what they owned with their worth. I have learned this lesson the hard way, but it was worth it. I now know that I am who I am regardless of what I own and that great people recognize that. I don’t need fancy stuff to have and keep friends.

Wow, that’s pretty crappy they make you go through a spiel like that just to activate a card that gives you a bunch of perks you don’t need anyway. And you have to redeem your rewards in 2 months? That’s really crappy! What a rip-off.

You’re right, you are pretty darn cool. I was going to write you don’t need no stinkin’ underwear to be cool, but then realized that you probably need non-stinky underwear to be cool no matter what.

And I love this, “When we attach our self-worth to the stuff we own, debt is second nature.”

Yeah, I appreciate the thought, but I’d prefer my underwear in the non-stank variety, please.

There is no such thing as a free lunch! Companies do not give all this away without expecting an eventual profit. So watch out!

I will say she has a point when she says “if you’re going to pay it off monthly you might as well have the protection” because if I know you - being eaten by wolverines would be the only reason you carry a balance on a 25% credit card.
FYI, the only reason I stumbled upon this post was because I was googling pictures of supersoft hiphugger thongs and up pops your site. (not the only thing that popped up - AYO! - kidding)

But if I’m eaten by wolverines, I don’t need to pay off my card! So it’s fine. I’m more concerned about being partially eaten by a wolverine. Because if I’m not dead, that $1.99 will just accumulate forever and I’ll owe a million dollars on underwear when I come out of my coma.

I have a few store credit cards. I’ll admit, having them makes me more likely to shop at those stores. But I don’t go to the stores unless there’s a sale. And I usually bring a coupon (that they sent me). I realize that when they send me good coupons (hello Kohl’s 30% off coupon) I tend to go a little nuts. I bought a million sweaters (then returned half) with a 30% off coupon. Also bought myself a KitchenAid stand mixer when there was a sale and a 30% off coupon. And Kohls cash thrown in. Yeah, they’re good at getting me to spend.

I think your VS card is like my Ann Taylor Loft card. I don’t think I’ve actually ever spent enough to get any “free” items. I use it for the coupons/discounts I get with it.

I would love to have a So Over Debt VIP card!!! lol but seriously this is why I don’t even bother to get a store credit card. I like to think I’m a pretty disciplined person when it comes to my finances, but I am a girl after all and I still get the shopping bug/urge/obsession. So, I “just say no” to store cards.

Every time I check out at Old Navy “would you like to save 10% and apply for an Old Navy Card?” yes I would love to save 10% but no I shop here way too much and I’m afraid I’ll get sucked in.

Kuddos to you for being disciplined enough with the VS (lol BS) card. Both of my sisters (and stepmom) have Victoria’s Secret cards and they looove them. Quite an impressive marketing scheme for sure.

I have friends who have gotten fired just because they didn’t keep up their quota of store credit card applications. It’s like retail makes so much money from the cards they don’t even care about selling clothes anymore.

Here you go! I spent like 4 whole minutes making this - it’s SUPER EXCLUSIVE.

That’s pretty epic! Do I get exclusive stalking rights?! lol

You do! Once you earn 12 million points. But you have to become a stalker in 60 days or you lose your points.

I think it is ridiculous how complicated credit cards are. Too bad there isn’t one that gives you a straight up 5% off everything you buy. I swear I would put everything on that card and pay it off every month. Credit cards are just not worth it. I used to love my Best Buy card because I could buy things and pay them off over 6-24 months and pay no interest. It was all good until one transaction I made did not get put on a “payment” plan and started charging interest. I figured, “No problem!” I would just simply pay off that charge and I wouldn’t have to worry about the interest. I called customer service and they stated any payments I make would be first applied to the payment plans and then to the non payment plan transaction. What?!!! ”You mean to tell me I have to pay off $2800.00 of non-interest charging transactions before I can pay off the $100.00 transaction that is charging me interest?” Their answer…. Yup. I said, no thank you and could you please close my account? “but sir, you are only being charged $4.00 in interest a month.” I said, “yes and that is costing me a venti Starbucks every month. I would rather drink that than treat the CEO of your credit card company to Starbucks every month…thanks but no thanks, please close my account” I really don’t think she understood what I was saying. Some people! Only $4.00? I should have told her to pay it for me out of her salary and maybe then she would have gotten it…I doubt it!

Martilyo!