DebtBytes UK - Bankruptcy, Insolvency, Simple IVA and Bank Charges News UK http://myvesta.org.uk/blog/export.xml UK IVA and bankruptcy focused insolvency advice column for people that are dealing with problem debt, money troubles or falling behind on the bills. This advice column will provide you with information you can use. For more information visit Myvesta.org.uk. en-us http://backend.userland.com/rss Your Friends @ Myvesta.org.uk (stever@myvesta.org) myvestaukblog_archive.html Irresponsible Credit Card Company steve.rhode@myvestafoundation.org 3418794175432833404 I could not help but bust out laughing on the phone today to one of my credit card companies. It’s one of those that always proclaims in the media that they are not irresponsible lenders. Worst part is that when consumers get into financial trouble they could care less.

A couple of weeks ago when Pam and I were in Rome, she accidently left her purse in the back of a cab. Yes, a most unfortunate event. Thankfully everything got switched off before anything bad happened but she is still bummed about losing the camera with all the pictures on it and the phone with all the friends numbers.

Since then I have basically been living credit card free since we’ve had to wait for replacement cards to arrive. It has been an awkward experience. Of course everything I had registered my business card with, one of the missing ones now, is being rejected and until the replacement arrives, all I can say to folks is oops. The good news is that the replacement cards arrived today and I called to activate them. That’s where this story really begins.

So it all goes like this. I call bank to activate card. I push a bunch of buttons but still must speak to a representative. The representative sounds like she is in India at a call center, which does not warm my heart, especially after recent examples of personal financial information being sold by some call center staff in India.

It was obvious that the representative was reading from a script.

Rep: Thank you so much for being a valuable customer Mr. Rhode. Before I approve your replacement card for activation I would like to ask you a few questions.

Me: OK.

Rep: In addition to activating your card today I can issue you a PIN number so you can take cash advances from your card at any ATM worldwide. Can I issue you a PIN?

Me: No thank you.

Rep: Would you like for me to send you some blank checks that you can use on your account?

Me: No thank you.

Rep: Do you have some balances you would like to transfer to your cards at this time?

Me: No thank you.

Rep: Would you like for me to go ahead and deposit some cash into your bank account for you to use?

Me: You’ve got to be kidding me. You want to charge a cash advance against my card and deposit that into my bank account?

Rep: Yes, would you like for me to do that?

Me: No way. No. No thank you.

Rep: Would you like to skip making a payment one month each year? You can pick the month. Maybe when things are tight? There is only a small monthly charge for you to be able to be eligible for this.

Me: You want to charge me a monthly fee so I can skip making a payment and you can rack up the interest charge that month?

Rep: Yes, you will be able to skip a month…

Me: Sorry to interrupt, no thank you.

Rep: As a special customer I would like to offer you our special credit and payment protection insurance to cover you in case you are unable to make your payment.

Me. No thank you.

Rep: Mr. Rhode, I can respect your decision but I think you should reconsider. This credit protection plan will …

Me: I’m sorry, I can’t take any more of this. Bye.

Maybe I should have let her finish but I was beginning to gag on all the crap that my bank wanted to shove down my throat as a "special customer".

It didn’t occur to me till I was writing this that my lovely bank was shoving all these crack credit opportunities at me without checking my employment status, checking my current income, or asking me any questions about my current situation. Just shove, shove, shove, push, push, push.

Can any sane and rational person be surprised that some people take advantage of some of these offers? I’m still speechless about the credit card company wanting to deposit cash into my bank account. We’ve got to ask ourselves, at what point is this kind of behavior so reckless that it is illegal? We are way past the line for immoral. Take a look into the mirror Mr. Credit Pusher and ask yourself when does the responsibility for responsible lending start?

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]]> 11/24/2007 09:02:00 PM Steve Rhode Steve Rhode http://myvestafoundation.org export.xml#3418794175432833404 20071124 20071124