My EMail to Senator Dodd Re Credit Card Scamming

[tsuki]

If anyone has a similar experience with their parents, please EMail Senator Dodd.

Dear Senator Dodd,

I watched you on CSpan concerning Banking and Credit Cards. I appreciate your concern, your caring. I would like to add my personal anecdote about Credit Cards and what is happening with the elderly, and how they are being scammed by bogus sign-ups out of about 50% of their Social Security checks.

I am writing concerning my 79 year old mother, XXX. Like most of her generation, she is frugal. She pays all her bills. She has a credit card for emergencies.

Chase Credit Card called her twice and tried to scare her into identity theft protection.

She did not want it. They inquired if they could "send her the information." Being of the WWII polite generation, she said that it would be okay for him to send the information.

She received two information packets declaring that she was now enrolled for a one-time, NON-refundable total of 178.90, and that they had already DEDUCTED the money from her card.

They also sent, hidden among the other papers and brochures, a letter informing her that she was also signed up ARAG Legal Access Plan. She will be billed $89.95 per year for that.

I feel my Mother is being monetarily penalized for being polite. It is no wonder that the level of civility is so low in this country.

I am taking action on her behalf, but I thought that you should be informed for those that do not have family members to rely on.

Sincerely,

XXX

PS YOU ROCK!

[pissed_American]

1. NON-refundable ??!!

Well, we`ll just see about that !

[KoKo]

2. This is terrible. Folks need to warn their parents about this going on.

My credit card co. just got bought out by Chase and now I want to rip it up. But what can I do? Banks keep merging and changing and frankly they all are into scams these days.

Keeping information out there about these scams is important. And, faxing our congressmen.

Thanks for this post. I'm going to alert my two Dem Reps here in NC.

[KoKo]

3. BTW....Can you edit your Subject line to put in "Credit Card Scam?"

More folks would read it who need to see it.

[FloridaPat]

4. This happens so often it's disgusting. Hope you called the credit card

company and demanded repayment. Next step would be to file a complaint with the attorney general. I'm at the point I don't even talk to people with those kinds of offers. Been burnt too many times.

[CatWoman]

5. all that bill did was open the floodgates of hell

[Mizmoon]

6. My husband chews them out when they call about this

"credit protection" BS. He loves to yell at Chase Credit, "What are you turning into, Providian?! This is unethical!"

[tsuki]

7. Just found out from a source. Have your

parents answer Jolene's Pottery House, or Fred's Woodworking Shop. They are not supposed to call businesses; it's illegal.

What a world we live in. I have to teach my Mother how to scam the scammers.