credit card boycott

[CountAllVotes]

After reading all of the posts today on all of the various rip-offs going on between credit cards, insurance polices, billing practices, payments conveniently not being recorded, I propose a boycott of credit (in particular cards).

My boycott proposal goes like this:

I realize that many people need to have credit cards.

However, many people have many credit cards that they rarely use.

My suggestion it to select the most disgusting of all the credit cards you have and close the account. Call them up and tell them the card has been lost/stolen and close the account out.

Do not reopen it nor any more credit card accounts.

In fact, I'd go so far as to suggest that we stop taking on any more bills via credit.

There are all sorts of scams going on. I am not aware of them all, but just from what I saw here on the DU today, I suspect there are and will be many more - all stemming from credit situations and problems.

I had an uncle that passed away about 10 years ago. He never had a checkbook in his life, never drove a car (never owned one) and he paid all of his bills in cash if possible or if a check was needed, he'd buy a money order at the U.S. Post Office and personally deliver it. Everyone in my family thought of him to be a miserly fool. I'm thinking now maybe he was damn sight smart.

When he died the mail was to be forwarded to his brother. No mail ever showed up except for one phone bill for $10.

I'm thinking my uncle was pretty smart in his own strange way.

I'm thinking my uncle would not have any credit cards still too.

Whatcha all think?

Can each of up dump just ONE credit card or ONE bill we are paying finance charges on?

As for Xmas - forget it. Let's boycott that too. It costs too much money and who really cares anyway. It is not about Xmas anymore anyway - just a grab for money for the corporations and the "haves".

Any other ideas suggestions appreciated.

CountAllVotes

[ladylibertee]

1. Power to the People.!!!!

[CountAllVotes]

2. yes this is how it starts

One small step at a time.

Everyone makes a difference.

Every god damn credit card you chop and and get rid of makes a difference too.

Soon, "they" will learn that We the People don't take a liking to this shit! :grr: I'm pissed in case you hadn't guessed.

POWER TO THE PEOPLE RIGHT ON!

KEEP HOPE ALIVE!!!!

:kick:

[ladylibertee]

7. We Sall Overcome.....TO day..LOL

[madderthanhell]

3. You don't need to tell them your card was lost or stolen,

they will close the account if you just ask.

[CountAllVotes]

6. make them work

Tell them it was lost/stolen and have them send you another one and tell them you never got it in the mail.

Let them run run run around in circles chasing their asses.

Make them EARN their ugly money.

Those plastic cards and stamps add up! :evilgrin:

:hi: Welcome to the DU btw!

:kick:

[CountAllVotes]

16. or tell them its been "compromised"

That is actually for real in too many situations ... way too many situations.

I've had it with all of them.


Shouldn't you demand letters stating that the account has been closed out? I have found that over time that you call and tell them to close the acct. out they do not do it. It still shows up on your credit report.

So much for honesty eh?

:kick:

[CountAllVotes]

18. check you credit report in 6 months

Chances are you'll find it on there still open ...

Fraud ... who is it really? Who? Who?

It is them!

They are cheating the citizens of our country. They should all be thrown in jail!

:dem:

[NNN0LHI]

4. Falsely telling them the card has been lost or stolen is a felony

Just call and cancel the card if you think it may help.

Don

[CountAllVotes]

10. well I lost the card

I cannot find it. duh.

Worked for Reagan remember that with the Iran Contras "I can't remember" ...

:kick:

[miss_kitty]

12. Um-I think claiming fraud when there is none is the felony

don't claim it stolen, they'll want a police case #...lost with no replacement issued should be good enough.

They don't have time to investigate true fraud charges-they'd hardly go after someone who lied about a card being lost or stolen. If you don't file a false report with the cops-you are fine.

Out and out closing accounts CAN affect your credit score, if you are interested in buying a house.

[CountAllVotes]

13. just one won't hurt

hell with them and their games.

Close out just one card, just one ... only one. ONE.

:kick:

[miss_kitty]

14. I don't have any

I'm filing bnky tomorrow. Funny thing though. These assholes keep sending me pre-approved promos.

[still_one]

5. If you are going to boycott at least one credit card make it MBNA

they were the biggest credit card company supporting this administration and their agenda

[CountAllVotes]

8. MBNA is now merging with ...

American Express and also with Bank of America. You kill 3 birds with one stone right there. :D :D :D

:kick:

[countmyvote4real]

21. Ditto that.

You beat me to it. They are the worst. They wrote the bankruptcy bill and handed off to the likes of Joe Biden who they have in their pocket. And like I'm supposed to believe that he's just standing up for the little people of Delaware, but I bet the MBNA call centers are elsewhere.

Start there. Make AmEx next.

[SeattleGirl]

9. Just a note on closing accounts

Did you know this can actually go AGAINST you on your credit score? No kidding. My husband and I recently met with a mortgage broker, as we would like to buy a house (once the prices in Seattle come down to earth). The broker was reviewing our credit reports, and saw that I had recently closed two credit card accounts and he said this actually counts against having a good score. I like your idea, but suggest instead just paying them off and not using them, if you are looking at doing something like making a big ticket purchase, such as a house or car. Once the deed is done, then close 'em out.

Man, theese folks get you comin' and goin', don't they?

[CountAllVotes]

11. they think they do

but I don't need them one tiny little bit - I'll admit it - I am rather like the uncle I mention. :D

[SeattleGirl]

15. Yeah, that's the way to go.

Wish I hadn't gotten sucked into the credit card game, but I did, and certainly it is no one's fault except mine. :blush:

[MarsThe Cat]

25. if you're waiting for Seattle housing prices to "come down to earth"...

I hope you're not holding your breath.

the only thing that is going to bring down housing prices will be large increases in mortgage rates- and that means that even if prices do come down, you'll be paying a higher rate of interest, which means that your monthly payment will still be about the same as paying a lower rate on a higher home price.

[BlueIris]

17. Just count me in as another person who plans to have just ONE card

and one card only from now on, which I plan to use for exactly one thing: airline reservations. That's it. No other uses. I've had that strategy for a year now, and it's working out just fine.

[CountAllVotes]

19. thanks for the encouragement

One card = my goal.

I'll get there yet, I swear I will. I owe none of them anything. Why keep these stupid things?

I'm not looking to buy a house or anything else.

SCREW THEM.

[koopie57]

20. I got rid of credit cards I never used

when they sent us mail telling us they were changing the policy or something like that with the card. Pay off rates, etc. They said if you don't accept the new policy to write them and they would cancel our card. I wrote them, they cancelled the card and then started sending us pre-approved cards again.

[proud_Kucitizen]

22. Or use your card

and pay it off every month like I do. It's a great convenience for me not to have to write checks, carry cash, and make internet purchases yet it makes the credit card companies work for nothing and pay that postage every month while making nothing off me. I do this with my MBNA card and my At&t card (citibank) the two banks I hate the most.

[entanglement]

23. I have credit cards, but mercifully I AM DEBT FREE

Can't tell you how thankful I am for that! I agree people should dump unwanted / unused cards, but it is very difficult to live without at least one (the credit history thing)

[MarsThe Cat]

24. People with credit cards- get ready for your minimum payments to DOUBLE.

due to the bankruptcy bill that was passed-

Personally, my wife and i have NO credit cards- BUT we do have VISA debit cards tied to a home equity line of credit.

[Solon]

26. Never had a credit card...

the closest thing to one I have is my ATM and Checking Cards, good enough for online and phone transactions. I've been boycotting Credit Card companies since I got one of those "Pre-Approved" offers in the mail about a decade ago. Looked at it, looked at the fine print, realized the scam, threw in trash, never looked back.

[lcordero2]

27. except for one instance, I've been doing that for four years

I have a cellphone bill(which I'm thinking of dumping) and split all of my other bills with a roomate. Your uncle is/was very smart.

[lakeguy]

28. wait, if you have a credit card, and don't use it...

doesn't it cost the company money to sustain your account. probably pennies, but if were all to get credit card accounts and not use them, it could add up to many, many pennies, costing the company thousands, if not millions of dollars over time!

[REP]

29. I Prefer To Have Good Credit and No Debt

Yes, the credit card companies are at fault for extending credit to people who have no business with a credit card and charging them high rates, but on the other hand, no one is holding a gun to anyone's head to make them charge things they don't need. Closing my accounts would only hurt my credit rating; it doesn't hurt anyone but me, so I don't think I'll be taking part in a pointless crusade. I use my charge cards; I budget for it and I pay them in full each month. It's not hard.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

30. Just A Note Of Caution

If you close credit cards you do not use you are lowering the amount of credit avaialable to you.This magnifies the amount of money you owe because it leaves you less to borrow. The ration of credit available to the amount you have available comprises a large part of your credit score. By reducing the amount you have to borrow versus the amount you owe lowers your credit score.


This can cost you big bucks when you go to finance a home or car....