Thursday, March 08, 2007
The Credit Card Prank
I just got done checking one of my 15 million email addresses. With this one I get a daily quote email full of 9 quotes. I've kept just about everyone and I'm proud to say that I almost have 1,000 in that folder!
In this one was a link to a website that I remember seeing a couple of years ago.
http://www.zug.com/pranks/credit/
Just take a gander at it. After I read this initially those couple of years ago, I attempted the Mickey Mouse signature at the local Chili's restaurant.
The site does pose a good point about credit card signatures. With all of my credit cards, I had written on the back "Check ID". And of all the times I used a credit card, I was only asked for my ID once for a purchase of about $30. I made plenty of purchases over $500 but was never asked to show ID. I've never worked in a credit card transaction business where I've been subjected to accepting payments, but I wonder what is taught in training about asking to see people's IDs when they use a credit/debit card.
It seems to be if it's over $20 that they'll ask you... sometimes.. and now if it's under $20 you can get away without having to provide a signature, especially at drive-thrus. The next time I use my debit card, I'm gonna sign it "CHECK MY ID" at least until someone actually checks it.
Oh yeah... something else that bugs me.
My debit card doesn't have a signature on the back of it. It drives me nuts when cashiers turn it over and see nothing there and act so normal about it. Does it bug anyone else?
In this one was a link to a website that I remember seeing a couple of years ago.
http://www.zug.com/pranks/credit/
Just take a gander at it. After I read this initially those couple of years ago, I attempted the Mickey Mouse signature at the local Chili's restaurant.
The site does pose a good point about credit card signatures. With all of my credit cards, I had written on the back "Check ID". And of all the times I used a credit card, I was only asked for my ID once for a purchase of about $30. I made plenty of purchases over $500 but was never asked to show ID. I've never worked in a credit card transaction business where I've been subjected to accepting payments, but I wonder what is taught in training about asking to see people's IDs when they use a credit/debit card.
It seems to be if it's over $20 that they'll ask you... sometimes.. and now if it's under $20 you can get away without having to provide a signature, especially at drive-thrus. The next time I use my debit card, I'm gonna sign it "CHECK MY ID" at least until someone actually checks it.
Oh yeah... something else that bugs me.
My debit card doesn't have a signature on the back of it. It drives me nuts when cashiers turn it over and see nothing there and act so normal about it. Does it bug anyone else?
Labels: credit card, identity fraud
Friday, December 22, 2006
Lowered my interest rate
One of the perks for working for a financial institution is the various discounts you can get on your accounts with them. When I first started working there 5 months ago, I had two credit cards through that company. One was already lower than the employee rate and the other was ineligible for a discount.
Well the one that was ineligible is now eligible so I made a phone call to customer service and got my discount.
My interest rate was a whopping 14.24% variable rate. Now with employee discount, it's down to the prime rate - 8.25%.
That's almost a 6% drop. Looks like some balance transfers might be in line
Well the one that was ineligible is now eligible so I made a phone call to customer service and got my discount.
My interest rate was a whopping 14.24% variable rate. Now with employee discount, it's down to the prime rate - 8.25%.
That's almost a 6% drop. Looks like some balance transfers might be in line
Labels: credit card, interest rates
Monday, December 11, 2006
A new pre-tax payroll deduction?
In my current job, my employer also lays claim to loaning me money via the dangerous credit cards. Being that I work for said company, the employees get discounts on their products. For example we can lower our interest rate on our credit cards, get reduction of interest rate on a mortgage, etc.
Well I was browsing around our intranet I stumbled upon some FAQs on one of the credit cards they are promoting and the benefits we get for having the card. One of the questions was would we in the future have the option for having our credit card payment deducted from our paycheck. The answer provided was that this was something that was being considered in the near future.
First off, I would sign up for this in a heartbeat. Currently as soon as my statements come out, I log in to my account and set an auto payment up for the 15th since that is when I get paid. If I didn't have to do that, that would save me all of 5 minutes a month.
Now I'm sure this isn't possible, but how cool if your minimum payment that was deducted was taken out before taxes? That would totally rock.
Well I was browsing around our intranet I stumbled upon some FAQs on one of the credit cards they are promoting and the benefits we get for having the card. One of the questions was would we in the future have the option for having our credit card payment deducted from our paycheck. The answer provided was that this was something that was being considered in the near future.
First off, I would sign up for this in a heartbeat. Currently as soon as my statements come out, I log in to my account and set an auto payment up for the 15th since that is when I get paid. If I didn't have to do that, that would save me all of 5 minutes a month.
Now I'm sure this isn't possible, but how cool if your minimum payment that was deducted was taken out before taxes? That would totally rock.
Labels: credit card, minimum payment, pre-tax deductions
Friday, November 24, 2006
Idea for free food scratched
Well I had to work Thanksgiving night. No worries. Started reading a financial book - Motley Fool's You Have More Than You Think.
Anyways got off a little bit after 11 and was driving down the interstate and noticed there were already about 100 people lined up at Best Buy. Got closer to home and the previously mentioned Chick-Fil-A and there were already people lined up there too. Someone even brought a tv and had it going in the back of their SUV. So I had to scratch the whole idea of going and getting to eat free for a year.
I really wanted to go back to Best Buy and take a survey on how all those people were going to pay for their purchases. I bet 70% or more would have said their credit cards.
Anyways got off a little bit after 11 and was driving down the interstate and noticed there were already about 100 people lined up at Best Buy. Got closer to home and the previously mentioned Chick-Fil-A and there were already people lined up there too. Someone even brought a tv and had it going in the back of their SUV. So I had to scratch the whole idea of going and getting to eat free for a year.
I really wanted to go back to Best Buy and take a survey on how all those people were going to pay for their purchases. I bet 70% or more would have said their credit cards.
Labels: Black Friday, credit card, free food, Motley Fool
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
OCD about numbers
Maybe I'm a bit crazy and maybe I'm not.
I've always been intrigued by numbers. Patterns with numbers, formulas, etc. Whatever profession I end up choosing will more than likely have something to do with numbers.
When I get my credit card statements and the total balance is something like $2,874.13. And the minimum payment is something like $50. I don't know why but I have to either make it $50.13 or will go one step further and make it $54.13 so that the balance would be $2,820.00. I just cannot stand having the cents at the end.
Also when tipping while dining out, if the bill is something like $16.37, my tip would end up being $3.63. I almost always have to have a dining out bill with a multiple of 5. Don't know why. It's just the way I am.
Does anyone else out there take it to these extremes?
I've always been intrigued by numbers. Patterns with numbers, formulas, etc. Whatever profession I end up choosing will more than likely have something to do with numbers.
When I get my credit card statements and the total balance is something like $2,874.13. And the minimum payment is something like $50. I don't know why but I have to either make it $50.13 or will go one step further and make it $54.13 so that the balance would be $2,820.00. I just cannot stand having the cents at the end.
Also when tipping while dining out, if the bill is something like $16.37, my tip would end up being $3.63. I almost always have to have a dining out bill with a multiple of 5. Don't know why. It's just the way I am.
Does anyone else out there take it to these extremes?
Labels: credit card, numbers, OCD, saving money
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