Because we let them.

[Another Bill C.]

Now that they've bought and paid for new bankruptcy restrictions, the credit card companies are sending out new regulations. You'll find an increase in late charges, shorter grace times, and new conditions under which they can charge higher interest.

When you receive these notices pay attention to the changes. A short period of hardship can result in their total ownership of your life and property.

They can have their way with us because we let them. If you can get by without them, it's time to cancel your cards. If you can't do it now, it's time to make plans to get out from under their control.

[pinto]

1. cancelling credit (and debt) outside of home, school or car loans sounds

like a good idea...consumerism ain't all it's made out to be on TV.

[understandinglife]

2. Shed the debit as quickly as you can except for home and school and....

....sell the car (use the funds to pay down other credit cards) and take the bus.

www.missionnotaccomplished.us (The.Day.WE.BEGIN............)

[gaia_gardener]

4. And those of us who live with no bus service?

We should quit our jobs?

It's easy to say "take the bus" when you live in a metroplex with bus service. Try moving to one without bus service.

[understandinglife]

6. Purchase a bicycle. I walk more than 6 miles every day and I live in a ...

...major city with bus service.


www.missionnotaccomplished.us (The.Day.WE.BEGIN...........)

[gaia_gardener]

7. Quick questions

Do you do that on major highways? And what kind of job do you do? Do you have shower service or can you be sweaty?

Believe me, I've wracked my brains for this, but it just won't work in my metroplex. There is no way to get anywhere without using a highway and it's 80+F at 7:30 in the morning. That's the reason the bus was unusable in my last city, it would have taken several hours (which would put me getting to work at 9:30 minimum with bus schedules) and require walking about 2 miles, along major roads with no sidewalks. I work in a professional office and am required to wear business clothing.

I petition every boss I have to set up telecommuting, but so far they haven't been open to that idea. I haven't got the skill set or personality to work for myself. So until things change, I'm stuck driving a car (thank goodness it's only about 5 miles one way - which includes dropping the 2 kids off, which is another reason a bike doesn't work for me, they're too big for a bike trailer).

I love the idea of biking. But there's the issue of dropping off the kids, the business clothing, the lack of bike lanes and the major lack of bike racks. We were discussing this in our office and a lot of us were talking about riding bikes but there are no places to store bikes anywhere around. Plus, when you ride in 80+ weather, you do tend to get quite sweaty, which is frowned upon when working in a law office and meeting clients.

So, I do all I can to encourage bosses to consider telecommuting. I encourage cities to set up USABLE bus routes. I encourage businesses to set up bike racks. I encourage states to funnel some of their transportation dollars to supporting mass transit. But, I live in the world I have, not the one I want.

[Ladyhawk]

3. My credit card company doubled the amount I have to pay each month.

It has really interfered with my budget. This month, I had to use the damn card just to make it to the end of the month. I don't know what I'm going to do. I'm thinking of declaring bankruptcy and having done with it.

I keep wanting to call and ask why they raised my fee, but I'm afraid of the answer I'll get.

[no_to_war_economy]

5. do all you can to get

out of credit card debt and use ONLY debit cards the rest of your life!!!!

[MissB]

8. Yep. I got one of those notices last week

Yeah, like I want an increase from 3.9% to 24.99% if I'm late. :eyes:

I read through the account changes, grabbed my phone and called them up and cancelled the card. There wasn't a balance on there anyway - I always pay promptly and don't carry a balance.

The guy asked why I was cancelling and I told him it was a combination of their new policy and their company's support of the bankruptcy bill. He gave me some line about hoping that I'd consider them in the future, and I told him "not bloody likely".