Man Has 1,497 Valid Credit Cards

[matcom]

<snip>

Walter Cavanagh -- also known as "Mr. Plastic Fantastic" -- has a wallet nearly as long as a football field to carry his credit cards.

Cavanagh owns 1,497 valid credit cards (he assumes a card is valid until he hears otherwise) with a potential credit line of about $1.7 million.

The retired real estate broker, who lives in the small San Luis Obispo County community of Shell Beach, said his collecting began with a bet more than three decades ago.

He and a friend were sitting in his apartment in 1969 and bet who could collect the most credit cards. The loser would buy dinner.

Cavanagh managed to obtain 143 cards in a year and got a rib-eye steak dinner. He also caught the plastic bug.

He has become so good at collecting the cards that he has a place in the Guinness Book of World Records, which gave him his nickname.

He also holds the title for the world's longest wallet -- a 38-pound monster that is 250 feet long and can hold 800 cards.

Most of his collection is kept in bank safe deposit boxes.

http://www.wftv.com/newsofthestrange/3967934/detail.html

[GreenPartyVoter]

1. Dang, how much is he paying in fees?

-----------------------------------
Would Jesus love a liberal? You bet!
http://timeforachange.bluelemur.com/

[jmowreader]

3. Probably next to nothing

Maybe on the Travel and Entertainment cards--you know there's a Diner's Club, a Carte Blanche and an American Express in there somewhere--but on the credit cards, probably nothing; most if not all of them have gone to "no annual fee" as a selling point.

I've heard of guys like this before--they'll sign up for hundreds of cards just to collect them. Some of them are kinda cool looking.

[Champ]

2. Dupe

But mine sank like a stone. x(

[LisaLynne]

4. Aw, I'm sorry.

Does it help that I replied to you in this thread? :)

[Champ]

6. Yeah it does..

Now I feel all special inside. :) Definately a way to start the day, how are you doing this Friday AM?

[LisaLynne]

7. I'm doing good! It's Friday!

I don't have nearly 1500 credit cards to keep track of. Life is good. ;)

[underpants]

5. Any older DU'ers remember a different meaning for "Plastic Fantastic"

I'm just asking

[GreenPartyVoter]

8. or is it fantastic plastic? This rings a bell, but I think I am too young

I'll ask my folks.

[Left Is Write]

9. Hmmm....if they are all open, that can't be good

for the credit rating, can it? Creditors often frown on too many open accounts, even if they're not being used.

[ChoralScholar]

11. I would think after the first 100 cards, it wouldn't hurt your credit too

badly.

[Xithras]

10. Wow, and I complain about my wife having eight

n/t