Life’s little victories.
I got a letter a couple of months ago telling me that one of my credit cards was about to have its interest rate jacked up to an unbelievable 25.74 percent (WHAT?!?!?), but if I didn’t want that to happen, I could call them and they’d freeze the card at its lower rate.
We never used that card anyway because its interest rate was already too high, but we did still have a small balance on it we were paying off. So I called and asked them to freeze the card because 25.74 PERCENT IS CRAZY, although I didn’t say it like that. They did so, and reminded me to make sure not to use it or the new interest rate would go into effect.
I got my bill for last month and it was at the new higher rate – because there was one lone charge on it that I forgot comes up automatically every year. Oops.
I cancelled the service generating the charge that appeared on the card – I never use it anymore, really – and called the credit card company to throw myself on their mercy and ask for the old rate back, even though it was totally my fault. And they looked everything over and gave me a new rate that was lower than the old rate. And unfroze my card. Because a) I was nice and polite and took total responsibility, b) I’m a good customer and have had that card since 1995, c) there was no reason for the interest rate to be that high in the first place, and d) I imagine right now Wachovia is kind of hurting for customers who use their cards responsibly and pay their bills on time.
Anyway, I feel like I scored a little victory today. Go me!