A very small cc victory...
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| Sat, 04-30-2005 - 9:35am |
And by very small, I mean it. But I'm so proud of myself! lol
No, it's not paid off...not even close. We're still floating at $9300 +/-.
But...
We were at atrocious interest rates. 27.74% for a cash advance we took out three years ago (and of course will be paid off *last*, after all of the rest of the balance), and 21.74% for the purchases. I am not a confrontational person at all, and I hate calling cc companies. I finally took the bull by the horns and got myself all worked up, ready to do battle, spear in hand, girding my loins....
I got the first person. I was firm. "We are good customers. We've never been late on a payment, not even once, in the four plus years we've been with your company. We're getting offers for better interest rates. We would like you to lower our interest rates so I don't have to go through the hassle of changing cards." Held my breath.
"I can't help you with that, ma'am, but I'll pass you through to an account specialist. Is there anything else I can help you with?"
"Uh. No. Thanks." Have a nice day, all that stuff...Click Click Click, then the account specialist comes on. I give my spiel again.
"No problem. We can immediately go to 19.74% on cash advances and 14.74% on purchases. Would that help you out?"
What? No arguing, pleading, or crying? No necessary sob stories? No hassle? NO HASSLE??
Yes, it was that easy.
Now I know for some of you, those interest rates are still atrocious (and they are), but we have icky credit with some bad marks in the past, and I am just ecstatic that they did this. No confrontation. I was dancing for days on that one.
Just one little thing that will help us get out of debt a little faster. I think I even consider that our snowflake for the month. :) We were paying over $170/month on interest charges (which makes me sick to realize that we were paying about $2000/year just for the "privilege" of holding cc debt), with a minimum of about $240. Now that $240 can go a little further. Plus any snowflakes, of course.
I just had to share, because there's not many people who get excited for a person when they accomplish something so small. But for those of you who have been avoiding calling, like I was, grab your spear and go do it. It was painless.
Kris
:)

Good for you. Every little counts.
MYM