another deceptive offer from valero gas credit card company
surprise: i got another credit card offer in the mail today. this time, it was from valero, a gas company that i have a gas card through.
so what’s the gimmick this time? they sent me what looks like a flyer with big letters telling me to IMMEDIATELY RESPOND or else! but wait, what’s that in fine print below my signature? ah: “If your address is correct and you do not wish to become a Protected Cardholder, then no response is necessary.”
but wait! I WANT to be a “Protected Cardholder” don’t I? If I don’t sign this, does that mean somehow I’m not protected.
oh – here it is. Let me just flip the offer and read where it clearly states what I’m signing myself up for.
Ohhh – there’s where the fee is. In those easy to see tiny little paragraphs.
Silly credit card company. You allllmost had me.
About the Author: Joshua McGinnis
Joshua is a web designer and developer for Intuit, Inc. His other interests include guitar, photography, mycology, amateur chemistry, WWII movies and his beautiful wife Catherine.
Enjoy this Post?
Spread the word by promoting this post on FaceBook and Twitter.
ha !!! you are so correct. Household bank card wanted me to transfer my other credit cards with a free 6 month 0 percent thing, but then afterwards my rate would be at 26 percent !!! OMG… these companies also have a fee for every freaking thing !!! And god forbid if you try to get someone on the phone with some synaptic functions. Trying to deal with them is useless.
Usury. Plain and simple. It didn’t used to be this way (not that it was any different in ours or our parents or grandparents lifetimes). Usury is the act of charging interest on moneys lent. Islamic law prohibits it, and in the mid-1700, Catholics spoke out vigorously against it. It wasn’t until Henry VIII that lenders were allowed to charge interest. Now it’s commonplace to find mid-20 percentage interest rates. People used to be tarred and feathered for it, but now no one cares.. Its sad, but give it a Google, you may find it interesting even though it sounds kind of dry.. Cheers!