Can we get real and cease with the tired rhetoric? Credit card companies are not evil.
When it comes to profits, credit card companies are also no more greedy than, say, the Hollywood movie industry.
As someone who has been a credit card user for more than 20 years, I have never once been taken advantage of by a credit card company. In fact, they’ve always gone out of their way to ensure they keep me a satisfied customer – despite the fact that I’ve never paid a penny in interest to them over all that time. That’s just one reason why I refuse to cut up my credit cards – and why maybe you shouldn’t, either.
I know what you’re thinking: But, Len, how can that possibly be? Credit card companies don’t care about their customers!
They most certainly do. The competition out there between the credit card companies is fierce – especially for their best customers.
And just who are their best customers? Is it the poor sap who’s exceeded his credit limit and is making the minimum payment each month – at an interest rate of 29.9 percent – on a balance of $15,576? Nope.
Think about it. How on earth can a high credit-risk individual who’s always one missed payment away from defaulting on his debt and leaving the credit card companies holding the bag be their best customer?
The reality is a credit card company’s best customers are people like you and me: folks with superb credit who charge nearly everything they buy each month to their card and then pay the balance off in full at the end of each month.
Even though we don’t pay a cent of interest to them, the credit card companies love folks like you and me because we earn them a steady stream of income from the merchant transaction fees that are generated every time we use our cards. Best of all, because we are financially responsible, they have almost zero risk of us ever defaulting on thousands of dollars of their money. As a result, the credit card companies are more than happy to let us take advantage of them.
Which brings me to the subject of today’s post…
One day not too long ago, I noticed my wife and I were charged $107.47 interest on our credit card statement.
So I called customer service to say there must be some mistake. Unfortunately, there was no mistake at all. It turns out the credit card company received my payment one day beyond the end of the grace period, and so interest charges were applied as per the terms of the contract I agreed to when I first got the card. Fair enough.
Truth be told, this was the third or fourth time in 20 years that I had interest charges applied because a payment got to the credit card company a day or two late.
Hold on, Len. But you said you’ve never paid a dime of credit card interest in 20 years. How did you get the interest charges waived each time?
I simply asked.
And their reply was as swift as it was decisive, “That will be no problem at all, Mr. Penzo.”
Done.
Hey, why wouldn’t they waive the charges? I’m one of their best customers. Well-run corporations aren’t in business because they are stupid. They know I’d leave them in a New York minute if they let those charges stick, and I’m worth much more to them than $107.47.
Just keep in mind that if you make late payments more than once per year, it will probably take more than simply asking to get your credit card company to waive those interest fees. And who can blame them?
Credit card companies certainly aren’t evil. Not by a long shot. But they are in business to make money.
This post originally appeared from Money Talks News.
It doesn’t feel right.
Ted Dibiase had a good little match on WWE SmackDown this past Friday night against Tyson Kidd. Teddy looked good in the ring and had the crowd behind him. He’s got a great smile and a good look.
He seems to have it all.
And, yet it just does not feel right.
The smile seems forced. His entrance theme, proclaiming “I come from money,” is more suited for a heel than a baby face and so far there’s not been much going for Ted besides his short-lived heat with former tag team partner Cody Rhodes.
Let’s face it. Ted is not a face. It‘s not him.
One razor sharp glare from Ted, along with that emotionless scowl that we are so accustomed to seeing on his face, that is what I expect from him. That’s what suits him.
Instead, we’re getting this watered down Alex Riley push that so far has done a whole lot of nothing for Dibiase.
Actually, when I think of Ted, he does remind me of Riley, in terms of his overall push and what he brings to the ring. Although Ted seems more fundamentally sound than Alex in his skill set, the truth is they’re both young with generic gimmicks and have become nothing more than cookie cutter WWE Superstars.
Ted’s initial face turn from Cody was indeed very reminiscent of Riley’s turn on The Miz, but with one huge difference.
Riley’s was well timed and very well done, while Ted’s was just convoluted and weak in the execution. Despite that, Ted’s star has not exactly fallen on SmackDown.
Of course, it hasn't risen much either.
While Ted is much better as a heel, another problem exists for him on the Friday night program.
Ted’s heel gimmick is that of the arrogant, cocky heel who’s better than everyone else and is supremely confident in his ability. That’s good, it does work for him and he plays the role nicely. The problem is, that character is already being portrayed in a sense by Cody Rhodes, who is currently getting a main event push against Randy Orton.
It’s basically one of those “this town ain’t big enough for the two of us” situations.
If WWE creative—arguably two words that do not always belong together—insist on making Ted a baby face then something needs to change.
First off, the music needs to go. Again, it does not fit now, as WWE is attempting to move Dibiase past the spoiled rich kid gimmick that made him so hated in the first place. So, how do you separate him from the shadow of his old man’s gimmick?
Perhaps the most obvious way is the best way. If Junior is now face, maybe Senior should now turn heel.
Ted Sr. could be disappointed in his son’s progress, especially when comparing him to Cody Rhodes, the man he turned on in the first place. Disgusted at Junior for not achieving his full potential, he could even threaten to cut the young Superstar out of the will.
How would a newly minted baby face respond to a threat such as this? “You know what? Keep your money. You’ve been holding that over my head my whole life. I’m making my own way now, and I’m going to do it without you, and without your bank account.”
Ted Jr. emerges squeaky clean, and lays to rest all of the negative aspects of his character. A clean slate means a fresh start, and perhaps that would elevate him a little more in the minds of the fans.
If that doesn’t work, there’s always the Tony Stark gimmick.
Tony Stark, for all you non fan boys out there, is Iron Man, played perfectly by one Robert Downey Jr. Stark, the son of a billionaire, inherited his riches and his father’s head for business. He’s a ladies’ man and bad boy, shrewd, but very likable, and deep down is a good guy just trying to do the right thing.
This would fit Ted Dibiase Jr. more than any other edge his character has ever had.
It’s not the end of the world for this kid. Just because he’s not doing much right now does not mean that he can’t do something in the future. So, there is no need to dismiss him as unimportant or believe that he is just going to fade away.
However, I do believe that he is capable of more than what he’s being allowed to do right now, and with the proper storyline and approach to his character, Ted could wind up having a potentially great WWE career.
Bank on it.
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2011 World Poker Tour Jacksonville Day 1a: Jarvis Bags Bunches <b>...</b>
The 2011 World Poker Tour Jacksonville kicked off on Friday and attracted 188 players for Day 1a. Matthew Jarvis looks to be the early chip leader.
2011 World Poker Tour Jacksonville Day 1a: Jarvis Bags Bunches <b>...</b>Previewing the 2011-2012 World Series of Poker Circuit Harveys <b>...</b>
The WSOP Circuit Harveys Lake Tahoe has featured will culminate this weekend with a $1600 Main Event. Check out our recap of the ring events thus far.
Previewing the 2011-2012 World Series of Poker Circuit Harveys <b>...</b>2011 PokerStars.com European Poker Tour Loutraki Day 4: Ziyard <b>...</b>
A recap of Day 4 of the PokerStars.com European Poker Tour Loutraki Main Event where the final table is set and Zimnan Ziyard leads the way.
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2011 World Poker Tour Jacksonville Day 1a: Jarvis Bags Bunches <b>...</b>
The 2011 World Poker Tour Jacksonville kicked off on Friday and attracted 188 players for Day 1a. Matthew Jarvis looks to be the early chip leader.
2011 World Poker Tour Jacksonville Day 1a: Jarvis Bags Bunches <b>...</b>Previewing the 2011-2012 World Series of Poker Circuit Harveys <b>...</b>
The WSOP Circuit Harveys Lake Tahoe has featured will culminate this weekend with a $1600 Main Event. Check out our recap of the ring events thus far.
Previewing the 2011-2012 World Series of Poker Circuit Harveys <b>...</b>2011 PokerStars.com European Poker Tour Loutraki Day 4: Ziyard <b>...</b>
A recap of Day 4 of the PokerStars.com European Poker Tour Loutraki Main Event where the final table is set and Zimnan Ziyard leads the way.
2011 PokerStars.com European Poker Tour Loutraki Day 4: Ziyard <b>...</b>There is a faction of people who continue to insist credit cards are evil and credit card companies greedily care only about one thing: making a profit.
Can we get real and cease with the tired rhetoric? Credit card companies are not evil.
When it comes to profits, credit card companies are also no more greedy than, say, the Hollywood movie industry.
As someone who has been a credit card user for more than 20 years, I have never once been taken advantage of by a credit card company. In fact, they’ve always gone out of their way to ensure they keep me a satisfied customer – despite the fact that I’ve never paid a penny in interest to them over all that time. That’s just one reason why I refuse to cut up my credit cards – and why maybe you shouldn’t, either.
I know what you’re thinking: But, Len, how can that possibly be? Credit card companies don’t care about their customers!
They most certainly do. The competition out there between the credit card companies is fierce – especially for their best customers.
And just who are their best customers? Is it the poor sap who’s exceeded his credit limit and is making the minimum payment each month – at an interest rate of 29.9 percent – on a balance of $15,576? Nope.
Think about it. How on earth can a high credit-risk individual who’s always one missed payment away from defaulting on his debt and leaving the credit card companies holding the bag be their best customer?
The reality is a credit card company’s best customers are people like you and me: folks with superb credit who charge nearly everything they buy each month to their card and then pay the balance off in full at the end of each month.
Even though we don’t pay a cent of interest to them, the credit card companies love folks like you and me because we earn them a steady stream of income from the merchant transaction fees that are generated every time we use our cards. Best of all, because we are financially responsible, they have almost zero risk of us ever defaulting on thousands of dollars of their money. As a result, the credit card companies are more than happy to let us take advantage of them.
Which brings me to the subject of today’s post…
One day not too long ago, I noticed my wife and I were charged $107.47 interest on our credit card statement.
So I called customer service to say there must be some mistake. Unfortunately, there was no mistake at all. It turns out the credit card company received my payment one day beyond the end of the grace period, and so interest charges were applied as per the terms of the contract I agreed to when I first got the card. Fair enough.
Truth be told, this was the third or fourth time in 20 years that I had interest charges applied because a payment got to the credit card company a day or two late.
Hold on, Len. But you said you’ve never paid a dime of credit card interest in 20 years. How did you get the interest charges waived each time?
I simply asked.
And their reply was as swift as it was decisive, “That will be no problem at all, Mr. Penzo.”
Done.
Hey, why wouldn’t they waive the charges? I’m one of their best customers. Well-run corporations aren’t in business because they are stupid. They know I’d leave them in a New York minute if they let those charges stick, and I’m worth much more to them than $107.47.
Just keep in mind that if you make late payments more than once per year, it will probably take more than simply asking to get your credit card company to waive those interest fees. And who can blame them?
Credit card companies certainly aren’t evil. Not by a long shot. But they are in business to make money.
This post originally appeared from Money Talks News.
It doesn’t feel right.
Ted Dibiase had a good little match on WWE SmackDown this past Friday night against Tyson Kidd. Teddy looked good in the ring and had the crowd behind him. He’s got a great smile and a good look.
He seems to have it all.
And, yet it just does not feel right.
The smile seems forced. His entrance theme, proclaiming “I come from money,” is more suited for a heel than a baby face and so far there’s not been much going for Ted besides his short-lived heat with former tag team partner Cody Rhodes.
Let’s face it. Ted is not a face. It‘s not him.
One razor sharp glare from Ted, along with that emotionless scowl that we are so accustomed to seeing on his face, that is what I expect from him. That’s what suits him.
Instead, we’re getting this watered down Alex Riley push that so far has done a whole lot of nothing for Dibiase.
Actually, when I think of Ted, he does remind me of Riley, in terms of his overall push and what he brings to the ring. Although Ted seems more fundamentally sound than Alex in his skill set, the truth is they’re both young with generic gimmicks and have become nothing more than cookie cutter WWE Superstars.
Ted’s initial face turn from Cody was indeed very reminiscent of Riley’s turn on The Miz, but with one huge difference.
Riley’s was well timed and very well done, while Ted’s was just convoluted and weak in the execution. Despite that, Ted’s star has not exactly fallen on SmackDown.
Of course, it hasn't risen much either.
While Ted is much better as a heel, another problem exists for him on the Friday night program.
Ted’s heel gimmick is that of the arrogant, cocky heel who’s better than everyone else and is supremely confident in his ability. That’s good, it does work for him and he plays the role nicely. The problem is, that character is already being portrayed in a sense by Cody Rhodes, who is currently getting a main event push against Randy Orton.
It’s basically one of those “this town ain’t big enough for the two of us” situations.
If WWE creative—arguably two words that do not always belong together—insist on making Ted a baby face then something needs to change.
First off, the music needs to go. Again, it does not fit now, as WWE is attempting to move Dibiase past the spoiled rich kid gimmick that made him so hated in the first place. So, how do you separate him from the shadow of his old man’s gimmick?
Perhaps the most obvious way is the best way. If Junior is now face, maybe Senior should now turn heel.
Ted Sr. could be disappointed in his son’s progress, especially when comparing him to Cody Rhodes, the man he turned on in the first place. Disgusted at Junior for not achieving his full potential, he could even threaten to cut the young Superstar out of the will.
How would a newly minted baby face respond to a threat such as this? “You know what? Keep your money. You’ve been holding that over my head my whole life. I’m making my own way now, and I’m going to do it without you, and without your bank account.”
Ted Jr. emerges squeaky clean, and lays to rest all of the negative aspects of his character. A clean slate means a fresh start, and perhaps that would elevate him a little more in the minds of the fans.
If that doesn’t work, there’s always the Tony Stark gimmick.
Tony Stark, for all you non fan boys out there, is Iron Man, played perfectly by one Robert Downey Jr. Stark, the son of a billionaire, inherited his riches and his father’s head for business. He’s a ladies’ man and bad boy, shrewd, but very likable, and deep down is a good guy just trying to do the right thing.
This would fit Ted Dibiase Jr. more than any other edge his character has ever had.
It’s not the end of the world for this kid. Just because he’s not doing much right now does not mean that he can’t do something in the future. So, there is no need to dismiss him as unimportant or believe that he is just going to fade away.
However, I do believe that he is capable of more than what he’s being allowed to do right now, and with the proper storyline and approach to his character, Ted could wind up having a potentially great WWE career.
Bank on it.
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2011 World Poker Tour Jacksonville Day 1a: Jarvis Bags Bunches <b>...</b>
The 2011 World Poker Tour Jacksonville kicked off on Friday and attracted 188 players for Day 1a. Matthew Jarvis looks to be the early chip leader.
2011 World Poker Tour Jacksonville Day 1a: Jarvis Bags Bunches <b>...</b>Previewing the 2011-2012 World Series of Poker Circuit Harveys <b>...</b>
The WSOP Circuit Harveys Lake Tahoe has featured will culminate this weekend with a $1600 Main Event. Check out our recap of the ring events thus far.
Previewing the 2011-2012 World Series of Poker Circuit Harveys <b>...</b>2011 PokerStars.com European Poker Tour Loutraki Day 4: Ziyard <b>...</b>
A recap of Day 4 of the PokerStars.com European Poker Tour Loutraki Main Event where the final table is set and Zimnan Ziyard leads the way.
2011 PokerStars.com European Poker Tour Loutraki Day 4: Ziyard <b>...</b>
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