Damned if you don't ... Damned if you DO!

Ok ... so if you DON'T pay your credit card fully, you get charged interest on the outstanding balance - and sometimes to the tune of 20+%. And, if you pay it LATE, they can hit you up with a late fee and tarnish that good credit rating you've been trying to build up your whole adulthood.

However ... if you DO pay off your credit card in full ... you CAN'T.

Here's the story:

I was tired of constantly paying a little each month and getting hit with the interest - especially since I was carrying a rather large balance on the credit card! The interest was always nullifying the payment ... it was like not making a payment at all.

So, listening to all the financial experts out there who are constantly saying "pay off your credit cards! don't carry any credit debt around with you!" - I decided to do the smart thing and pay it off in full. As much as it hurt, I sent the full amount of $8,000+ dollars to the creditor .... it KILLED me, but it also was a great relief ............ end of story.

WRONG!!!

I took my family for a little overnight jaunt to a neighboring state. We took in a ballgame, did some sightseeing. It was a whim .... it was FUN! But, when it came time to check out of the hotel and pay my bill - for some reason my credit card was being denied. Hmmm, maybe the payment didn't clear yet, I thought - so I charged it on another card.

A day or two later, I was going to fill my tank with some gas, but when I slid my card into the pump ... it was rejected!!!

When I got home I fired up the computer and checked my online bank account and - sure enough - the money was gone from my checking account. Then I logged on to my credit card account and - sure enough - payment was received and I was staring at a zero balance!!!

WTF?!

I called the credit card company and explained the situation to them and asked them to tell me why my card was still being denied when I had a zero balance on it. Here's what I was told:

"You see, Mr. _____, since this particular payment was 'out of character' compared to all previous payments, it is our policy to put a hold on the account so we can verify that the payment is valid. We have to make sure that the payment clears."

WHAT?! But the money is no longer in my bank account and my credit card account shows a zero balance .... it looks like it ALREADY cleared to me!!!

"No, Mr. _____, we have to make sure that the payment came from a reliable source"

BUT THE PAYMENT CAME FROM THE SAME BANK THAT ISSUED THE CREDIT CARD!

"Yes, sir, but it is still our policy to put a hold on the account for ten days until we can make sure that the payment came from a reliable source"

[sigh]

By now my head is swimming with thoughts like .... they're doing a background check on me, they're tracing my banking transactions, I'm being watched everyday .... hell, they're probably even monitoring this blog!

All because I had the audacity to pay off my credit card in full!

There's a million-and-one lessons that can be gained from this experience and I'm sure each one of you will choose your own.

But for me ................... where the HELL are those scissors?!?!?!

To Die for Experience!

So, if you happen to be living or visiting near Stamford, CT ..... you must ABSOLUTELY go to Market restaurant for a dining experience "to die for"!

My good friend just became the Executive Chef there and he has revamped the entire menu.

In the words of the owners to my friend: "you are the best thing we ever did for the restaurant"!

If you want a phenomenal experience, which features - excellent food, intimate atmosphere and a great crowd - don't hesitate going (FYI: it's a great date restaurant - there's a club right around the corner for after-dinner partying!)

I know this sounds like a commercial ........ but I wouldn't steer you wrong!

Enjoy!

Old Skeletons

Skeletons from the past
There by invitation
Sit and mock the pain they cause
And yet ........ they are my friends

Original by JR

I'm a Twitter'n Fool

Just joined Twitter a couple of days ago ..... pretty cool!

Brings the planet together in some strange way.

Let's see how long it holds my interest?!