Comments on Boston Gal's Open Wallet: Update from Boston Gal's HQ

I received the exact same rate increase on my citi...

2009-11-13T00:24:02.355-05:00

I received the exact same rate increase on my citi card, despite having never made a late payment and carrying a good credit score. It's all thanks to the Credit CARD Act of 2009.

Right there with ya on the issue of cable. I canceled my cable outright this year and I feel great about it (after always feeling that Time Warner was overcharging for their bare bones cable service given how rarely I turned on the tv). Now, I watch tv shows online and get movies through netflix while saving a bundle.

I got a notice similar to Amy's. I don't carry a ...

2009-11-12T08:42:12.723-05:00

I got a notice similar to Amy's. I don't carry a balance, so I haven't changed the card. However, I did go ahead and cash in most of my rewards points, in case they decide to "adjust" those, as well.

I disagree on the cable bill. Why should BG pay $...

2009-11-11T15:47:43.109-05:00

I disagree on the cable bill. Why should BG pay $20 more than she has to? Comcast is always pulling this crap. They don't have set rates. The lazy pay more. Anyone who expends a little effort and calls them gets a reduced rate - but as BG mentions you have to go through this whole retention call crap. Annoying, but in the end worth it.

That $20 she is saving is really $120.00 if it is the standard 6 month deal. BG has been making calls like this since at least 2005 according to her link to the earlier post. Add up all of those savings and you start to see how BG is accumulating all of her "financial hoard"!

If she can cut out TV all together - why not. One less bill. I am sure she will look at market conditions next year and adjust her basement rent accordingly. Just as many people cut the land line phone cord and are now 100% reliant on a cell phone - folks are starting to cut the cable cord and get their entertainment from the internet or via DVDs, etc.

BG, I think you are going a bit over the top, obse...

2009-11-11T13:59:14.556-05:00

BG, I think you are going a bit over the top, obsessing about a $20cable bill, in view of your overall accumulated financial hoard and the fact that your renter is contributing a significant amount of monthly income to you. Sorry, but I think you are beginning to sound like a scrooge! You might consider how your quality of life in the present could be different if you live a little, are generous to yourself and others, rather than feeling compelled to squeeze each and every dollar.

My Chase credit card recently increased the "varia...

2009-11-11T13:01:48.110-05:00

My Chase credit card recently increased the "variable" rate from 15.99 to 22.99 percent. I don't carry a balance (and don't recall having ever signed up for a card with a variable interest rate) but I don't like the fact that they neglected to e-mail or mail me anything about the rate increase. I only found out because Mint sent me an alert. I immediately cancelled it because it's not my oldest, it has a low limit and I don't like their way of doing business.

Citibank sent me an interesting offer - the rate w...

2009-11-11T10:55:54.003-05:00

Citibank sent me an interesting offer - the rate would go up if I did nothing, but it would drop to 9.99% if I did a balance transfer of $3,000 or more. The 9.99% would be the rate on the transferred balance and any new purchases for a year.

Like you I don't carry a balance on any of my cards and just use them for the convenience and rewards. I'm willing to let the rate pop up to whatever they want, but I'll cancel the card if they start charging an annual fee.

Even i do prefer to clear my entire bill's payment...

2009-11-11T07:08:28.374-05:00

Even i do prefer to clear my entire bill's payment on time to avoid any kind of interests. It is better to switch to another reward card if current one levies extra charges.
Must to mention, your doormat is cool and i wish to utilize my little bit skills to perform like that.

Regarding the low-mileage discount on car insuranc...

2009-11-10T18:37:50.500-05:00

Regarding the low-mileage discount on car insurance, someone told me that there is actually a U-shaped curve to rates, meaning that you get a discount if you drive very little, but you lose the discount if you drive very, very little. I think the logic was that with so little driving, you fall out of practice and hence become more dangerous. Does anyone know if this is the case?

I've received letters from all the traditional ban...

2009-11-10T17:06:27.601-05:00

I've received letters from all the traditional banks (Emigrant, Citi, BOA are the ones I have wound up with multiple cards with due to takeovers) I have credit cards with increasing rates and lowering limits. AMEX also has done so. I have over 800 FICO scores and don't run a balance so their cards were quickly removed from my wallet. I have replaced them with cards from credit unions that are far better (lower rates and fees) and have cash back also.

You gotta join a credit union. They are all around and are far more member friendly.

I got the same notice from Citibank. I did close t...

2009-11-10T16:54:10.994-05:00

I got the same notice from Citibank. I did close the account, though - I've switched to a different rewards card anyway, and just really felt a need to vote with my feet on that deal!

Chase sent Snork Maiden a letter saying they'd clo...

2009-11-10T16:05:51.068-05:00

Chase sent Snork Maiden a letter saying they'd closed one of her US accounts because she didn't use it. I haven't seen this preemptive move before...

In the past with the form to fill out I have gotte...

2009-11-10T15:43:03.811-05:00

In the past with the form to fill out I have gotten the low mileage discount by looking at oil change/car maintenance receipts, they contain the mileage at the time of the visit...estimate from there.

Now I have Liberty Mutual and they automatically know based on the milage entered at my annual inspection...this leads me to believe the Mass RMV knows your milage stats.