Goodbye, CapitalOne

CapitalOne's "important notice of a change in terms" arrived in Monday's mail. Decline the terms by 8pm July 28, 2009, or watch my annual interest rate go from 8.53% to 17.9%.

I didn't wait until July 28th, or even July or June 1st. I called Monday evening. The account will be closed in July or August, and I'll pay off the balance(s) at the existing terms. The 6.99% rate that's dropping to 4.99% next spring would have happened anyway, but this way the 1.99% money will only go up to the old purchase rate rather than the new one when its promotional period disappears.

I find myself hoping CapitalOne goes out of business. In my current statement, they're bragging about how they're building "Trust. Worthy. Banking." and paying an entire 2.01% interest on their online savings accounts. Color me not convinced. Not in the least bit convinced.

The whole "here, borrow as much as you want at 1.99% for six months then pay your usual rate on the remaining balance after that time" followed three months later by "we're more than doubling your usual interest rate" certainly reeks of entrapment to me. Especially when the offer is sent to someone already carrying a hefty balance on the account that's under a "until the loan is repaid" interest rate, thus burying the higher interest money so that monthly payments are barely applied to it.

I don't like the fact that closing the account is likely to hurt my credit score.

I'm sorry CapitalOne would rather lose any future business with me than continue offering the sort of rates that both made them money and made them attractive in the first place. And I somehow doubt that my closing my account will slow the almost-weekly arrival of new offers from them for business accounts, personal loans, and similar services. I somehow suspect those will soon be accompanied by offers for new CapitalOne accounts...and at lower rates than 17.9%.

I'll be glad when July 2010 comes and credit card payments have to be applied in ways other than those that only maximize the lender's profits. And even happier when my CapitalOne balance is paid off and they never earn another penny off me.

Sensible: Another Word for Old

I hates it, I hates it I do.

Grumble, grump, stampfoot, and All That Jazz...

The background: I have a bum gallbladder. Same-day, laparoscopic surgery to have it removed is scheduled for Monday, June 1st. elaine_brennan has been keeping me company through all of the medical appointments and tests of the last 11 days. It's been reassuring to have her readily at hand should the need for a quick trip to the emergency room arise. Fortunately, a low-fat diet seems to be doing the trick in terms of avoiding additional attacks.

After surgery, I'll be convalescing at debgeisler and benveniste's.

It's good, so good, to have friends.

I'm not thrilled about the gallbladder problems, but that's not what I'm grumbling about. Not directly, anyway.

( 4-part harmony: why I won't be at ConQuesT this weekend )

So, yes, I'm being sensible. Sensible is not fun. Sensible feels old. I've never been good at admitting or believing I'm human, that I can't do everything I want to do. Heck, if I had my way, I'd be at ConQuesT and at Plokta.con and at WisCon this weekend. And I'd not need the surgery, either.

As you can no doubt tell from all the whinging, I'm living in my cranky pants right now. I know I'm making a good decision, one that reflects and respects the reality that is my life at the current time. Usually when I do that, a reasonable measure of satisfaction accompanies the choice. Not this time. This time I'm just plain annoyed, dammit.

Onward.