The phone rings. An unfamiliar number shows up on the screen.
“Hi, this is XYZ from XYZ bank, how are you doing Sir?” the phone barked.
“Fine” I said coldly.
“Sir, we have noticed that while you are paying your monthly minimum amount, you are not using your card for new transactions” the corporate brightness shrieked through the phone.
“Well I had a pay raise so now I use more cash” I interrupted him with my cold tone.
“Oh, well if you have more salary now, we can give you a limit increase” oh so benevolent chirping sound…
“Nope, its just that I don’t plan using your card much” I said mockingly.
“Why is that Sir?” confused he was, “Are you not satisfied with our service?”
“Well if you want to know, I am not” I sure was rude, “Every month, I end up paying almost 50% markup, when your marketing campaigns give a different impression. I have realized that credit cards are of no help.”
“Sir, I am sorry that you are disturbed, but we charge according to the terms and conditions which you agreed while signing up” he said politely.
“I am not blaming you dear” I said firmly.
“Alright sir, whenever you want any help, we are here for you” he knew he had to give up, “Allah Hafiz”.
“Bye” I hung up.
A few months back, when I had almost replenished the limit of my credit card, the same bank was keeping me on my toes. Every month, almost all of my salary was paid back to the banking system. Almost 50% of my bill amount contributed towards the markup. Since I didn’t have any cash, I ended up buying more on the credit card. And not to mention lack of consideration in budgeting and spending, because well, I had a credit card…
Then I knew that things had to change. And they did! If things go well, I plan to cancel all my credit cards in 3 months time. And things will go well. The nature is prevalent.
The banking systems employ a lots of mathematics and prediction models to calculate different markup percentages of different products for different income groups. These banks prototype you, and other corporates manufacturing consumer goods come to their aid. The whole central banking system is there to ultimately protect the commercial and investment banks on cost of unemployment and rise in food prices.
Why can’t people see? Why can’t people hear? And why can’t people speak out?
SK said,
October 22, 2008 @ 10:28 pm
1) i don’t appreciate the comment you threw at me on my post..regd the hubby thing…very crude thing to do. ;/
Been in the credit card mess myself…getting out of it now Alhamdullilah…but no matter how careful you ‘know’ you’re gonna be, the bottomline is in the end you’re gonna end up paying the 50% more than the original price ofteh thing you bought with the card….which you know is paying for the education of the children whose CC compnay it is. 
Cash is always better. 
2) I agree with this post too. *shocked*
stinger said,
October 22, 2008 @ 11:04 pm
Yep, paying for his children’ education, contributing into killing more African and Iraqi children and funding propaganda NGOs such as yours.
stinger said,
October 22, 2008 @ 11:25 pm
There is something about this post. If someone notices, tell me.
SK said,
October 23, 2008 @ 12:17 am
‘funding propaganda NGOs such as yours’ And do I agree with that? Err…..NO!
SK said,
October 23, 2008 @ 12:18 am
’something about this post.’ I know I know! Hmm…that you were as usual MOCKING someone (in this case the employee) and being a bit rude?
stinger said,
October 23, 2008 @ 1:32 am
Of course you don’t agree. Just like that bank employee, your belief that your organization is a chaste one is driven by your personal preferences, not the ground facts.
The ground facts themselves are of course drown in a sea of irrelevance.
And no, there is something else about this post. I’ll give a hint.
Hint 1: There are lines which are not my own creation.
jayna said,
October 25, 2008 @ 6:40 pm
all this makes me wonder why everyone so willing to join banks and crazy for accounting n finance degrees..
jayna said,
October 25, 2008 @ 6:42 pm
oh we are pawns in this world ruled by corporations