Don’t Take No From Your Credit Cards as the Final Answer
One of my credit cards has an annual fee of $59. When I got the card two years ago, my credit score was quite low and it was my hope to use the card to help re-establish my credit by making small purchases and paying them off each month before the due date. I was only able to get a credit card with an annual fee, so I accepted it.
In the last year though, my credit score has been steadily climbing and I no longer feel my only option for credit is to you pay $59 a year to keep it. I contacted the credit card company and asked if they would please remove the annual fee, and of course the response was an immediate “No.” The customer service representative explained that when I applied for the card I agreed to their terms and conditions, which included a $59 annual fee.
Instead of taking no for an answer, I calmly thanked the man for his time and said that I would be transferring the small balance that remained on this credit card to a new credit card that was not charging an annual fee; and that I would be closing this credit card account.
I was placed on hold after which the representative returned to thank me for being a great customer of their card, not only removed the future charges of the $59 annual fee, but removed the last fee charged to my account and only asked that in return I did not cancel my credit card with them.
This is a perfect example of not taking no as the final answer from your credit card companies. If you have annual fees, ask to have them removed. If you have a high interest rate, ask to have it lowered. You might be surprised at what you can accomplish just by taking the initiative.
