Fool Me Once, Strike One. Fool Me Twice... Strike Three.

krippledkonscious — Thu, 18 Jan 2007 11:44:26 -0800

Why does my credit card company keep trying to scam me? And how is it legal? Every now and then, I'll receive an envelope from my credit card company that contains a check. Not a carbon-copy fake jobby like the ones Publisher's Clearing House used to send, that clearly indicate "This is total baloney" on the bottom. This is a real check, made out to me. Usually it's for something like $50. And there's a letter spewing crap about how the money is saying "thanks" for maintaining great credit (an obvious lie) and for being an excellent customer (a suspicious assertion), and how they're going to give me additional "Prestige Club" benefits, too.

For about 2.65 seconds, I actually congratulate myself and think about the wonderful and exotic beers I'll soon be enjoying with this 50 bucks. Of course, upon reaching second number 3 I return to my senses and read the separate little card with the fine print on the back. The fine print basically says, "Once you cash this check, we take this as an indication of acceptance on your part to enroll you in the 'Prestige Club." You will be automatically charged a $79/year fee until you figure out how to opt-out. Opting-out, of course, will be interpreted as an act of aggression that we will endeavor to thwart until you either die of terminal frustration or of natural causes."

How is this not a scam, and why couldn't people setup a class action suit to sue these scheming bastards? I don't fall for their trick, but I have to believe it works enough times that the credit card company is profiting from the trust, greed, and/or poor financial situation of its customers. If I ran a business that did the same thing to people, aside from being a total douchebag, how likely is it that I wouldn't be hauled into court, arrested for fraud, or be otherwise upended and pitchforked by an angry mob?

Also, I've seen this thread, but I'm particularly interested in the aspect of "How is this legal?"

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Fool Me Once, Strike One. Fool Me Twice... Strike Three.