Just Another Sign of the Aging Phenomenon?
Posted: Wednesday, August 19, 2009
by Sandra E. Graham
My Books and Articles
Jokes are often made of elderly people who go from one room to another and forget why they went in there. And although we laugh at the jokes, it may not be so funny to the person experiencing such a problem. As we age, short-term memory loss becomes a real issue with which we must contend.
I actually use a daily medicine dispenser so that I know whether or not I have taken my medicine morning and evening. I keep the outgoing bills in a certain folder so that I know when I have mailed them and when I haven't. It was just for this reason that I became confused and irritated by my credit card company when they sent me a statement with a $39 late fee charge. This was the second time this particular credit card company had done this in just a few months. I knew I couldn't have been late, because I make it a point to mail in all my bills with plenty of time for the checks to reach their destination.
Not only do credit cards double their monthly interest rates in this way, but also use this as a gimmick to threaten its cardholders with an increased over-all percentage rate when they are "late" more than twice in a specified period. Do they care that it is an honest over-sight by a valued customer?-Not in the least. Credit card companies see it as a way to get back the huge income losses that they endure from people who file bankruptcy on their cards or who hire attorneys to get their credit card debt reduced or eliminated all together. Don't let yourself fall victim to this legal scam and be sure to remember to check your minimum-due before mailing in your credit card payment.
Maybe I'm a bit prejudiced since I've joined the ranks of senior citizens, but I just don't feel it's right for elderly people to be taken advantage of so often. It seems that the older we get, the more often we allow ourselves to get into situations that might not have happened when we were younger. We sign two-year agreement contracts that have fine print stating that there is an exorbitant early termination fee that is not thoroughly explained to us before we sign and this can range anywhere from cell phones to satellite internet and television services. I believe it is Direct-TV that is in a litigation right now over their high fees for early termination of services and I for one hope they lose this one to John-Q-Public!
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Top-level comments on this article: (5 total)hi sandra,i'm with you.i think over the past 20 years, i've paid more in interest than in payments. not anymore.i think it's good to use a bank card, if you have the money in the account, because then you know it's being taken out the next day or immediately.thanks for sharing this with us,my best to you,sueAnd thank you, Sue, for reading and commenting.Sandra
Sandra, thanks for being public about short term memory loss public. One thing about aging--we have so much to share because of experience. Another Golden Oldie is that with most credit card companies, making a double payment does not mean you made two payments, it just means you paid more. One of my challenges with short term memory is being gifted with a great idea that doesn't stay with me long enough to write it down.You are so right, Suzi. And one of God's greatest gifts to us is giving us the feeling that getting old isn't all that bad. I love being a grandmother and great-grandmother by inheritance. Thanks so much for reading and commenting.
I hear you Sandra. My long distance provider changed the hours in which long distance calls could be made for less, only they didn't properly inform anyone of the change. They wrote it in tiny print on the back of the bill. I was livid! I thought of all the seniors, who, if I couldn't read it, would be impossible for them to see. I called the company and yelled at the wrong person, which is something we've all done, and regret. Of course, nothing changed, and for months, until they questioned the hire bills, everyone (especially seniors) were taken advantage of. It's unfortunate, but this kind of thing goes on everywhere and always will. Great article Sandra, it may prevent what happened to you, from happening to someone else.Thanks for reading and commenting, Brianna.
Sandra,Great article and very good advice. It is maddening what the credit cards are doing to us. My address coincides with a house a mile down the road -- different town but same exact address and zip code. I've had bills go to her home and not received them in time to pay them in advance. It is more than frustrating and neither the post office nor the township wants to deal with this problem.Memory loss? My gosh, I'm seeing it in my 50's. Worrisome without a doubt.Nancy
My credit card company must really hate me. They keep sending statements to me with $0.00 minimum payment. Why? Because I keep sending them $500.00 per month, in order to get rid of my credit card debt, once and for all. I know they are hoping that I will not send them any money for a couples months, in order that they can start making some decent interest off me. I'm determined not to let that happen.
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