Talking about useless technology
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My credit card with Citibank has some kind of rebate when making certain purchases. When the rebate amount reaches a certain limit, I can request a check send to me. First, I tried to do it online, there was a "Request rebate check" link just for this purpose. It did not work (with some technical error message) but it did give me a service phone number to call. I called the number, entered my credit card information and guess what, the phone route did not work either. I was transferred to a customer service person, who took all my information and assured me that I would receive my rebate check as soon as possible. That was two weeks ago. Since I never received my rebate check, I tried the whole thing again today, both the web and the phone routes failed (again) with the same error. I was transferred to another customer service person. I told him what happened. He talked to his supervisor and then told me that there is a button (yes, a button) on my credit card that I can press it to use my rebate dollars at any store. It is supposed to be a new technology that is only available to valued customers like me (I guess I should be impressed and grateful). The only problem is, there is no such button on my credit card. The customer service person opened a ticket to send me a new credit card that will definately have that button. I am just wondering, isn't it simpler to transfer the rebate amount to my credit card or transfer it to my checking account? Why in the hell do people need a button on credit card? Does the button invoke (god forbid) javascript? If it plays music and allows me to watch youtube then it would be worth it. On the other hand, I haven't watched any news for a long time, it is possible that Citibank (and the whole country) has gone bankrupt, the customer service person is just enjoy his last days on the job. :-D
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My credit card with Citibank has some kind of rebate when making certain purchases. When the rebate amount reaches a certain limit, I can request a check send to me. First, I tried to do it online, there was a "Request rebate check" link just for this purpose. It did not work (with some technical error message) but it did give me a service phone number to call. I called the number, entered my credit card information and guess what, the phone route did not work either. I was transferred to a customer service person, who took all my information and assured me that I would receive my rebate check as soon as possible. That was two weeks ago. Since I never received my rebate check, I tried the whole thing again today, both the web and the phone routes failed (again) with the same error. I was transferred to another customer service person. I told him what happened. He talked to his supervisor and then told me that there is a button (yes, a button) on my credit card that I can press it to use my rebate dollars at any store. It is supposed to be a new technology that is only available to valued customers like me (I guess I should be impressed and grateful). The only problem is, there is no such button on my credit card. The customer service person opened a ticket to send me a new credit card that will definately have that button. I am just wondering, isn't it simpler to transfer the rebate amount to my credit card or transfer it to my checking account? Why in the hell do people need a button on credit card? Does the button invoke (god forbid) javascript? If it plays music and allows me to watch youtube then it would be worth it. On the other hand, I haven't watched any news for a long time, it is possible that Citibank (and the whole country) has gone bankrupt, the customer service person is just enjoy his last days on the job. :-D
Totally agree. Seems like a ridiculous idea to me. http://gizmodo.com/5655767/press-your-credit-cards-secret-buttons-and-youll-be-paying-with-rewards-points[^]
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My credit card with Citibank has some kind of rebate when making certain purchases. When the rebate amount reaches a certain limit, I can request a check send to me. First, I tried to do it online, there was a "Request rebate check" link just for this purpose. It did not work (with some technical error message) but it did give me a service phone number to call. I called the number, entered my credit card information and guess what, the phone route did not work either. I was transferred to a customer service person, who took all my information and assured me that I would receive my rebate check as soon as possible. That was two weeks ago. Since I never received my rebate check, I tried the whole thing again today, both the web and the phone routes failed (again) with the same error. I was transferred to another customer service person. I told him what happened. He talked to his supervisor and then told me that there is a button (yes, a button) on my credit card that I can press it to use my rebate dollars at any store. It is supposed to be a new technology that is only available to valued customers like me (I guess I should be impressed and grateful). The only problem is, there is no such button on my credit card. The customer service person opened a ticket to send me a new credit card that will definately have that button. I am just wondering, isn't it simpler to transfer the rebate amount to my credit card or transfer it to my checking account? Why in the hell do people need a button on credit card? Does the button invoke (god forbid) javascript? If it plays music and allows me to watch youtube then it would be worth it. On the other hand, I haven't watched any news for a long time, it is possible that Citibank (and the whole country) has gone bankrupt, the customer service person is just enjoy his last days on the job. :-D
Xiangyang Liu 刘向阳 wrote:
I am just wondering, isn't it simpler to transfer the rebate amount to my credit card...
My Discover card does this. So far it has worked as expected.
"One man's wage rise is another man's price increase." - Harold Wilson
"Fireproof doesn't mean the fire will never come. It means when the fire comes that you will be able to withstand it." - Michael Simmons
"Show me a community that obeys the Ten Commandments and I'll show you a less crowded prison system." - Anonymous
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Xiangyang Liu 刘向阳 wrote:
I am just wondering, isn't it simpler to transfer the rebate amount to my credit card...
My Discover card does this. So far it has worked as expected.
"One man's wage rise is another man's price increase." - Harold Wilson
"Fireproof doesn't mean the fire will never come. It means when the fire comes that you will be able to withstand it." - Michael Simmons
"Show me a community that obeys the Ten Commandments and I'll show you a less crowded prison system." - Anonymous
DavidCrow wrote:
My Discover card does this. So far it has worked as expected.
I've always gone for the $20 gets me $25 (occasionally $30; nowhere I regularly shop is at this tier) rewards code/gift certs instead.
Did you ever see history portrayed as an old man with a wise brow and pulseless heart, waging all things in the balance of reason? Is not rather the genius of history like an eternal, imploring maiden, full of fire, with a burning heart and flaming soul, humanly warm and humanly beautiful? --Zachris Topelius Training a telescope on one’s own belly button will only reveal lint. You like that? You go right on staring at it. I prefer looking at galaxies. -- Sarah Hoyt
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Totally agree. Seems like a ridiculous idea to me. http://gizmodo.com/5655767/press-your-credit-cards-secret-buttons-and-youll-be-paying-with-rewards-points[^]
Wait. I'd need to type a pin in on my CC?! And what do you think the odds are that, if it doesn't do so now it will soon, picking rewards points but not having enough will end up resulting in an overdraft fee instead of paying the difference with the regular balance. Beyond that, how long until they start charging an extra fee for Rex the Wonder card? I've never banked with them except for a promo offer where if I charged $500(1000?) in the first month I had the card they'd give me a $50(100?) reward, and a single $10 reward for a $10 purchase (bought lunch somewhere for ~$11). Both balances were paid in full the month I got the bill. :-D For some reason I suspect I'll be calling the cancel my account line before much longer. :doh:
Did you ever see history portrayed as an old man with a wise brow and pulseless heart, waging all things in the balance of reason? Is not rather the genius of history like an eternal, imploring maiden, full of fire, with a burning heart and flaming soul, humanly warm and humanly beautiful? --Zachris Topelius Training a telescope on one’s own belly button will only reveal lint. You like that? You go right on staring at it. I prefer looking at galaxies. -- Sarah Hoyt
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My credit card with Citibank has some kind of rebate when making certain purchases. When the rebate amount reaches a certain limit, I can request a check send to me. First, I tried to do it online, there was a "Request rebate check" link just for this purpose. It did not work (with some technical error message) but it did give me a service phone number to call. I called the number, entered my credit card information and guess what, the phone route did not work either. I was transferred to a customer service person, who took all my information and assured me that I would receive my rebate check as soon as possible. That was two weeks ago. Since I never received my rebate check, I tried the whole thing again today, both the web and the phone routes failed (again) with the same error. I was transferred to another customer service person. I told him what happened. He talked to his supervisor and then told me that there is a button (yes, a button) on my credit card that I can press it to use my rebate dollars at any store. It is supposed to be a new technology that is only available to valued customers like me (I guess I should be impressed and grateful). The only problem is, there is no such button on my credit card. The customer service person opened a ticket to send me a new credit card that will definately have that button. I am just wondering, isn't it simpler to transfer the rebate amount to my credit card or transfer it to my checking account? Why in the hell do people need a button on credit card? Does the button invoke (god forbid) javascript? If it plays music and allows me to watch youtube then it would be worth it. On the other hand, I haven't watched any news for a long time, it is possible that Citibank (and the whole country) has gone bankrupt, the customer service person is just enjoy his last days on the job. :-D
I am truly, then, set for a fall, as I'm the arch enemy of smartening up credit cards.* When I get a card with a chip in it, I grab some small-but-trusty tools and crush the sucker. It seems (to me) nutso to have one's card activate a transaction without my intervention (such as transferring my card's info to someone's scanner). So far, I've had not problems with the card. Particularly since, for the last year or so, the number of stores that don't require a signature at all has grown considerably. Those that do require a signature and insist I do so electronically, invariably get me to sign using my one of my pseudonyms: VOID or BOGUS So, if my card came with a button, I'd presume it can be only one thing; the DESTRUCT button. *Smart phones are nauseating enough.
"The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein
"As far as we know, our computer has never had an undetected error." - Weisert
"If you are searching for perfection in others, then you seek disappointment. If you are seek perfection in yourself, then you will find failure." - Balboos HaGadol Mar 2010
