Why is it so hard to close a damn credit card these days ??

I was on the phone for ten minutes telling a representative who was reading a script in order to keep something I dont want.....

Call me MISTER PRESIDENT!	Because it's modern day slavery. Keep you paying high fees every month...companies sell your account to other companies, etc. It's a BIG business just making money from INTEREST. It's corporate pimping, one could say.
Terence L	Credit cards are big business. They don't want to lose you as a customer so they make it as hard as possible to get rid of them.
Randy B	I just sent them a letter stating I wanted to cancel the card and took a pair of scissors to the card itself. I still get statements every month telling me I have a 9 cent credit on the card but it doesn't show up on my credit rating as an active credit card so I'm not concerned.
Prince Of Love	they want 2 get ur money
Greg	cuz they dont want u to close it.
Paul T	same thing happened to my, sissors is the fastest yes, but what they want is for you to stay with there company so they keep your money, running a magnet over the strip a couple of times then cutting it up after all old transitions are paid for is your best option
bdancer222	Never close a credit card account on the phone. Always send a letter to close the account. Request written confirmation that the account is closed and 0 balance. Closed credit card accounts sometimes come back to life.
beachcomber	You will be automatically transferred to the company's retention department. It is their job to keep you on the phone until you cave. They can and do become quite RUDE. Just insist that they cancel it; report them to your local Better Business Bureau, tell them you don't have time for their nonsense and basically tell them YOU are the customer and you want your card canceled. They don't care about YOU they only care about the revenue your card's interest makes them.
lawgirl5	Firmly state "CLOSE-MY-ACCOUNT-NOW!!" and hang up. Of course, closing your account will hurt your credit score. I'd just leave it open and never use it. Maybe use it to buy a pack of gum once a year so it continues to be rated and help up your score...heh heh...
Dhiren S	Well, after loosing such a big amt on their clumzy mortgage lending, they are trying to cover cost from creditcard.
Kymimom	Because they want to keep you in the Consumer Cage! and it ensures the "representative" a JOB, if you don't cancel. Lol Hey check out this website, about stepping OUT of the vicious cycle and why you should consider it. www.storyofstuff.com Peace, from a Non- Credit Card holding wealthy Woman ;)
Grandpa	i would call them and tell them to read your lips if they do not cancel the account now then you are going to report them to the BBB or consumer fraud and file a compliant here is a web site check it out before you call again because all the so called care company have been reported or on report /www.ripoffreport.com
╔Kimmeh╗ ♪♫	I know how you feel. Its like hell on earth trying to get the thing to go away. xD Yet, its so simple and easy to get. Kinda like an STD, LOL. xD
Crazyjester9	Best bet, if you want to avoid the hassle, is to do it in writing.
The Frugal Shopper	I would ask for the reps supervisor. Another comment that I make, that just 'busts their buttons' is when I say, "I would like to speak to someone that is able to serve my needs in a more competent way. It appears that you are not able to adequately manage my account and that I am now in need of someone that supervises you." Oh, they hate that. LOL...good luck!
rmustang7	they want your business.
tone	It is easy. You cut the card up, return it to company and when you call you do not waste time with a representative, you ask for an account supervisor....
greffy	Well, let's reverse roles. You are the credit card company. You know the person calling has a good payment history with you. You also know that quite a few people are not so good. You also know that when the person hangs up you will never hear from that person again. You also know that it costs the company more to get a good paying customer than to pay people to try to keep the customer who wants to leave. I think your natural choice would be to do almost anything legal to keep the current customer. I am not defending the rude treatment. I know. I've seen it a lot lately with many different types of companies.
staathommom	I wouldn't know. They've always closed them out for me.
Jeff L	it's because of the recent credit crashes where the prime rate is lower then long term interest. in other words lot of people with good to standard credit are faulting on their loads and morgues so credit companies are raising the credit requirements.
src50	Because you're wasting your time on the phone. Send them a letter via certified mail.
skilo47	they want everyone in debt so they can make millions off the interest you pay and they know u cant pay them back but thats not the point they dont want to the balance to ever be payed off becuase they are making 10 times the balance back in intrest its a scam abolish the federal reserve elect ron paul the only hope for america
Chris R	scissors ftw
hello	you simply say I want to close my account!! If they go on another lengthy reason why you shouldn't.....say I want to close my account. By closing your account this is not a positive for your credit score........keep the account open and cut up the card...this will keep your credit score up....