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Mar. 18th, 2011
The Science of Courage
Mar. 18th, 2011 01:47 pmAs a fan of the old "courage is not the absence of fear..." formulation, I enjoyed reading this piece in the NY Times about the neuroscience of courage.
(It's really just a slight overview, but it was a fun read.)
(It's really just a slight overview, but it was a fun read.)
I tried to get a credit card again today.
After I got my job, I tried, hoping to be able to rebuild my credit, which was understandably ravaged during my long unemployment in Boston. I was told then that I was still too high risk.
I came back today, $1,000 in hand, and asked for the secured card that RBC carries. My family has banked with them for 30 years, I want to keep my accounts all in one place and continue to do business with them, who have mostly treated me ok.
They said they couldn't set up a meeting. The secured card is for new immigrants only. I asked them to give me any actuarial reason not to offer it to me. It is a secured card. It is zero risk. I give them $1,000 and they hold on to it. The card has $1,000 as a limit. There is an annual fee. They are guaranteed money because even if I run up the bill to max and bail, they already have it covered and have been earning interest on that money in the meantime. There is no difference in risk between me and an unknown foreigner. I am a customer, trying to rebuild credit and sadly, a modern life requires a credit card for a great many day-to-day interactions. (For instance, I cannot subscribe to the NYtimes new pay feature without one.)
"Give me one reason it makes sense to not offer it to me as well," I asked.
"It is against our policy to help people rebuild credit."
So, anyone know a bank that is willing to work with me instead of against me? I've clearly no reason to stay here.
After I got my job, I tried, hoping to be able to rebuild my credit, which was understandably ravaged during my long unemployment in Boston. I was told then that I was still too high risk.
I came back today, $1,000 in hand, and asked for the secured card that RBC carries. My family has banked with them for 30 years, I want to keep my accounts all in one place and continue to do business with them, who have mostly treated me ok.
They said they couldn't set up a meeting. The secured card is for new immigrants only. I asked them to give me any actuarial reason not to offer it to me. It is a secured card. It is zero risk. I give them $1,000 and they hold on to it. The card has $1,000 as a limit. There is an annual fee. They are guaranteed money because even if I run up the bill to max and bail, they already have it covered and have been earning interest on that money in the meantime. There is no difference in risk between me and an unknown foreigner. I am a customer, trying to rebuild credit and sadly, a modern life requires a credit card for a great many day-to-day interactions. (For instance, I cannot subscribe to the NYtimes new pay feature without one.)
"Give me one reason it makes sense to not offer it to me as well," I asked.
"It is against our policy to help people rebuild credit."
So, anyone know a bank that is willing to work with me instead of against me? I've clearly no reason to stay here.