HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ita!!!

OK, heard back from the credit union.

We're approved for a little over half of our total indebtedness on a 5-year loan. Interest rate is two points higher than the one named in the initial discussion yesterday, but about 2.5 points lower than the rate on the three Evil Bank cards, maybe one point lower than that of the Not-So-Evil Bank card, and IIRC actually 3 points or so higher than what the Discover card is supposed to flip to once the introductory period ends.

So. It's not what I hoped for either in amount or rate, but it's still an improvement over our current position. It's enough to pay of our two highest-balance cards with a few hundred to spare (and throw against another card), and I'm hoping zeroing out two of the three cards will give me some leverage in trying to get Evil Bank to lower our rate on the third. And if not, I'll just transfer that balance over to Not-So-Evil and Discover as soon as I can!

Sigh. I'll keep fighting. I just wish it didn't feel so much like trench warfare.

Gummi Bears are a good diet food, right?

Depends on the diet.

All Gummi Diet!

That sounds like a good plan, Susan -- the trench warfare feeling definitely sucks, but given that it's simply always a long and unfun process, this sounds like you've at least got some more breathing room and a battle plan. Good luck!

I bet Giuliani says this exact same thing to Beelzebub when he enters hell....

Cheney's been visting Giuliani?

Hmm Susan, have you checked with Discover if you can transfer any of your balances to them? Just tell them honestly that they offer a better interest rate than your other credit cards.

Hmm Susan, have you checked with Discover if you can transfer any of your balances to them? Just tell them honestly that they offer a better interest rate than your other credit cards.

Well, right now we're near the max on that card. I only applied for it a few months ago to take advantage of a 0% introductory rate, was approved for $X, and transferred $X from one of the high-balance cards. Naturally I've been paying the minimum on that balance, because it's still at 0% and I'm trying to maximize what I pay on balances that are charging me interest. Anyway, it's going to be awhile before there's much wiggle room in my existing credit limit with them, and I doubt they'll increase my credit limit just for me asking. I mean, why should they, given my current circumstances? Just because I know I'm stubborn as hell and determined that this debt is going to die doesn't mean they have any reason to believe me.

Once you've made even six on-time payments, I'd ask if they would increase the limit -- a person who carries balances and makes the payments is a credit card company's ideal customer.

Best of luck to you, Susan. I'm very (veryveryvery) familiar with what you're going through, and I can tell you that there is a light at the end of that long tunnel. I had to live very frugally a few summers ago to pay off one credit card (damn garnishment), but I did it and improved my credit score by nearly 100 points as a result.

ION, I saw this great story about what goes into stories shown on shows like Dateline and how the reporters feel about the entire procedure.