Have You Cut Your Credit Cards Up?

livilou

I have one, my barclaycard that I rearely use, infact I hadn't used it for about 4 years and when we went on holiday last year had to phone them as I took it for emergencies and was worried they might think it had been stolen if it suddenly was used abroad after 4 years!

x

Glitterari

When I did my managed loan with HSBC I had to hand over my mastercard, like a naughty girl.

I have one card, in tact, Capital One. At first, I got my boyfriend to look after it and hide it from me, the urge to use it was too much. But then a couple of months later, once I was well and truely into paying off the debts, I found it (totally by accident - he hid it in a Halo game box - he thought I'd never find it there because I don't like Halo...I gave the game to a friend and found it then). Then he put it on the side to think of somewhere else to find it and it's been there ever since. I know where it is and it's ok. I never take it out with me.

It's actually a totally refreshing experience - my car insurance is to be renewed this month...I've never paid for it in full before...until this year! Yes - on the credit card (which is interest free for 2 months on purchases) - but it will all be paid off when I get paid and get the mileage through that was late last month! I've never had enough to pay for something like that before, because it was always maxed out!

C x

climbgirl

livilou wrote:

I have one, my barclaycard that I rearely use, infact I hadn't used it for about 4 years and when we went on holiday last year had to phone them as I took it for emergencies and was worried they might think it had been stolen if it suddenly was used abroad after 4 years!

x

slightly off topic (sorry SS!) but you should always phone the bank and let them know if you're going to be using it overseas. I travel a lot and I've had cards stopped for 'security reasons' when I've been overseas. Rather annoying when you're shopping in New York!

But if you give them the dates and your destinations, if it gets flagged they can see it's not stolen.

Montymoo_2

still have all three of mine intact, after reading this they are being removed from my purse so im not tempted when im out to spend on them

black-saturn

Mine were all cut up the day I had my lightbulb moment. I also cancelled each one when the debt was paid off. Now I just have 1 credit card account (but I dont have a card) which has 0 on it but I keep it open for the purposes of my credit rating.

dinkylou

I've got 2.

One is an egg for the special offers that I rarely use and the other is a Conran that I use for most purchases then pay off at end of month. (very disciplined now!!!!)

Use it as I would a debit card for the cashback (1%)

THE_LONE_RANGER_4

Chopped All Credit Cards Up About 2 Years Ago Have Two Basic Bank Accounts One With Debit Card ,i Also Have A Cashplan Master Card Ie Prepaid Card Same As Credit Card But Pre Charged So Incur No Debt And Good For Booking Hotels ,flights, Car Hire, And A Credit Union With 2k In First Time In 15 Years I Have Bank Account In Credit And Savings Which Are Increasing I Still Have Some Debt Left Should Be Gone In Another Year

fairylights_2

I have two - Barclaycard and Tesco card. OH is additional holder of my tesco card, has a HSBC card and Lloyds Amex rewards card. The barclaycard is being closed at the end of the month (keeping the money in my bank until it has to be paid) and is sitting next to the computer to remind me to do so. OH's HSBC was used for a 0% BT and has not seen the light of day since, and the Amex is a similar situation (in fact is £13.35 in credit due to a returned charge). The Tesco card, however, pays for ALL our monthly spending I can manage. Diesel, food, the lot. The cash sits in our account to accrue interest and I pay it off at the end of the month. This way Mr T will give me points for my shopping and I have a record of where both of us are spending and on what. I haven't taken any cash out of the bank in ten days, and even then that was £10!

mountainofdebt

how many we have (gawd that sounds awful!) but (and its a big but!) we are no longer spending on them, the credit limit is being reduced as we pay the balance off and as soon as they are cleared they're being cancelled.

I had cut up my cards previously but found when I wanted to do a BT I needed to quote the security code from the back so that's why I got new ones (so to speak)

All I need to stop me spending on them is this web site.......

skylight

All of my credit cards are deceased. Mind you, even if they weren't there is nothing left on them to spend and some poor man in an overseas call centre would be shouting at me down the phone if I tried!