I don't have any long distance carrier designated on my land line. That way, they don't have to charge me the monthly federal fees and taxes that often added up to as much as the basic phone service! I am still connected to the system, and anyone can call me from long distance, and I can use the land line (home phone) for any 800 or 866 free call without having to pay the federal taxes. If I should use the phone for a regular long distance call, then they do add that month's fees etc taxes to it, and I have to call and refuse the service again for the future. Saves me gobs of money!

I don't have "that many" credit cards. I do have plenty, meaning I have enough to suit my needs. But I held these two for emergencies, with high credit lines. If you must know, in my day to day, I use one card for paying all my travel charges as it has a spendid rebate rate and pays me for travel, and I have my Disney card which gives me great rewards for Disney trips and purchases. Sometimes I will open an account, like I just did, with Home Depot because on my riding mower purchase it is carrying it for 6 months without interest (no interest is accruing at all.) That gets me through real estate tax time without having to pay anything. But I'll not be using nor carrying the card.

Well, I 'm not feeling sorry for the credit card companies. They charge the vendor for each purchase you make. Yes, if you don't use them, it might cost them a few cents. They don't even send a statement out by the third month of non-use though, so it's just another line on their computer documentation at that point. Many cards are charging 24% interest rate too. If you are, you need to call and ask them to lower it. If you've been paying on time, they will. But I don't carry any balances and pay off at the end of the month, so of course they don't "like" me for that.

I'm perfectly fine with not giving them my business. It is my credit, and it they don't wish to cooperate with how I handle my finances, so be it. Just like with Sears. I'll never do business with them again...and it's their own fault. I bet they would have loved to have had me purchase my new mower through them, and I have appliances to buy in the not too distant future. I don't play their games. I have other places and things to go and do.