Yep!

I can share with this you because at this point I've been told this twice within twenty four hours by Discover Card representatives, so I'm pretty sure they must believe it is true.

The callers asked for me by name and told me they were calling regarding my Discover Card account.  When I confirmed it was me they launched into a spiel that began with something like...  "Because you've been such an excellent card holder I'm calling to offer you this critical service.  Let me tell you about our..."

I'll stop here, as I am already boring myself... and there's a bit of a problem with the pitch.  Or at least there are some issues with their identification of me as "an excellent card holder."

The list:

1. I have only been a Discover Card holder for about three weeks.
2. I have never paid a bill (on time or otherwise)
3. I have never purchased anything with the card
4. I have never transferred a balance to the card
   
5. I have never signed the back of my card
6. I have never signed any agreement saying that I wanted the card (I went part way through an application online  but never finished it)
7. I have never activated my card

Has the economy tanked so badly that the mere fact that I'm not delinquent qualifies me as an excellent card holder?

I kid, of course.

The real problem with this situation isn't that they're trying to make money off of me and are willing to flatter me to do so... the real problem is that a company with so much data to mine has completely ignored it and is cold calling their clients while they're at work to upsell them products they've already indicated are not needed. 

Discover is in the process of destroying their brand with their sales tactics.  The first day I attempted to get off the phone three times and ended up hanging up while the agent continued talking.

Today's call (just ended) I attempted to end the call five times, very courteously. 

1. I said that the call must have been a mistake because I'd declined the offer twenty four hours earlier.  He responded that the offer was too important to reject.
2. I let him know that I was at work and this was not a great time to talk. He said it would only take a few moments
3. I let him know that I understood his job was to make the sale, but that it just wasn't going to happen.  He responded with something beginning with "Well sir, have you considered..."
4. I interrupted and informed him that I respected his efforts and wished him luck.  I told him I'd worked on phones and know people need to make a living.  I then let him know I was trying to be courteous.  He said "I know sir, but you really need to be protected from..."
   
5. I said "Thank you.  Please don't call me again with this offer. "  He said something like "Sir, I understand that you are wary, but..."
6. I hung up.

When they call next time I'm just going to respond with one sentence until they give up.

"I like pie."

(Liz, please hurry up and get well.  I am really bad at screening my own calls.)

Discover.  The card that calls you back.  Daily.

(Anyone have any idea how long you have to engage with them before their script runs out?)