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Dillard's Department Store rejected my credit card.......what a surprise. Is this a new trend?

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Real Estate Agent with RE/MAX Advantage

Okay, I admit I don't go shopping as much as merchants would like for me to go.

Okay, Dillard's is 50 miles away so I don't drive that far to shop very often either.

But, last week I went on a shopping spree....at least for me....and drove all the way to Little Rock to Dillard's.

In Dillard's I found this very nice sales lady who was actually helpful!  She probably worked on commisssion like we real estate agents do.  So with her help I gathered up a lot of new clothes.

Okay, here's my Dillard's card for you to charge these items.

Swipe!  checking it out. 

Swipe again!  denied.  What!  What's going on here??

Nice sales agent says she'll find out.  She gets on the phone and works and works to find a REAL person to visit with.

The answer to why my card was turned down was "inactivity."  They purged me from their system, I guess, because of not enough "activity."  I don't remember exactly when I last used it but it was still active according to the date on it.  They never told me they were taking me off their list.  They never sent me a letter saying, "Mrs. Duncan, if you don't use our @#$%^& credit card very quickly you're going to have your lazy and unprofitable *&^%$#  taken off our records!"

A letter like that might have got my attention.  As it was, I was embarrassed, surprised, and somewhat perturbed that my active credit card was no good.  If I hadn't had another card, all the clothing would have had to go back, that nice sales agent wouldn't have made a sale and I wouldn't have got any new outfits.

The nice sales agent did ask if I wanted to apply for a new one......guess what my answer was..........

 

Comments (23)
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Don Thompson
Donthomp Associates - Sunnyvale, CA

Interesting. I researched it some and found: "all" store cards do close from inactivity. How long before the card is closed depends on the store. Some will close cards within 4 to 6 months with no activity, others may go one year (or more) before closing them.

Store cards are certainly good for extra discounts but I like my Southwest credits too much.

Aug 25, 2010 08:23 AM
Rita Fong
RE/MAX REAL ESTATE TODAY, Executive Broker 901-488-9590 - Marion, AR
Realtor - Marion Arkansas Homes for Sale

It happened to me before, not Dillards though.  If the card company thinks they are not making anything out of the consumer, they just cut you out.  The worst is they don't let you know ahead of time.  On the bright side, I am glad you got your new outfits, Barbara, lol.

Aug 25, 2010 10:44 AM
Barbara S. Duncan
RE/MAX Advantage - Searcy, AR
GRI, e-PRO, Executive Broker, Searcy AR

Bill, my advice has been that you can't faze Dillard's with any complaint letter.  I'm just complaining to my ARain friends.

Don, you are always so good at getting to the bottom of a mystery.  So I have not been singled out for mistreatment.  The stores are all doing it perhaps.  You ought to get plenty of Southwest credits as much as you fly and travel.  LOL

Rita, they really should let you know.  Who knows?  If I'd got a letter I might have hustled down there and bought $10 worth just to keep my card.....

Aug 25, 2010 10:58 AM
Steven L. Smith
King of the House Home Inspection, Inc. - Bellingham, WA
Bellingham WA Home Inspector

Godmother to Nutsy,

Not trying to be a smart alec, no not me, but they probably would like your card better if you remembered to pay that last bill from Dilliardos or whatever it is called. I do not believe I ever did a grand opening there. Do me a favor and tell them how exciting it is to know me.

Wheatloaf, for Nutsy who is in AK still

Aug 25, 2010 04:24 PM
Barbara S. Duncan
RE/MAX Advantage - Searcy, AR
GRI, e-PRO, Executive Broker, Searcy AR

Wheatloaf, you are a smart alec.  When Nutsy gets back and finds out how mean you were to his godmoma he's going to spill the beans about you and you'll never have another engagement.

 

Aug 26, 2010 01:14 AM
Anonymous
Anita Fuller

I think you and I are alike, Barbara.  I will go for several years without buying any new clothes, then I'll get on a spree and buy lots of outfits. But I use my AARP Visa card, which gives me points, like Don's does.  I take mine in money, though.....

Aug 26, 2010 05:01 AM
#9
Steven L. Smith
King of the House Home Inspection, Inc. - Bellingham, WA
Bellingham WA Home Inspector

Godmother to Nutsy,

He is still in Alaska but should be home soon. I predict you will really mist me when I am gone. You may ask: Is Wheatloaf really perfect. Of course not, but he is about as close as it gets, that say I.

Wheat

 

Aug 26, 2010 04:18 PM
Barbara S. Duncan
RE/MAX Advantage - Searcy, AR
GRI, e-PRO, Executive Broker, Searcy AR

Anita, perhaps we should become more social and go more places to wear fancy duds...even hats and gloves.  LOL

Wheatloaf Cornbread, you will not be misted at all.

Aug 27, 2010 04:02 AM
Anonymous
Anita Fuller

I'll wear a hat and gloves, and high heels and a dress somewhere, IF YOU WILL, TOO.  It would probably have to be church, for I don't go any other places to dress up.   Of course, I would have to buy the hat, gloves and heels.....or do you have any I might borrow?

Aug 27, 2010 06:59 AM
#12
Barbara S. Duncan
RE/MAX Advantage - Searcy, AR
GRI, e-PRO, Executive Broker, Searcy AR

Anita, if you wear the right size clothes, I can fix you up with all sorts of vintage clothes including hats and gloves.  Rodger's mother never threw anything away so I think every item of clothes that she ever had is still in good shape.  Her shoe size was a very narrow so hardly anyone can wear them and she has lots of them too.

 

Aug 27, 2010 10:08 AM
Anonymous
Anita Fuller

Barbara......you've seen MY SIZE, and I know Winnie's size and you do, too.  Thanks for the offer but I'm thinking only in my dreams might I be able to wear any of her clothes. Thanks for the offer, though.  Might you offer some of the vintage clothes to Harding's drama dept. OR Searcy High?   When Bob taught at Oak Park/River Forest Ill. High, the drama dept. was always glad to have donations of vintage clothing, hats, etc.

Aug 27, 2010 12:20 PM
#14
Steven L. Smith
King of the House Home Inspection, Inc. - Bellingham, WA
Bellingham WA Home Inspector

Godmother,

Even in Alaska I saw that Mr Charles is using foul language in his post about cows. Will you please go in and straighten him out, as did Godson.

Nutsy

Aug 28, 2010 06:02 AM
Barbara S. Duncan
RE/MAX Advantage - Searcy, AR
GRI, e-PRO, Executive Broker, Searcy AR

Anita, I hadn't thought about that and it's a good idea.  Here's my dotter in one of the vintage evening frocks.

vintage

Now if I could figure out why this picture came out laying to the side.  I had it standing upright just as it should be.  Where's the expert Don Thompson? 

Aug 28, 2010 02:12 PM
Barbara S. Duncan
RE/MAX Advantage - Searcy, AR
GRI, e-PRO, Executive Broker, Searcy AR

Nutsy, I'll get myself over to his blog as soon as I can..

Aug 28, 2010 02:13 PM
Anonymous
Anita Fuller

Your daughter is BEAUTIFUL, and has a very strong resemblence to her mother!  Lovely dress, also.

Don and Paula are tooting around up in Northeast Arkansas.  Going to Thorncrown Chapel this morning.

Aug 29, 2010 03:19 AM
#18
Barbara S. Duncan
RE/MAX Advantage - Searcy, AR
GRI, e-PRO, Executive Broker, Searcy AR

Thanks, Anita.  I'm stilll having trouble with the images not being uploaded right.  Don and Paula should pass a little of their energy along to me!!  Their schedule should be exhausting to the normal person!!

Aug 29, 2010 03:48 AM
Anonymous
Anita Fuller

As they do seem to have indefatible energy, might you be implying that they are NOT normal?   Their travel schedule makes my blood run cold.

 

Aug 29, 2010 05:30 AM
#20
Barbara S. Duncan
RE/MAX Advantage - Searcy, AR
GRI, e-PRO, Executive Broker, Searcy AR

Anita, you sorta twisted my words but I can't say that I disagree with your analysis.  LOL

Aug 29, 2010 02:29 PM
Elizabeth Bolton
RE/MAX Destiny Real Estate Cambridge, MA - Cambridge, MA
Cambridge MA Realtor

Hi Barbara ~ I had the same thing happen to me at Bloomingdales.  I only use the card for sheets and I guess it had been a while.  Certainly a foolproof way to alienate customers.

Liz

Aug 30, 2010 04:15 PM
Barbara S. Duncan
RE/MAX Advantage - Searcy, AR
GRI, e-PRO, Executive Broker, Searcy AR

Liz, those big stores could send us a letter to help us avoid embarrassment.  I felt as if all the sales folks around were wearing snears. (Look at the lady trying to use a bad credit card?  Bet she stole it. snear, snear....)  Wonder if they will see our little blog objections?

 

Aug 31, 2010 01:15 AM
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