MAKING A STATEMENT................and taking a break.

Today I made a statement.......against credit card high interest rates.....

It really doesn't effect me because I only have one active card with a rate of 3.99%....I love my LL Bean credit card.....I get points that I can use to buy more Maine finery...I get free shipping coming and going and I have this cheap interest rate....Thank you Barclay's bank......

But in the mail yesterday I got a notice from Washington Mutual that they are now Chase Bank.

I have a small checking account with W.M. just a "Girls Fun Account".... when I opened it they even chipped in $100.00.

I'm not a fan of Chase......I have a Chase credit card but it has no balance.....hearing lately how they are gouging people with ridiculous interest rates.....taking people's accounts from 9% to over 30%....

I thought this is not where I want to have my money....not even a little bit.

Plus I have been seeing local branches folding up like cheap beach chairs and that is never a good sign...

So bright and early this morning I went over to the local branch and handed the nice lady my check all filled out with the total amount in the account and said.....

"I would like to close out this account".....

She looked shocked and asked why I would be doing such a thing.....like it was a crime taking my own money.

I told her it was because Washington Mutual was now Chase and I didn't like Chase because of their business practices.....This warranted a whistle calling over the Branch Manager.....

He too looked shocked that I was about to take the money and run....

I told him the same thing....smiling the whole time as not to seem hostile.... he assured me that they are still the same "Nice" people that they have always been and he was sorry but there was nothing they could do about the interest rates.....

at which point I said to him....

"I understand but there is something I can do about it....and that would be not to have my money in your bank."

I have to admit although my tone was friendly I did say this a bit on the loud side so the other customers could hear me....

I went on to say that I did not care for the way they do business and I felt their business practice concerning raising interest rates was not something I wanted to be associated with....

I have to say that they both couldn't argue the point so they handed me my money and thanked me and I drove straight away to Wachovia where my "fun money" now sits besides all my other accounts.....

I know this little act of rebellion won't do a thing but I can bet that those two bank employees will be talking about this the rest of the day....

and on the blogging front...a bit of a break is badly needed to get some work done around the house and read some of those books I have stacked next to my bed....

I look forward to reading a much recommended book by the folks over at Borders....

"The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society"

that's a mouthful.

Also on the lineup in Naturally Thin by our favorite New York non-housewife

Bethenny Frankel

and

"Eat This......Not That"....

in a quest to lose half my body weight.......not really that much...... this was also recommended and looks very interesting...

See you all soon with lots of reviews!!