It’s getting close to the holiday shopping season. I have received several convenience checks from my credit cards. These convenience checks are usually treated as cash advance which carries a fee. They also make the grace period on purchases disappear. I usually just shred them.
I called my credit card company about something else yesterday. While I had the agent on the line, I asked her if they can stop sending me those checks because I will never use them. To my surprise, she said yes. They don’t advertise it but they do have an opt-out list. They can exclude you from the convenience checks mailings only if you ask. Perhaps not all credit card companies have a list like that, but if you hate those convenience checks like I do, it’s worth a phone call.
For the record, the company I called is FIA Card Services. If you have success doing the same with your credit card company, please put the name of the company in the comments. We will make a list of companies which allow opting out of convenient checks mailings.
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Pinyo says
I also did this after I read it on a blog. Not only are we killing trees, I think it’s also an Achilles’ heel for identity theft.
Anonymous says
I have done this with all my credit cards – most of the banks honor the request
MoneyMan says
Wow I never thought about that. I’m going to call all of my credit card companies. Thanks, this will probably cut my paper recycling by about a ton every year. Heh!
Anonymous says
Capital one told me that they could stop them at my request and they did cut down. But they do still send some. We have more than one card from them, so even though I told the customer service person that bit of info, they may have missed the other card.
Anonymous says
Yes, I did too with Citibank.
Thanks
SanDance says
In addition to Convenience Checks (which I shred immediately) CapitalOne also regularly mails me Purchase Checks, which have no transaction fee and are treated just like purchases. So, on the first day of my billing cycle I deposit one into my High Yield Checking account, and repay it on the due date about 2 months later and keep the free interest. Great for a card I probably would not use otherwise.
Deborah Oda says
My sister and myself have Capital One CC, and receive the conv. cks. She is sure her mail was tampered with as the envelope containing the checks was opened. Now she’s worried about credit card fraud.
m1penner says
I just contacted Chase, the phone number was on the back of the card and opted out. They said it would take 90 days.
anonymous says
L.L.Bean Visa Card issued by Barclays Bank Delaware will opt out of convenience checks upon request at phone number on bill.
Sue Goryan says
Chase would NOT honor my request in writing or by phone numerous times over a span of 12 months, so I cancelled the credit card 3-4 years ago. They just would not take ‘no’ for an answer. I got Capital One in it’s place and now, after over 3-4 years, they are starting to send these blank checks to me as well, out of the blue!
Why do they think many of us ask NOT to have monthly statements sent by mail anyway? For security reasons! Blank checks that are never requested, and sent in the US Mail, should be illegal to send without specifically being requested BY the CC holder!
I have now written my 2nd letter to Capital One in 5 weeks. I already know that calling doesn’t normally get the job done. This is a ridiculous practice and shouldn’t be so difficult to stop, but they make it very hard to make your feelings known…It’s MY security, I should be able to ‘opt-in’ to receiving such stuff when I ask for it, instead of having to go chasing after the card companies to make them quit popping blank checks in the mail to me!