Today I got a random delivery from Purolater...a new credit card, one that I haven't applied for. I've had my current credit card for 2 years, and it won't expire for another two. I don't think that this is a replacement card because the number on it is different...although it does have the same expiry date as my first card (so it would expire in two years, not four like a new credit card). The info that came with the card makes a big deal out of how it has "new" chip and pin technology...but my old card has that too!

It has the same limit as my old card (5000$CDN) except it is a 'Gold' card. (Not sure how it is different from my current card...as far as I can tell from all the information included the only difference is that if the due date for a payment falls on a holiday, the payment will be due the day after instead of before.) In the two years I have had my card, I had a lot on it (about 2500$ at the most, when I was near the end of my student career and running out of money); however, I've since paid it off entirely, around March of last year I think. The interest rate and the limit on this new card are the same as the old one too.

I would call my bank and find out, but I'm pretty sure that it's Labour Day in Canada today. Any guesses if this is a new card, and if so, why did they send it to me without me applying for it? Has this happened to anybody else? I'm so confused where this came from!

Sometimes banks update their cards and send out new ones as they do. I'd give them a call on the next working day just to be sure.

Helen

I would give them a call and find out what it is. If its something you haven't applied for then you can disagree with any new terms or conditions and can actually keep your old interest rate if it is lower.
If its something totally different from a different bank or something then ask to see the paperwork applying for it and if it wasn't you then report for identity theft

Helen, that was my first thought too, but then I noticed the number on the front of the card was different from my current cc. That made me think this was a whole new card, but then everything else was the same as my current card.

Claireyfaerie, it's from my bank...I totally hadn't even thought about identity theft! Oh yikes. I'm gonna be worried until I can call them now .

Whenever my bank issues new cards to me, (eg, when I changed my name a few weeks ago) the card always has a different number.

It sounds to me like they have updated the card for some reason. I would call them as soon as they are open to discuss as they should really send you something to tell you they are doing it and why.

Doesnt your bank have a line manned all days of the year? Mine does, so it might be worth checking to see.

A great number of American Based Banks are re-issuing credit cards with new "terms". (that document printed on the thin, thin, paper you can see through in a "2" font...)

The bail out mostly helped the banks...didn't do a thing for the taxpayers who funded the bail out...and there are new regulations going into effect that puts the brakes on some of their "fees"

Look at that document very carefully. It may be, as you say, that nothing is changed, and miraculously, your terms are the same. It might also be that there is a clause someplace that says if you are 10 minutes late with a payment they will double your interest rate, charge you a huge late fee, and file a negative credit report. Or not....

These are strange and difficult times.

Call the bank tomorrow, but be prepared for the possibility that the "call room" is outsourced to someplace where the people answering the phones speak English as a second language, and don't have a clue about your bank's mind set. The are, however, very polite. If you can...call your local branch in Canada and see if someone in the country can help you.

Keep On Dancing*

Check also that they may have upgraded your account. There are some benefits to a Gold card that others don't have. I have a Gold card because you can use it when you rent cars and a gold card will cover the collision damage waiver (CDW.)
[As I understand it...most car insurance in North America covers you when you are driving a rental car, but if you have a crash, the rental car company wants the money up front for collision damage (unless you purchase the CDW.) You may get the money back from your insurance company, but that, of course, will take time. If you rent a car using a Gold or Platinum or whatever precious metal card you have, the credit card company will cover that amount and settle up later with you and your insurer. That was the main reason I got a "Gold" card from my credit card companies. Some of the Gold cards also have rebates such as 1% for all purchases paid through the card, 3% for restaurants. I just got a deal where I got a 5% rebate on construction material up to $500 from Lowes for a limited time. This was useful to me as I am doing some renovations on my house.

Jon

The credit card's customer service line may be open on holidays. You can try calling the 1-800 number on the back of the card.

It's a new card. Periodically they will send out new ones in case the old ones get worn out, magnetic strips go out, etc. or just to have a back up. They change the last few digits to identify the difference between the two cards but they are still the same account.

I work at a department store and our credit card company does this. It's the same thing, it's the same card, same account, don't worry about it.

If you've spent a certain amount or earned enough points or some other benchmark, you've probably qualified for a "Gold" card, and there is some benefit that goes along with it. Call up and ask when it's not a national holiday.

Our store cards also do that. And nobody believes me when I tell them the numbers are different but its the same card uggghhhhh.

Keep your pants on, you're fine.

I'm actually living in England now, and my bank's toll-free number says only available in Canada and the US. I'm going to call up my branch this afternoon when it will be open and get a clear answer. My boyfriend told me last night that his bank used to send him new cards that were indeed new cards all the time, but the more I think about I think this must be just a replacement card. As soon as I know they're open I'm going to call my bank.

Now I heard a new one tonight on the radio as I was coming home from a rehearsal. Many credit card companies are issuing to individuals, "business" credit cards. I actually have one myself, an American Express, from Costco, in the name of my legitimate, but inactive business. But unlike with former business cards, the card companies according to the news report, don't really check to see if you have a business.

The reason for this? According to the report, credit card companies are losing a ton of money from the recently enacted Credit Card Reform laws in the USA, which apply to individual's credit cards, not NOT to business cards.

This was only a quick news blurb on an All-news radio station, so I have not investigated it further.

As for my Amex Card from Costco, it is actually built into the Costco membership card as Costco members have the option of having an Amex Card. Since Costco charges no additional fees and offers rebates on many things; and since I pay off my monthly balances totally every month, this is not a big issue to me. We actually get rebates close to $500 every year from this card...in the form of a check redeemable at Costco (not a big deal to us, we shop there all the time and often get our gasoline there as well.)

I wonder if Ginger's card might be one of these cards? Now she is not in the US, so our laws in the US don't apply, but I wonder if there might be other stuff going on here.

Jon

I ended up calling my branch the other day and it turned out that my credit card was a student card...I got it after I finished my first degree so I didn't think it was, but I guess it was! So I was upgraded to pretty shiny Gold since I had a good history and my old card will be deactivated in October. Thanks for your help everyone!

At least you know why it was changed!!

When you said gold card, I was totally thinking of an upgraded account.

At least you know now and you can put your mind at ease.

Helen