Penguins Against Phone Phishing

Ever since we paid off our credit cards, the credit card companies can't seem to go 10 minutes without offering us new accounts, higher limits and lower rates. Discover Card has even forgiven me for that little unpleasantness with my first credit card about 10 years ago and is talking to me again (or at least sending me preapproved offers). The banks were none too keen on lowering my rates a few months ago when I asked because it would have been useful to me, but now that they aren't sucking money out of me on a monthly basis, we're on a race to the bottom of the APR.

They also want to sell me identity theft insurance on the accounts. If I actually answered the phone when these folks called me, I would feel compelled to inquire, "So, let me get this straight. You are offering to let me pay you folks more money so that, in the event that you folks just up and, oh, lose my personal information, I will be protected against fraudulent activity that you folks allow on my account because of your incompetent security?" Not that I have a whole mess of faith in whoever is supposedly regulating these credit card people, but if I had any less, I might think that their ID theft protection insurance sounded an awful lot like the baby sister of "Nice account you got there. Pretty credit rating. Shame if something were to happen to it."

ID theft insurance is still my favorite stupid offer. However, in a related occurrence, this voicemail I just received is right up there:

Don't be alarmed! [PP: Gotta love voicemails that open with that.] This is your final notice for lower rates on your account. Press 1 to speak to an account specialist and lower your rate today. Press 2 to discontinue further notices.

Oooookay then. If this is my Final Notice, does that not logically mean that there should be to be no further notices to discontinue? And wasn't the message last week supposedly my Final Notice For Lower Rates?

And, a word to the...I'm sure fine...folks at whatever phishy outlet is leaving me these messages: legitimate outlets wishing to lower our rates will usually mention which account they are discussing. Also, most people have caller ID these days, and anyone with 2/3 of a brain stem and a working knowledge of the U.S. telephone system knows that 062 is not a valid area code, and thus is most likely caller ID spoofing, which legitimate financial institutions do not do. Of course, I suspect you guys are looking to weed out anyone with 2/3 of a brain stem before you have to spend vital human-phisher resources on coaxing their identity and account information out of them.