Parents and credit card weirdness

4under4 · Mar 3, 2015

The thing that I would be most annoyed about is trying to setup all the airline crap. Entering everyone's names, picking flights, booking their seats (if it's not SW), etc. What if after all that your sister says she can't leave at the time you book? Or the flight they want only has 3 seats left? How much time is too much time to invest in this? I love getting points whenever/however I can, but this is just a can of worms!

Are your parents near an airport? If so, they can easily go to customer service at the airport and book directly, letting the card be swiped by the agent.

Or go to a travel agency and let them do it via their system.

Jedana · Mar 3, 2015

maccagerl said:
Why can't the sister take the check and buy the Pre-paid Visa card to buy the plane tickets?

Or why can't people just say NO?

descovy · Mar 3, 2015

Same here. My MIL insists that we book her airfare to come visit on our credit card.

To make it even crazier. She only sends a check when she receives the "ticket" in the mail as proof. Ugh.

"Ticket" in air quotes because it's just an online print out. And then she'll worry it isn't a real ticket. She refuses to get an email account too.

Btw... She's 67. Not old-old. Just stuck in her ways

chiefmickeymouse · Mar 3, 2015

kamik86 said:
Two options

1) Claim you don't have the space on your cards right now (for whatever made up reason that you feel like making)
2) What I would do is just wait til you had the check, cash it (because really having to go to a bank and cash a check for me would be the annoying part of this... I don't even know the last time I had to go to a bank...) then use a rewards card for the free points and laugh about how I got free points because my parents are weird.

If I did this my dad would ask why we can't manage our money and we have to max out our credit cards! :flower:

chiefmickeymouse · Mar 3, 2015

I'm pretty sure that all of this was credit card/identity theft paranoia was spurred on by their constantly listening to certain talk shows that have "life lock" commercials every three minutes.

JanaDee · Mar 3, 2015

chiefmickeymouse said:
If I did this my dad would ask why we can't manage our money and we have to max out our credit cards!

Then you can ask him why can't he manage to use the internet instead of expecting others to do the work for him??

mom to minnie&mickey · Mar 3, 2015

chiefmickeymouse said:
If I did this my dad would ask why we can't manage our money and we have to max out our credit cards!

This he should ask your sister why she cannot use HER credit card! Really, this is between them and unless you want to use your credit card for points they should resolve it amongst themselves and you stay out of it. Your sister and family are getting free airline tickets, I'm sure she can find a way to buy them.

Julylady · Mar 3, 2015

I wouldn't be nearly so accommodating if those were my parents. I would probably tell my Dad he was being ridiculous and he needs to figure out how to buy those airline tickets on his own. I am a big proponent of natural consequences. If he makes the decision not to use his credit card on-line, then he has to deal with the limitations of that choice.

nkereina · Mar 3, 2015

chiefmickeymouse said:
I'm pretty sure that all of this was credit card/identity theft paranoia was spurred on by their constantly listening to certain talk shows that have "life lock" commercials every three minutes.

LOL. My dad drives tractor trailer so AM radio is his life. I'm 100% sure his identity theft paranoia is 100% caused by the Life Lock commercials! hahaha

Gumbo4x4 · Mar 3, 2015

chiefmickeymouse said:
My son is graduating in May and my parents, sister and her family are coming. My parents are going to drive, but don't want my sister to ride with them because they are planning to detour and visit friends and family on the way (it's a 2-3 day drive). They offered to buy my sister's family airline tickets, now here comes the weirdness.

They want cheap tickets, but won't use their credit cards to order anything on the internet or over the phone. They use them all the time in person, stores, restaurants, whatever. They don't, however, have any problem giving me or my sister a check and having us use OUR credit cards on-line. I guess it's okay for us to risk identity theft, just not them. Yes we have tried to explain that using the card in person is just as risky. They simply won't believe it.

My sister says she can't put the tickets on her credit card right now, I won't go into why. My parents want me to put them on our credit cards and send us a check. Okay, I know if it's paid off immediately it does me no harm, but it really irritates me that they are asking me to do this.

I guess they could buy a Visa gift card or something. I'm here to whine, not really ask advice I guess!

I've had my CC numbers stolen one time - clerk at the gas station, and this was after the days of carbons.

As for your situation, ugh.

AnAmericanInDisney · Mar 3, 2015

My In-laws recently had someone visit their assisted living and tell them all about the dangers of identity theft. He was probably trying to sell some fraud protection, but all he succeeded in doing was to scare the old folks. :guilty:

The Mystery Machine · Mar 3, 2015

chiefmickeymouse said:
My son is graduating in May and my parents, sister and her family are coming. My parents are going to drive, but don't want my sister to ride with them because they are planning to detour and visit friends and family on the way (it's a 2-3 day drive). They offered to buy my sister's family airline tickets, now here comes the weirdness.

They want cheap tickets, but won't use their credit cards to order anything on the internet or over the phone. They use them all the time in person, stores, restaurants, whatever. They don't, however, have any problem giving me or my sister a check and having us use OUR credit cards on-line. I guess it's okay for us to risk identity theft, just not them. Yes we have tried to explain that using the card in person is just as risky. They simply won't believe it.

My sister says she can't put the tickets on her credit card right now, I won't go into why. My parents want me to put them on our credit cards and send us a check. Okay, I know if it's paid off immediately it does me no harm, but it really irritates me that they are asking me to do this.

I guess they could buy a Visa gift card or something. I'm here to whine, not really ask advice I guess!

Here is the part that would tick me off...They want cheap tickets. Well, what if they do not like the price point you picked?

I would tell your parents to buy your sister a pre paid Visa card so they can make their own reservations.

chiefmickeymouse · Mar 4, 2015

The Mystery Machine said:
Here is the part that would tick me off...They want cheap tickets. Well, what if they do not like the price point you picked?

I would tell your parents to buy your sister a pre paid Visa card so they can make their own reservations.

I know, buying plane tickets is tricky, trying to get the best price, picking seats, etc. I suggested a travel agent, hope they'll go that way.

Chocolate Cake · Mar 4, 2015

Cannot_Wait_4Disney said:
Ok so they don't want to risk the internet but they want you to risk the internet?

This is what I was thinking too. They think the internet is a big, bad place where their credit card will be hacked, so they will have you "risk" your credit card? Doesn't make sense.

I couldn't imagine saying "I don't want my credit card to get hacked, so let's use yours. It's ok if yours gets hacked. As long as it isn't ours." Because that is basically what they are saying.

But, to be honest, I have no problem telling people "No" without an ounce of guilt.

I really don't have time in my life for adults that can't figure out how to do simple things on their own. Or, worse yet, use people for things they are not willing to do themselves.

cluvsdisney · Mar 4, 2015

I would stay out of it and let your parents and sister work it out. I think it's nice of them to pay for the tickets in the first place.

chiefmickeymouse · Mar 4, 2015

cluvsdisney said:
I would stay out of it and let your parents and sister work it out. I think it's nice of them to pay for the tickets in the first place.

I'm doing my best to stay out of it. It is very nice of them to offer to pay for the tickets. They've been very generous over the years, it's just these little things that make me want to rip my hair out!

verleniahall · Mar 4, 2015

JanaDee said:
Then you can ask him why can't he manage to use the internet instead of expecting others to do the work for him??

Im sorry -but I would NEVER speak to my parents that way - for starters - they are your parents and deserve HIGH levels of respect. for two - they woudlnt 'care of i was 7 or 27 - i would STILL get my butt spanked. That is just PURE disrespect

cluvsdisney · Mar 4, 2015

chiefmickeymouse said:
I'm doing my best to stay out of it. It is very nice of them to offer to pay for the tickets. They've been very generous over the years, it's just these little things that make me want to rip my hair out!

I hear ya, my mother can work my last nerve like no one else. ha!!

JanaDee · Mar 4, 2015

verleniahall said:
Im sorry -but I would NEVER speak to my parents that way - for starters - they are your parents and deserve HIGH levels of respect. for two - they woudlnt 'care of i was 7 or 27 - i would STILL get my butt spanked. That is just PURE disrespect

I don't believe that at all. As an adult, I speak to my parents like they are adults.

Pigeon · Mar 4, 2015

Yeah, this is between them and your sister. I would decline to be involved.

And I'm another one who speaks to my parents like we are all adults. They are my parents and I appreciate what they have done for me. But if they do stupid stuff, I'm not going to pretend otherwise.

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