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I had yet another problem with my credit card. I know they're trying to protect me, but isn't almost getting me evicted good enough? Tonight, I tried to buy something online and my credit card was declined. I know I've got plenty of room on the card and this isn't the first time something like this has happened to me--hell, it's not the first time this happened to me this week (fine--eight days ago). With all the times my account has been frozen for security purposes, it's a wonder I can ever purchase anything. Hell, it seems like my card is frozen more often than it's active.

I know identity theft is a problem, but I wonder if other folks have the problems I have. I'd say my card gets decline once every couple months for "security purposes." It's really starting to piss me off. And it's not like I can talk to someone to make it stop: the damn computers are doing it.

But what makes it even more annoying is when I call to get it unfrozen, I gotta wait. You know how it is when you gotta call anywhere.

"Enter your 16-digit account number."

"Enter your eight character password."

"Please state your mother's maiden name."

"What purpose are you calling for?"

After undergoing an examination that�s just short of blood testing, you get to spend the next 27 minutes waiting on hold for the next available operator (apparently the initial integration wasn't painful enough). And I don't give a damn how often prerecorded voice assures me my account is important to them and they appreciate my patience: it doesn't make the wait any better.

Unfreezing my card tonight must've been a helluva challenge. Not only did I hafta really promise to be me, they asked a whole bunch of questions regarding my address--including true false. Dammit, I graduated from college for a reason: to get out of taking tests. Even that wasn't good enough for the operator I spoke to: a supervisor was needed.

But it wasn't all bad. At the end of the call, she apologized for the inconvenience and wished me a "Merry Christmas."

I just hope she doesn't get fired for it.