Never before in my life have I had credit card denied. Then it happened twice in Los Angeles. First time at Sportmart. Second time at Big 5. It was both embarassing and annoying. It wan annoying because I haven't even come close to my credit limit. I'm not within 80% of it. And I've had this credit card for over 10 years and have not once failed to make a payment on time.

So what the fuck?

At Sportmart, I called US Bank and the women at customer said for me to tell the merchant to call the credit authorizing company. I said, what does that mean. She said, it means tell the merchant to call their credit authorization company. I said, I understand what you said, but what does it mean. She said, tell the merchant to call their credit authorization company. I wanted to reach through the phone and rip her heart out. I told the merchant to call their credit authorization company and the transaction went through, but it took about 20 minutes.

At Big 5, the next day, the same thing happened. Only this time when the chick at Big 5 called the credit authorization company, the transaction was denied. What the fuck again? I called US Bank and this time the customer service rep tells me that they put a random hold on my account to do a security check. Well, thanks for securing my account, but next time how about informing me so I don't waste my time nor look like a total ass in front of the sales clerk. He said he would "reinstate" my account and I should be able to make the transaction in 10 minutes, which I did, but it took another 10 minutes of waiting around. Did I really want to buy thermal underwear from Big 5 that badly? I suppose I did.

Now I want to cancel my credit card, because they've been such pricks, but I've been with them for a long time, it's the only credit card I have at the moment, and I accrue miles on KLM, my favorite airline. What to do.