Author Topic: Credit card usage in these tough times...... (Read 19311 times)

Actually I can attest to using this trick a few times (and one time I didn't have one and
had to break a window). I never really understood the mechanics of it until I read your post

hmed2390 · « **Reply #7 on:** March 16, 2009, 05:54:23 PM »

i didn't either until i stumbled upon it. while googling for very innocent pictures mind you.

frankcapri · « **Reply #8 on:** March 16, 2009, 05:56:42 PM »

I'm sure you weren't googling ways to break into people's houses or anything

The only time I've found that this trick doesn't work is when the seal between the door and the door frame is really tight

frankcapri · « **Reply #9 on:** March 16, 2009, 06:21:27 PM »

Too late. Now you look silly talking to yourself

After the first time I broke my window to get into my apartment, I used to
keep one of those crappy free credit cards companies send in the mail
in my mailbox. It came it handy many times

subvinorosa · « **Reply #10 on:** March 16, 2009, 06:22:12 PM »

An ID will work as well. I used to lock myself out all the time and this fix always helped. I ruined several ATM cards just to get inside my dorm door. On one occasion, my roommate was sleeping like the dead inside. On another occasion, the key was in my pocket, buried under a bunch of loose change.

hmed2390 · « **Reply #11 on:** March 16, 2009, 06:24:21 PM »

Quote from: frankcapri on March 16, 2009, 06:21:27 PM

Too late. Now you look silly talking to yourself

Quote from: subvinorosa on March 16, 2009, 06:22:12 PM

On another occasion, the key was in my pocket, buried under a bunch of loose change.

i mean sheesh, as if that's even the first place you'd look.

subvinorosa · « **Reply #12 on:** March 16, 2009, 06:26:59 PM »

Hey, I gotta pretend to be human sometimes!

jacktheripper305 · « **Reply #13 on:** March 16, 2009, 11:03:35 PM »

Since this is about breaking through doors that don't have deadbolts, its probably a good chance that its a door between rooms. In this case, most knobs have a little hole in face of it. A paperclip, or other thin piece of metal or plastic that doesn't bend too easily can be pushed in that hole, and used to unlock it.

sorry for the innuendo

smokester · « **Reply #14 on:** March 17, 2009, 03:33:19 AM »

In all seriousness I have done a fair bit of locksmithing as part of my job as a carpenter, I even have some bump keys somewhere. But the way to stop this happening on your own doors is to make sure the "door stops" are tight against the door. In other words, if you door can't be rattled, you cannot get in with a card.

jacktheripper305 · « **Reply #15 on:** March 17, 2009, 10:56:56 AM »

interesting. makes sense.

*JtR checks all doors for rattle*

Just as a side note, my credit cards are no longer in my wallet, after bringing the bill up to about $2000 i pulled them out, and resolved to pay them off and not use them. Now if I can't pay cash/debit for it, I don't buy it.

hmed2390 · « **Reply #16 on:** March 17, 2009, 11:52:32 AM »

^ that's a great motto JTR. Definitely saves the heartache of having to deal with debt.

^^ that's interesting and it makes sense. If the door is too firmly shut, a credit card let alone a debit card should be able to fit through.

jacktheripper305 · « **Reply #17 on:** March 17, 2009, 05:29:58 PM »

Thanks, although I don't buy as much stuff now, I don't have to worry about debt. Also, it forces me to be patient when I want something, and shop around for the best deal on it, which saves me money. It also helps with the budgeting and generally helps me be more responsible. I encourage everyone to use credit cards minimally.

frankcapri · « **Reply #18 on:** March 17, 2009, 07:06:57 PM »

Quote from: jacktheripper305 on March 17, 2009, 05:29:58 PM

I encourage everyone to use credit cards minimally.

I don't even own a credit card

jacktheripper305 · « **Reply #19 on:** March 17, 2009, 08:03:47 PM »

You should have at least one, so you can build credit. You need a credit history to buy cars, or homes, and some employers even check credit history as a screening process. So its good to have a credit profile, but only if its a good one.

On another note,
Maybe this thread should be split?

frankcapri · « **Reply #20 on:** March 17, 2009, 08:25:25 PM »

Quote from: jacktheripper305 on March 17, 2009, 08:03:47 PM

You should have at least one, so you can build credit. You need a credit history to buy cars, or homes, and some employers even check credit history as a screening process. So its good to have a credit profile, but only if its a good one.

I already bought a house and a car. My credit history from my student loans was enough

subvinorosa · « **Reply #21 on:** March 17, 2009, 08:31:04 PM »

Yup, can't get cards in really tight doors. I know because I tried.

Like when I accidentally locked myself IN my apartment bedroom the week after I locked myself IN the house.

jacktheripper305 · « **Reply #22 on:** March 17, 2009, 08:53:57 PM »

Quote from: frankcapri on March 17, 2009, 08:25:25 PM

I already bought a house and a car. My credit history from my student loans was enough

ah so you have credit, just not a credit card... got it!

Quote from: subvinorosa on March 17, 2009, 08:31:04 PM

Yup, can't get cards in really tight doors. I know because I tried.

Like when I accidentally locked myself IN my apartment bedroom the week after I locked myself IN the house.

sounds like you should be more careful

frankcapri · « **Reply #23 on:** March 17, 2009, 08:58:17 PM »

Quote from: jacktheripper305 on March 17, 2009, 08:53:57 PM

ah so you have credit, just not a credit card... got it!

Yeah, I kinda skipped the "accrue a little bit of debt" part of life for the "put me into a lot of debt" part

Quote from: subvinorosa on March 17, 2009, 08:31:04 PM

Like when I accidentally locked myself IN my apartment bedroom the week after I locked myself IN the house.

What kind of screwed up lock system did you have in that apartment?

hmed2390 · « **Reply #24 on:** March 17, 2009, 09:24:40 PM »

Quote from: frankcapri on March 17, 2009, 08:58:17 PM

What kind of screwed up lock system did you have in that apartment?

sends shivers down my tiny banana spine.

jacktheripper305 · « **Reply #25 on:** March 17, 2009, 09:51:46 PM »

sounds like the doors were put on backwards. Or Sub is just backwards

hmed2390 · « **Reply #26 on:** March 17, 2009, 09:53:08 PM »

or she was confusing the windows with the doors, in that case they were tinted.

dweez · « **Reply #27 on:** March 18, 2009, 07:11:54 AM »

Reminds me of the joke..."Did you hear about the stupid guy that locked his keys in his car? It took him 3 hours to get his family out."

smokester · « **Reply #28 on:** March 18, 2009, 07:19:59 AM »

Quote from: dweez on March 18, 2009, 07:11:54 AM

Reminds me of the joke..."Did you hear about the stupid guy that locked his keys in his car? It took him 3 hours to get his family out."

"Stupid"? A stroke of genius if you ask me.

dweez · « **Reply #29 on:** March 18, 2009, 07:23:10 AM »

Ah, very true.

I have a few credit cards. Only have a balance on one and I more often then not forget I have them with me. For a while there (several years ago) I was almost living hand to mouth and the CC saved me. Lucky for me, at the time, it had a very low credit limit ($800) so even maxed out, it's not that painful. Now, I basically use it for larger purchases over the web and such so that I have some insurance protection against fraud.

subvinorosa · « **Reply #30 on:** March 18, 2009, 09:13:30 AM »

The landlord put the doorknob on wrong because he was too lazy/stingy to buy a new one after the key was lost by a previous tenant. The button that locked it was on the outside. I had gotten into the habit of locking doors after me as I lived alone in the apartment. I locked it after me after I went inside but had forgotten that the key was on the table outside.

The main door didn't have doorknobs; just the keyhole. I don't quite know how I messed that one up but I left the keys stuck in the hole outside and I got locked in.

Both these happened after my daily 14-16 hour workdays.

Has anyone ever had to use the credit card trick on a bathroom door? Done it about three times already. The kids like to lock both bathroom doors.

hmed2390 · « **Reply #31 on:** March 18, 2009, 12:19:59 PM »

i ve done it on the bathroom door more times than i can count.

In Egypt, the doors lock behind you if you shut them from the outside. Totally sucks if you're getting the mail/throwing the trash and forget to have your keys on you.

frankcapri · « **Reply #32 on:** March 18, 2009, 12:31:44 PM »

Quote from: subvinorosa on March 18, 2009, 09:13:30 AM

The button that locked it was on the outside.

Holy crap, that's idiotic. Maybe he felt that the world had to be protected from you

hmed2390 · « **Reply #33 on:** March 18, 2009, 12:44:59 PM »

Quote from: frankcapri on March 18, 2009, 12:31:44 PM

Maybe he felt that the world had to be protected from you

subvinorosa · « **Reply #34 on:** March 19, 2009, 09:21:59 AM »

Quote from: frankcapri on March 18, 2009, 12:31:44 PM

Holy crap, that's idiotic. Maybe he felt that the world had to be protected from you

After he got to know me, that's a strong possibility.

Methiah · « **Reply #35 on:** April 08, 2009, 01:51:58 PM »

Quote

You see, you're credit card ain't 100% useless in these tough economic times afterall!

http://www.wikihow.com/Open-a-Door-with-a-Credit-Card

This reminds me of an acquaintance I knew about 10 years ago who attempted to break into a former residence of his (apparently he didn't like his former landlord for some reason). The credit card technique wasn't all that great, he said, as they tended to snap and it was better to use something similar but more disposable.
This acquaintance literally stole the kitchen sink and the toilet.

hmed2390 · « **Reply #36 on:** April 08, 2009, 02:53:48 PM »

Quote from: Methiah on April 08, 2009, 01:51:58 PM

This acquaintance literally stole the kitchen sink and the toilet.

wow

CMF · « **Reply #37 on:** April 08, 2009, 03:33:28 PM »

^ I like your new avatar

hmed2390 · « **Reply #38 on:** April 09, 2009, 02:49:09 PM »

the monkey or the guy shaking violently?

subvinorosa · « **Reply #39 on:** April 09, 2009, 04:17:57 PM »

That is so sweet hmed!

It's like you and Oja are meant for each other.

hmed2390 · « **Reply #40 on:** April 09, 2009, 04:44:11 PM »

subvinorosa · « **Reply #41 on:** April 09, 2009, 05:12:07 PM »

It's a lovely picture. You should email it to him.

hmed2390 · « **Reply #42 on:** April 09, 2009, 05:16:59 PM »

mishca09 · « **Reply #43 on:** October 29, 2009, 05:15:33 PM »

i've never used a credit card but i have used a cake spatula to open my bedroom door once.

subvinorosa · « **Reply #44 on:** October 29, 2009, 08:06:37 PM »

How did it go mishca? Never tried that method before.

mishca09 · « **Reply #45 on:** October 30, 2009, 06:32:32 AM »

it worked, the spatula has round square edges like a credit card, im not sure the round circular cake spatula would work. but now that i think about it i've also use a knife to open the bedroom door to.

hmed2390 · « **Reply #46 on:** October 30, 2009, 09:58:43 AM »

was it aluminum? or plastic? I'd think that would make a difference ya know.

mishca09 · « **Reply #47 on:** October 30, 2009, 03:28:09 PM »

lol aluminum , i dont think a plastic knife or spatula would work well.

Robin-Graves · « **Reply #48 on:** November 05, 2009, 05:14:04 AM »

I got a lovk pick set and the cool looking gun with the tension bars on it .
They do the trick for me,,

hmed2390 · « **Reply #49 on:** November 05, 2009, 09:04:49 PM »

Quote from: mishca09 on October 30, 2009, 03:28:09 PM

lol aluminum , i dont think a plastic knife or spatula would work well.