In early summer I applied for a Discover credit card after seeing an incredible offer on the internet that included a very low interest rate, double airline miles, bells, whistles and a special feature that walks your dog.

Within 72 hours of approval for my Discover credit card, I received a call from a man offering me a "payment protection plan", which I declined. He enrolled me anyway.

A week later I received a packet welcoming me to the payment protection plan. I immediately called Discover customer service.

At Discover customer service, I navigated the maddening automated phone system and finally landed with a woman who listened to my plight. She said she would have to transfer me to the payment protection plan department. I was on hold about ten minutes.

Finally, a representative in the payment protection plan department said she would "cancel" my enrollment, which irked me. I told her I never enrolled. I was assured she would un-do what the man had done who called me about the plan in the first place.

A few weeks later I received my first statement from Discover. I had been billed for a payment protection plan. I called Discover again.

Same maddening automated phone system. Same patronizing customer service representative. Same eternal wait to be transferred to the payment protection plan department. Same assurances at the payment protection department I would be credited for the charges.

This week I received my second statement from Discover. No credit appears for the money Discover stole from me last month for a payment protection plan I never ordered. I called Discover again.

Same maddening automated phone system. Same patronizing customer service representative. The wait to be transferred to the payment protection plan department was longer this time, about fourteen minutes. Same assurances at the payment protection department I would be credited for the charges.

What is that aroma?

I decided to search the internet using key words, "Discover, payment protection, scam". Wow. I am definitely not alone.

I try to imagine decision makers at Discover sitting around a huge conference table, maybe sucking on big cigars, brainstorming ways to raise revenue.

"Hey, the moment a new customer is approved for a Discover card, why don't we sock 'em with an extra monthly service charge? We can call it the payment protection plan."

"Wouldn't we need customer permission for that?"

"Well, we can make a show of calling and asking. But, no matter their answers, we'll enroll them. Think of the millions per day!"

"Won't that tick customers off?"

"Maybe. But, the vast majority won't even notice the extra charges. We'll come out way ahead . Plus, we'll make it very hard to stop the charges if customers notice."

"But, don't we risk losing customers and running up against a class action lawsuit eventually?"

"Hmmm. We'll have the Bean Counter Department calculate the upside and the downside. Meanwhile, let's scam customers at once!"

I canceled my Discover card yesterday. They ran me off after only a few dismal weeks as their customer. When I get the notice about the class action suit, I'm all over it.