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Exhibit 24.1
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature
appears below hereby constitutes and appoints Lorraine E. Waller and David
Wesselink and each of them, his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with
full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place
and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign a Registration Statement on Form
S-8 with respect to 500,000 shares of Common Stock of Metris Companies Inc. for
issuance under the Metris Companies Inc. Non-Qualified Employee Stock Purchase
Plan, and any and all amendments thereto, including a registration statement
under Rule 462 and post-effective amendments, and to file the same, with all
exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the
Securities and Exchange Commission and any necessary state securities
commissions or other agencies, each of said attorneys and agents to have the
power to act with or without the other, and granting unto said attorney-in-fact
and agent, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and
thing requisite or necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to
all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby
ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agent, or the
substitutes for such attorney-in-fact and agent, may lawfully do or cause to be
done by virtue hereof.
SIGNATURE DATE
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By: /s/ Ronald N. Zebeck December 5, 2000
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Ronald N. Zebeck
Chairman of the Board of Directors
By: /s/ Lee R. Anderson, Sr. December 5, 2000
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Lee R. Anderson, Sr.
Director
By: /s/ C. Hunter Boll December 5, 2000
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C. Hunter Boll
Director
By: /s/ John A. Cleary December 5, 2000
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John A. Cleary
Director
By: December , 2000
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Thomas M. Hagerty
Director
By: /s/ David V. Harkins December 5, 2000
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David V. Harkins
Director
By: /s/ Walter M. Hoff December 5, 2000
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Walter M. Hoff
Director
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By:
__________________________________________ December , 2000
Thomas H. Lee
Director
By: /s/ Derek V. Smith December 5, 2000
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Derek V. Smith
Director
By: /s/ Edward B. Speno December 5, 2000
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Edward B. Speno
Director
By: /s/ Frank D. Trestman December 5, 2000
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Frank D. Trestman
Director