Comments on: How to File a Credit Card Complaint with the Government

By: Balance Transfers Helper

Balance Transfers Helper — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 20:47:28 +0000

Tracey,

Both of these companies are, in my opinion, predatory lenders. Perhaps having these cards has helped improve your credit score to the point where you can get a real credit card without all the absurd fees. You should definitely look into that.

By: tracey

tracey — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 16:19:44 +0000

I had a credit card with Imagine credit card. They were brought out by Tribute credit card in Sept. I was NOT contacted with any of the new account information. I contacted Imagine in October and was told that my account closed and I needed to contact Tribute card. I contacted them and was told that I do have a new credit card number but that is only for payment purposes that the account is not active. Then I was told that they will continue to charge me a monthly maintenance fee even though they closed the account. I explained to him that it was unethical that they continue to charge me this fee and interest on the account when they closed the account. According to the customer service representative it was their standard practice. The monthly maintenance fee is charged for statements ( which I have NOT received since being converted over), the use of online payments (I have never made an online payment since they converted over) and according to the representative for them to handling my account. I then asked to be transferred to a mgr and was told the same thing. He told me that Imagine also charged the same fee I said sure they did but I was able to access my statement via online, make payments (w/no fees), whereas now they charge you not only the monthly maintenance fee to make a payment online they also charge you 4.95 for making a payment. This is unfair to customer who maintained good standing with Imagine just to be thrown to another company that charges fees and they don’t send out statements, nothing is available online, you don’t have a credit card to reference you account number and I am still being charged for services they are not providing.

By: Balance Transfers Helper

Balance Transfers Helper — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 16:13:43 +0000

Lydia,

Sub-prime lenders used to be able to charge just about anything. The new laws limit the amount of annual fees, but don’t cap such absurd charges like membership fees, card activation fees, and any number of unfair charges levied on people working to rebuild their credit. Unfortunately, this theivery is legal. Hopefully, paying on time with the card will help your credit score and you can drop this credit card asap.

By: Lydia

Lydia — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 23:20:04 +0000

I have a Continental Finance credit card with Firts Bank of Delware. I notice this year they are charging me a monthly fee of $18.00 each month that totals 216.00 a year, plus I am charged an anual fee. I called to ask why I am being charge this amount and was told by a supervisor,that the 18.00 a month fee was for them to report my credit status and for sending me a statement each month. I have never heard such nonsense. I have a $300.00 credit limit and I am being charged 265.00 a year with fees just to have a credit card. I am not understanding how banks can still from people like this.

By: Lorraine

Lorraine — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 16:00:25 +0000

I have a citi card for 23 years, never late never missed a payment, and always been able to get a good interest rate,last year it jumped from 7.99 to 14.99 when I called them they said there was nothing they could do Jan it went to 18.99, I told them to take my balance out of their bailout money.

By: Grace

Grace — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 17:27:02 +0000

I have had a CITI card for over 15 years now and had no complaints with them. HOWEVER, what they did, starting this Feburary really seems to be criminal let alone an unfair practice. First leave me explain my situation:

1 0% balance transfer $2500 offer expires 06/01/2010)
made on 07/15/2009

1 0% balance transfer $5000 (offer expires 11/01/2010)
made on 11/01/2009

so:

I have 2 tranfers, both 0%, different expiration dates.

For years, payments made to CITI were always applied toward the transaction (transfer) that would expire first as long as they were the lowest interest accruing transactions on the account(i was given verbal agreement of this AND my statement confirm this).

However, they have reversed this payment structure WITHOUT any notification and are blaming the new FED rules as the cause (which is NOT true). It is a way for them to charge the unknowning customer intrest on the first transfer (after it’s expiration date) while the costumer thought the first transfer was paid off.

It sure seems to me that this change was due to the new fed rules but not for the reason the card company want you to believe. It seems to be a devious way for this company to recoupe some of the funds that the new FED rules will eliminate.

I have also filed a complaint with the FTC.

By: Balance Transfers Helper

Balance Transfers Helper — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 17:05:51 +0000

Bernadette,

This is not the first time I’ve heard of credit card checks not being honored. This is an extremely unfair practice and I will be writing about this in detail to bring attention to the matter.

By: Bernadette

Bernadette — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 14:46:50 +0000

I have dealt with Chase for at least 15 years. I have a credit card (balance $1900) and a line of credit (balance $9100). Last week I wrote a check for $1000 from my line of credit (my credit limit was $11,000). Yesterday I received a notice in the mail that my credit line was “reduced” to $9500 and they could not process my check. I called, and of course was told there was nothing that could be done. If they want to reduce my limit, that’s within their rights, but to bounce a check which, when written, was well within my limit to me is terrible. I was terribly embarrassed by this – all they had to do was pay the check and then reduce my limit if they wanted to. I cut up my card and shred my remaining checks.

By: Matt

Matt — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 01:26:59 +0000

I noticed my US Bank interest rate went from 5.99% to 10.99% to include my prior balance. When I contacted US Bank, I was told they sent out a notice in October giving customers an option to “opt out” – close their accounts and pay off the remaining balance at their current rate. I never received this notice. The opt out deadline was January 23rd. My statement went through Jan 25, so I didn’t see the change until I received my bill in February – too late to opt out. They said there was nothing they could do – no exceptions were being made. Although their customer service reps were all very nice (I made it up to the manager), there were no options for me. I’ve been a customer of US Bank for years and have excellent credit. I was quite frankly completely taken off guard.

By: Balance Transfers Helper

Balance Transfers Helper — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 18:17:46 +0000

Carlo, Unfortunately, trying to reason with credit card companies is no longer particularly effective. From what other visitors have been telling me, most credit card companies are unwilling to bend to consumers who unwittingly got hit with rate increases. If you have good credit, doing a 0% balance transfer to a card from another company may be the best (and only) way to get a lower credit card rate without using a credit counseling service.

By: Carlo Morelli

Carlo Morelli — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 18:14:29 +0000

Our interest rate jumped from about 17% to over 23%. My wife called months ago to complain but they said there is nothing they could do. I called today and now they tell me they sent us a letter last year with an option to opt out of the interest hike! When I told Chase my wife asked for help lase year they said you have to ask for a supervisor. How would my wife know that unless they told us first? Chase is the only CC Company giving us a problem. We have been a perfect customer over the years. Please help what are our options as far as fighting back and getting our rate lowered…