Disney visa card 0% promotion double check statements

[mommyz]

FYI on Disney visa card...got mine last summer and up until Feb it was great. Called customer service several times about my reward points that had accumulated and they were great. Customer service is still good but their system is whack....

Okay so we went on our 7nt cruise in March (btw it was awesome) our promotional balance expired 5/2/05 so I get March's statement I am charged finance charges even though I paid in full minus the promotion. So I called and they removed it immediately but said the promotion had ended...I was pissed...I was looking at the statement and it was right there. So they put an inquiry and sent a letter apologizing that the promotion was still active. Well I was so pissed I paid the entire balance including the promotion minus the finance charges just wanted to make sure it was paid off in time to give them no excuse. Also when we went on the cruise we booked another one put our deposit on the Disney card again it was suppose to be 0% six months ending 9/9/05.

So I check out the statement today and there were finance charges. I called them. Okay well they removed them... I guess b/c it was in between billing cycles. All right whatever it's off but here's the great part......


The amount I sent in went towards the latest promotion ending 9/9/05 so I still have a freaking balance on the 5/2/05. So of course they are going to look into it. I am so frustrated and super pissed off. They are supposed to call back in 2 days to let me know what's up. If this does not get resolved I'll just pay it off and cancel the dang card...it's just not worth the trouble.

So everyone be careful and keep a close eye.

 

[mmouse37]

Many people say they have had trouble with the terms of the promotion....we pay it off each month in its entirety so we have never have had a problem...I love racking up those points.

BTW...maybe it's just me, but maybe you should pick another word other than p.....d off for these boards...some might not think so, but I think it is a bit offensive....again, that is just me.

 

[Disneefun]

Most of Disney Visa's promotions have problems. I've had so much trouble with them, I can't even think... I had to fight to get the $50 free dollars promised when I signed up, double points never credit correctly and the one time I tried the 6 month thing, I ended up getting charged. It's all a mess. This card is only "good" if you pay it off every month and don't expect anything other than the 1% rewards. Maybe now that they're with Chase things'll get better. But I'm shopping for a new card regardless. I feel your pain.

 

[my3kids]

And check your rewards balance! Someone on the budget board reported her reward points disappeared with the chageover to Chase.

 

[maryisme]

We had the same problem. Went back and forth a couple of times but they finally got it worked out.

In order to avoid this in the future, I opned an account in my husband's name. We each have charging privledges on each others account. The cost of any trips go on one account and our daily expenses which gets paid in full every month goes on the other. This way we can avoid all the finance charge nonsense that they can't seem to get straight.

Mary

 

[HooKooDooKu]

I too have had and posted about similar issues with the Disney Visa card. They've always honored their promotion, but it always took a phone call each month to get inappropriate finance charges removed. Issues went away when I started paying in full each month.

 

[Vavasmon]

I love my points but have come to hate this card's customer service. Also the points are not any better than other "rewards" cards that I can use.

It was bad as Bank One and has not changed since Chase. I am only using it for my 6 month free on our two planned vactions. Everything elese is going on either my LL Bean Visa (Fantastic Customer Service) or Discover (Love the Cash Back). In fact if I wasn't planning on using their money for free in the next 12 months (2 fairly expensive trips) the card would already be closed.

 

[mommyz]

I guess I'm not the only one then...

I think after this I will probably go back to my Discover card love them and have never had any issues over the past 8 years. I'll still get the 1% back!!!

 

[DenverVal]

I called to ask the details on the 0% for six months and was told that I had to have booked directly through DCL and the rep gave me the phone number of DCL reservations and hung up. Well, I know that's not right.

I recently took a survey for the Disney Visa, and they concentrated on whether or not I was satisfied with their rewards points and offers, but did not offer a place to critique their customer "service". I too was wrongly charged a late fee and a finance charge when they claimed that they received payment one day late when in fact I mailed the full balance 10 days early. They did reverse the late fee without argument, but balked at reversing the finance charge, claiming that their system didn't allow them to do it. I argued and won, sortof. The next statement a finance charge showed up for the one day that they say I was late.

I used to have a Chase card and got really tired of the nasty little games they played with fees and finance charges, so much so that I closed the account is frustration. I don't forsee customer service improving with the changeover to Chase.

 

[skibum]

Every time a Disney Visa comment comes up, I feel I must add my two cents. This is a terrrible company with terrible customer service! As I continuously read these comments, I am more convinced than ever that this Visa affiliate is purposely not billing according to their advertisements. I was excited to be a "Charter Member", but as others have posted, there are better deals from other companies that are honest and straightforward. Disney should cut their ties to this company! They are giving Disney a bad name, at least in my opinion.

 

[jacobatt1]

Forgive me--I'm obviously missing something.

I looked into the card when it first came out, and I saw that it was based on a "two-cycle" balance to compute the rewards. How can you pay it off each month and still get rewards? That's one reason we didn't get it, b/c you'd have to let it go a double cycle (ie 2 months) and then pay it off, and of course then it would have finance charges.

Although with all these issues, I don't know if I'd want it now, I still don't understand!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Staighten me out please!!!

Amy

 

[Minnie&Mickey]

Forgive me--I'm obviously missing something.

I looked into the card when it first came out, and I saw that it was based on a "two-cycle" balance to compute the rewards. How can you pay it off each month and still get rewards? That's one reason we didn't get it, b/c you'd have to let it go a double cycle (ie 2 months) and then pay it off, and of course then it would have finance charges.

I'm not sure I am understanding you correctly, but are you saying that you only get rewards if you don't pay your balance off in full each month? If so, that is not correct. We pay our account off in full each month, and get rewards for everything that we charge on the card. My biggest complaint with the card is that once you transfer the points to your Rewards Card, they will expire on the date printed on the card (they are no longer good for 5 years). I posted about this recently on this board after we lost about $300 in points, and sent a letter of complaint to the Disney Reward Marketing department, but they never bothered to respond...needless to say, I was very disappointed with their lack of response. Customer Service only gave me a fax number to write to, and I really wish I had another address or phone number to call to express my displeasure.

We also charged our Disney Cruise on our card last year during a time when it was supposed to be interest free, but because it wasn't booked through Disney, we weren't eligible for the promotion...at least that's the way it was explained to me.

 

[ljql_5969]

I get confused about the double rewards thing too that is going on right now. We get our normal rewards every month but I was told that the extra 1% that is going on right now will first show up about 2 - 3 statements from the time you made the purchases. I think they do that so you lose track!

For example, in February, I paid the deposit amounts for the entire party of 18 that is going on our trip on my card and they all paid me back (I wanted those extra points!!). I got about $47 in points but I thought I would get around $94 (double). All my statement had was $47 in the rewards spot and $5 in the "bonus" awards spot. I called and they said that the "bonus" rewards show up 8 - 10 weeks after you made the purchase so depending on when in the month we made them, it could be 2 - 3 statements from then when we actually see them!!!! I don't get it. Why make it harder for the customer to keep track? Unless they want us to forget!

My DH and I have already talked about cancelling the card after our cruise next year.

We had another issue with them when we went over our limit for a couple days (because of charging those amounts+car getting fixed+everyday expenses). We kept charging to get the points thinking that eventually it would decline us when we went into a store. Well, no it didn't, but when we got the bill, they had a $27.00 over limit fee on it. We pay off IN FULL every month! I was so mad. They said they had not received my prior months check and then I went over. I asked them why they did not DECLINE me and they said they do that for the convenience of the customer and so as not to embarrass them. I would rather get the decline then get charged $27. They said they would remove that $27 fee. We'll see.

 

[Bama4Disney]

We had the same problems as other posters but I kept calling and complaining and finally had the service charge removed as we pay or balance off in full every month. We have booked our last two cruise through expedia as they where actually cheaper than Disney in those two instances. Both of the trips where under the promotion and we took advantage of the 6 months free financing. However, be aware that if you don't pay your balance off they will apply any payment to the zero promotion balance first and charge you interest in the balance. I learned this when I didn't pay for our hotel at Disney the day we got off the ship as I thought this was under the promotion but it wasn't as it has to be a "package" Since I didn't pay the $200.00 on the hotel, that started the mess of the finance charges and them applying my payment to the promotion balance. I finally complained enough and kept going up the ladder until I got it straightend out. My advise is watch your statments closely.

 

[lbgraves]

I get confused about the double rewards thing too that is going on right now. We get our normal rewards every month but I was told that the extra 1% that is going on right now will first show up about 2 - 3 statements from the time you made the purchases. I think they do that so you lose track!

For example, in February, I paid the deposit amounts for the entire party of 18 that is going on our trip on my card and they all paid me back (I wanted those extra points!!). I got about $47 in points but I thought I would get around $94 (double). All my statement had was $47 in the rewards spot and $5 in the "bonus" awards spot. I called and they said that the "bonus" rewards show up 8 - 10 weeks after you made the purchase so depending on when in the month we made them, it could be 2 - 3 statements from then when we actually see them!!!! I don't get it. Why make it harder for the customer to keep track? Unless they want us to forget!

My DH and I have already talked about cancelling the card after our cruise next year.

We had another issue with them when we went over our limit for a couple days (because of charging those amounts+car getting fixed+everyday expenses). We kept charging to get the points thinking that eventually it would decline us when we went into a store. Well, no it didn't, but when we got the bill, they had a $27.00 over limit fee on it. We pay off IN FULL every month! I was so mad. They said they had not received my prior months check and then I went over. I asked them why they did not DECLINE me and they said they do that for the convenience of the customer and so as not to embarrass them. I would rather get the decline then get charged $27. They said they would remove that $27 fee. We'll see.

Unfortunantly you can go up to a certain amount without the card being declined once it is over the balance with most companies. This is the headache I dealt with when collecting accounts with a $250.00 credit limit but 10K, 15K, or higher balances. IDK why they do this other than the embarassment factor. People who steal CCs know this too & can get the balance very high in a short amount of time with the small purchases.

 

[Sue (mom of 3 boys!)]

DOUBLE POINTS??!! WHAT DOUBLE POINTS? IS IT FOR CERTAIN PURCHASES, WHAT'S THE TIMEFRAME, IS IT FOR EVERYONE? THAT'S SOME MEGA POINTS FOR US! Please elaborate if you can Thank You!!

 

[Cinderelli]

I think the double rewards offer is a joke. We, too, charge EVERYTHING on our Disney Visa. Last June we received the offer that everything we charge on "everyday" purchases over $2300 a month would receive double points. Every month but 2 since then we've had well over $3,000-$4,000 charged (we pay it off monthly and use it for EVERYTHING). When I inquired last month as to why we have never received any double rewards, here is the response I received:

"Please note that when a merchant is set up to accept VISA or MasterCard as a form of payment, they select a category, which identifies their business type. When we determine, which charges are eligible for the Spend & Get double point promotion, the merchant type must match one of the categories listed above. We have recently discovered that not all merchants are billing under these category types. In addition, if a merchant is not a specialty store and provides a variety of products, they may not bill under a specific category.

Regrettably, we have no control over the merchant type in which transactions are billed. When the transactions are presented to us, our system automatically determines the category code matches the list above used to calculate the rewards. Unfortunately, there is such a large volume of merchant codes, we are not able to provide an entire list. No adjustment is due at this time. We apologize for any inconvenience this matter may cause
you."

So, unless I want to start looking at every category code for each charge I make and take it up with the vendors as to why they are using the codes they are, I'm SOL.

I'll just keep paying it off every month and enjoy the 1% and not worry about it. I do think they try to make this card look like it's really great and you're going to get something special, but then you have to jump thru hoops to ever get what you think you deserve.

Lissa

 

[JeanneK]

oops, wrong thread

 

[jfis1020]

We called Bank One and confirmed the terms of the 0%. We qualified for the 0% according to the representative I spoke with. Well.........we didn't and had to fight like heck to have it written off. But, this continued to happen for three months. Finally, I got sick of dealing with them and repeating the story that I paid off the cruise. Once everything cycled we called to cancel. They asked us if we'd like our points......(duh, yes, I had saved and saved those 200 POINTS for our spring trip). The rep. told us that she had automaticallly posted it to the card we already had for points (she had the number right there on record, so I didn't need to get the card out). When we get to WDW and whip out the card, she had so sweetly volunteered to post our 200 points to an EXPIRED CARD! Guess what???? They won't give me my 200 points!!!!!!! I am so upset I can't stand this! I called and they won't give me the points!! Why must I suffer for someone else's mistake???? I did my homwork by calling and confirming the 0% terms in advance. To top it off I got a "know what the terms are from now on" letter from them! I was so insulted!

I will never do business again with Bank One (which was who had the card at the time). I find them to be not only a poorly managed company, but also a poor company of customer service. I am disappointed that Disney would associate themselves, given the extreme high quality of service Disney provides.

 

[arlenesp]

We called Bank One and confirmed the terms of the 0%. We qualified for the 0% according to the representative I spoke with. Well.........we didn't and had to fight like heck to have it written off. But, this continued to happen for three months. Finally, I got sick of dealing with them and repeating the story that I paid off the cruise. Once everything cycled we called to cancel. They asked us if we'd like our points......(duh, yes, I had saved and saved those 200 POINTS for our spring trip). The rep. told us that she had automaticallly posted it to the card we already had for points (she had the number right there on record, so I didn't need to get the card out). When we get to WDW and whip out the card, she had so sweetly volunteered to post our 200 points to an EXPIRED CARD! Guess what???? They won't give me my 200 points!!!!!!! I am so upset I can't stand this! I called and they won't give me the points!! Why must I suffer for someone else's mistake???? I did my homwork by calling and confirming the 0% terms in advance. To top it off I got a "know what the terms are from now on" letter from them! I was so insulted!

I will never do business again with Bank One (which was who had the card at the time). I find them to be not only a poorly managed company, but also a poor company of customer service. I am disappointed that Disney would associate themselves, given the extreme high quality of service Disney provides.

Well after reading all these posts I did some research and need to put in my 2 cents.Here are a few things you may not know about the Disney Visa.

Jfis1020, if the dollars were transfered to an expired card Im sure you should be able to get the dollars transfered to a valid card.The fact you confirmed the card with the rep makes both of you wrong for the error.They should have asked what the exp date was and you should have been aware of it. 2 wrongs do not make a right but when you have so many dollars on the card you need to be careful.You spent a lot of money to get that much.I would call back and ask to speak to a supervisor.I'm sorry you felt you had to close the card to get your point across. Also this info is on the back of the rewards card as well.

The terms of the 0% are a bit confusing but the trip does need to be booked thru Disney as stated in the terms of the promotion papers everyone of us have received, but probably never bothered to read due to all the fine print. I think the confusion is the booking has to have the special code or it won't fly.And only the package qualifies for the 0% and not extra charges as Bama4Disney found out.Shipboard charges do not qualify either.

As to the double rewards program, this too stated in the offer that only certain charges were to qualify each calendar month after the spending threshold was met. If you are aware of the Spend and get offer then you would know that the booking of a cruise will not get you the double points with this double promotion.I believe if you go over the catagories, travel was not one of them.

I don't know about anyone else. but all the cc offers I get , when you read about the fees, overlimit is there in print. Just think about this. Why would it be there for us to see if they were never going to allow you to go over the credit limit in the first place. Same applies to late fees.They are displayed for a reason. But did you know most cc will allow you to place a block on the acct so it will not go over the credit limit?

Jacobatt 1, you get your reward dollars based on 1% of your charges on the statement. Not due to payments either in full or minimum payment.The 2 cycle only applies if you carry a balance.If you pay in full each month it is like any other card. No financecharges.Don't worry about it.

I'm not trying to insult anyone here,nor do I want it to sound like I am preaching.It seems alot have had terrible experiences but itdoes sound like a lot could have been prevented with the right information.
Yes customer service in any company can have it's problems. At any time you can get superior service or poor service. It happens everyday.
Nothing is perfect except a Disney Cruise and a ressie at Palos.