PrincessMommy2
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Dec 6, 2003
- Messages
- 348
I was just wondering what other people's opinion was of First USA or if I am the only one who thinks they are the most corrupt business I have ever encountered. I apologize in advance, this is loong! I have been going back and forth over the phone and in writing with them since December of 2003. In short, they sent one of those cardmember change notifications that needed to be responded to by 7/26/03 if you wished to opt out of the change. The change was increasing the apr up to 24.99%. If you closed the account, you could keep your current apr. Our account was closed anyway, so we just called the number provided to opt out and keep our rate of 10.99%. **(let me add..this account was always paid on time, it has been with First USA for over 7 years, closed for the last 3, and only other late payments on any account on credit report were on 2 accounts over 4 years ago.)** I noticed on the December 2003 statement that the finance charges were 2.5 times higher than what they should be. The interest rate was 24.99%. I called immediately and the cust. serv. rep. checked their records and saw that a call was made to opt out of the increase. She said no problem, she would send the request in to change it. Expect confirmation in two weeks. I thought that was the end of it, but no confirmation ever came. I called two weeks later and was told it was still being worked on. From then on I have been calling and faxing letters every three or four weeks. I kept getting told it actually takes 4 weeks, no new status, basically exuse after excuse. I finally got a supervisor on the phone about two weeks ago and he flat out told me that I missed the opt out deadline, there was never any request in to change it, and he was not changing the interest rate back. He did say that the change was because of an Experian credit report they ran. When I told him that I pull a credit report every year and know there is nothing on it to justify a 14% increase, he had no answer for me. When I asked him what all the other customer service reps have been doing with my calls from December until April, he just told me he did not know, he was not on those calls!!?? When I asked him how the very first person I spoke to was able to confirm she had record of our opt out and he could'nt he just said we missed it??? I would say he was rude, but unemotional and detached better describe him. I asked for his supervisor because I had not gone through this for over 4 months to accept his answer. He told me she was not available and would only leave a message to be returned within three business days. Surprise, surprise, that call never came.
Anyway, now I have written a letter to the CEO of First USA which I have sent certified mail. It details my entire complaint (5 pages). I did tell him in the letter if this is not resolved to my satisfaction I am filing complaints with the Office of Comptroller and Currency, the Federal Trade Commission, the Better Business Bureau of Delaware, and even the news program Dateline(you think that's a little over the top?
)
I did some searching on the net and did find several complaint message boards about First USA. They apparently did the same thing to a lot of people (I'm sure the majority of people don't read the inserts that come in the bills).
To top it off, Friday we got another notice of change from First USA. Among the six things that will change is the minimum payment calculation will increase for aprs over 23% from 2% to 5% of the unpaid balance. I cannot believe this company.
Anyway, I was just wondering if anyone else has had a similar experience with them and if so, what if anything have you done? It seems to me that First USA is counting on people to not complain at all or to not take it any further than their robot customer service reps. It just really makes me angry the way the people who actually pay their bills get penalized. Our balance with them is only about $2,800 and when I figured the finance charges they will make if they assume they only get the minimum payment it goes from $1,600 to almost $14,000!! There are people who owe thousands more...imagine the finance charges they make on them!!
Thanks to anyone who has read this far, and I hope it's okay to post this here. I just think you guys are great and wanted to see what you thought!!
Anyway, now I have written a letter to the CEO of First USA which I have sent certified mail. It details my entire complaint (5 pages). I did tell him in the letter if this is not resolved to my satisfaction I am filing complaints with the Office of Comptroller and Currency, the Federal Trade Commission, the Better Business Bureau of Delaware, and even the news program Dateline(you think that's a little over the top?
)I did some searching on the net and did find several complaint message boards about First USA. They apparently did the same thing to a lot of people (I'm sure the majority of people don't read the inserts that come in the bills).
To top it off, Friday we got another notice of change from First USA. Among the six things that will change is the minimum payment calculation will increase for aprs over 23% from 2% to 5% of the unpaid balance. I cannot believe this company.
Anyway, I was just wondering if anyone else has had a similar experience with them and if so, what if anything have you done? It seems to me that First USA is counting on people to not complain at all or to not take it any further than their robot customer service reps.
It just really makes me angry the way the people who actually pay their bills get penalized. Our balance with them is only about $2,800 and when I figured the finance charges they will make if they assume they only get the minimum payment it goes from $1,600 to almost $14,000!! There are people who owe thousands more...imagine the finance charges they make on them!! Thanks to anyone who has read this far, and I hope it's okay to post this here. I just think you guys are great and wanted to see what you thought!!
