Lied to by Southwest Visa during application!!

[dmank]

We were in MCO airport in Feb going to our gate and were stopped by a SWA Visa representative wanting us to sign up for the cc. We asked if there was an annual fee and he said no. When I saw it on the app he said that was for the 'premium card' and that we wouldn't be charged a fee. Fine - we signed up. He even suggested both my husband and I sign up to get 8 credits for each of us.
Well, now we are getting charged a fee and of course I threw away the cc application we signed. I'm so mad - we don't sign up for ccs that have fees. Called SWA and they will cut the annual fee in half but I'm still po'd. It's a bait and switch in my mind. I'm going to write them a letter telling them to reprimand the sales rep at a minimum, and then either refund the annual fee or cancel the card. Any suggestions what else I should do? BBB? Am really upset b/c they pulled our credit history obviously, and cancelling will affect it as well!!

 

[LoriABil]

This happened to me as well (although I applies over the phone!) I called as soon as I got the bill with the annual fee and told them the situation and that I wanted to cancel my card. They said okay and even took off the fee! Add to that the fact I transferred another card over and made a purchase for my 16 credits, which never appeared within the year I had the account opened, and I will never open another account like that again!

 

[Thumper_Man]

Wow. So sorry to hear this happened to you. I also applied for the SW card and in my experiences, I like it. Yes, I do pay an annual fee per year. But to me, it's worth it. I usually earn a free flight every year, so to me; it's worth what I pay for the annual fee. Each free flight I've earned and I used, I would've had to pay close to $350+ out of my own pocket for recent flights I've flown. So I look at it as I pay $60 (annual fee) for a roundtrip flight every year. Plus each year from the date that you signed up, they will deposit I believe it is 8 credits into your rapid rewards account. So you only need to earn half the credits during the next 2 years to earn a free flight. If you travel quite often, then you earn credits faster and earn free flights more often. So what I save in flights, I will gladly pay the annual fee.

 

[Disney-Kim]

I have yet to see an airline card that is fee free....especially a CHase card

 

[stazmatic]

This happened to me with a Best Buy card. I only wanted the one with no annual fee but when I wasn't approved for it they automatically approved me for their other card that does have an annual fee, plus a fee for everything else. We called to cancel the whole thing and they would only waive half of the annual fee and if we didn't pay it would be reported to the credit union. It doesn't seem right that companies are getting away with this.

 

[dmank]

they've given us the option to cancel the card - I'm just so angry that they are pulling a bait and switch here. If it comes with a fee, then fine, I will decide if I want the card based on that information. But please don't tell me it comes with a fee and then charge me one the first month. That's bait and switch. I want to be able to escalate this to someone other than just Chase, but I don't know who??

 

[dd50]

I certainly would be angry because if I know about a fee that is one thing but if you tell me no fee and then I have to pay one I would be angry. Can't you cancel it as you didn't agree to a fee. Hopefully you didn't use it. I would also call the Attorney General in your state.

 

[MomToOne]

I've learned that complaints to a corporation often fall on deaf ears.

But if you cc: whatever regulatory agency has jurisdiction over them, then suddenly they take your complaint seriously.

So, as others have said, cc: your Attorney General on the complaint. But also cc: the Division of Credit Practices, Bureau of Consumer Protection, Federal Trade Commission, Washington, D.C. 20580

I learned this lesson the hard way - after complaining to Blue Cross for months about a problem and having them repeatedly ignore me, I wrote a letter to BC/BS where I cc:ed the state agency that regulated HMOs in my state at the time. Within days, I had the HEAD OF CUSTOMER SERVICE for BC/BS calling me personally to apologize!! She even forwarded me an email chain that had gone through the company about my letter - and in the initial email on the chain, they specifically mentioned my complaint to the state agency - so I'm sure that's what got them off of their you-know-what's about the problem! (it was a blatant violation of the state regulations ) This technique also recently got United Airlines to deal with a refund problem they had otherwise refused to deal with for months - once I just mentioned a possible complaint to my congressman regarding the need for a airline customer bill of rights, suddenly the refund came through!

 

[marynpaul]

I was also duped/ lied to by those Southwest credit hawkers at the airport.I contacted Chase and explained and they more or less said too bad .. to sad.. So I reported them to the Better Business Bureau via online.. Next time I am at MCO airport, I am going to use my flip camcorder and record the spiel they give and sent it to Chase and the BBB and whoever else I can find. Turning those suckers in for sure

 

[cm8]

, all they care about is them, lies on top of lies

 

[dmank]

thanks so much for the replies. I will copy Div of Credit Practices as well as the BBB!!