Chase Manhattan
Ripoff - raised rate for late payment caused by their computer system problems

I responded to an offer and was "awarded" a Platinum MC. I took advantage of their special balance transfer rate and transfered the balances from a couple other cards. The balance was no where near my limit. When my introductory rate time limit was over, instead of the 10% rate I was supposed to get I got 17% - WHAT? I called and was told I was too close to my limit so I didn't qualify for that rate - my limit was 5000.00, balance was 4500.00. I was told that if I paid it down some my rate would be lowered.

Chase has a policy that you can get your statement on-line or email. I opted for the Email notices and on-line statement and made all payments on-line. I made payments well in advance of when they were due, more than required, and even made extra payments.in September I made my regular on-line payment and I set up automatic payments to start in Oct and run through the end of the year.

In November I received an on-line notice saying my minimum payment for November was 0.00. I often make extra payments on my other cards and frequently get statements saying my minimum payments are 0.00.

A couple weeks later I went on-line to check for a refunded charge. Imagine my surprise when my account was showing a past due amount and a 27.49% interest rate. My autopay hadn't worked so I checked and it was no longer in the system.

I called customer service and was told they wouldn't even look into it - it was 5 days late so my rate was raised. And would stay that way for at least a year. I got so mad after arguing with the "customer service" rep, and being told that I couldn't speak to anyone else, that I told him to close the account - I refused to do business with a company like that.

About a week later I received an email saying they had experienced system errors causing erroneous "0.00 min payment due" notices - sorry for the confusion but "you" should always check your statement for the actual amounts due. At the end of the letter the mentioned that everyone should check to see if their autopayments were still in the system?

I called "customer service" again and after explaining my issue I was told that their system had gone down, call back later. I called a week later and again they couldn't access the system. I tried one more time and their system was "updating" so - you got it. Call back.

I called again after the holidays and finally someone could look at my account. I explained the issue and the person acknowledged that they had experienced system problems. There wasn't anything she could do right then but they would check into it and get back to me... I heard Nothing.

I called again and once again explained the problem to yet another rude person. The person again acknowledged that they had system problems but they couldn't reduce my rate because my account was closed. I told him that I only closed it because of the rude treatment and their refusal to look into the problem when I called. Like talking to a rock. He told me that I couldn't "negotiate" a new rate because my account was closed. I replied that I wasn't trying to "negotiate" a new rate. I wanted the rate it had been BEFORE their system screwed up the autopayment system. Nope. No way - the "system" wouldn't let them change a rate on a closed account. Ok, so I told him to re-open it. He put me on hold and then came back and said they couldn't because I had too much debt??? It was less than when I got the card.

A few days later I received a "denial of credit" statement telling me to contact Experian if I thought there were errors. They never asked me if they could run one - or even told me that they were going to run one. Is that legal?

So now I'm stuck paying 27.49 percent until I can manage to pay it off. What joke - Where are the people that are supposed to be monitoring this stuff? Why aren't they helping the consumers?

Lanna
Tacoma, Washington
U.S.A.

Company: Chase Manhattan
Country: USA
State: Delaware
City: Wilmington
Address: PO Box 15902
Phone: 8003340601

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