Due to poor credit following bankruptcy, my husband and I both signed up for "credit" with Cross Country Bank.
The "bank's" cheapest interest rate is a whopping 20.99% and the charges for late fees or over limit fees are in the $30.00 range. When you pay your bill, the bank hold's your credited money for 12 working days prior to releasing the funds. There is NO grace period and therefore, no matter what, you are liable for finance charges.
When you call, you have to do so long distance, no 800 number with live individuals and to get through to a person, you must first wade your way through a constant barage of "information" hoping you will just get tired and hang up before reaching anyone.
When you do get someone they can only tell you what you already can see online and getting to a supervisor is pretty near impossible.
This is a bank which preys on people who think they need a card to rebuild their credit rating only to find themselves so deeply in debt to this bank and getting late fees and over limit fees which then create more bad records.
I had the card since 1998 and finally paid it in full and closed my account. When I asked what it would take to reinstate it, they told me they would have to charge me $50.00 and run a credit check on me as well. I told them no thanks because the fees were just too high and this was the primary reason I had closed the account.
My husband had an even more interesting situation of having a low balance card, getting offered a new "gold" card with a higher credit limit and he accepted. He was never sent the new card nor did he make any further charges but he was continually charged late fees on a card he did not have until he was then being charged "over limit" fees. He repeatedly called to no avail.
My advice to all is PLEASE do your homework before signing up with this or any "bank". You should always look for the lowest rate, the lowest fees and expect to have a grace period in which to send payment and save finance charges. No help for your credit to be had here, nor good services. Another piece of advice is to do your business with them by MAIL and return receipt. Do not attempt to call because they do not keep records of that...
This is just one of many ripoff banks and must be one of the worst. CONSUMER BEWARE.
Melody
Phoenix, Arizona
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