I fell onto hard times during unemployment and was unable to make my credit card payments. I entered Providian's debt repayment program where they made me all kinds of offers to help me bring my debt down. They lied on every single account and ended up putting me further into debt. For almost 2 years now I have been trying to get them to uphold their promises with numerous phone calls and letters. This is my most recent letter explaining some of the things which have happened, to which they did not respond:
March 2
Providian Financial
Debt Repayment Program
Attn: Customer Service Manager
P.O. Box 9160
Pleasanton, CA 94566
To Whom It May Concern:
This is my final attempt to contact you before I pass this along to my attorney, the Better Business Bureau, the Attorney General of California, usacomplaints.com, and any other place I can put the word out at how your company takes advantage of people and makes promises and agreements that are never carried through.
I have been lied to so many times by your company in the last year and a half, and consequently you have not been receiving payments from me. I have been very clear in my attempts to take care of my debt, and have followed through on my commitments until I realized that you were not upholding yours. The other companies I had gone into similar agreements with were honest and upheld their commitments, and now those are almost completely paid off. I only wish you had done the same so that I would not have had to waste so much time and energy, and I could be done with you and my debt to you.
I have two accounts with you:
Xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx
Four of the most obvious outright lies you have told me are as follows:
1. Upon initial entry into your debt repayment program, I was told several things would happen, my deposited funds would be applied against my balance, late fees would be taken off, interest rates would be lowered, and the accounts would be recalculated. NONE of this happened.in fact my interest rates went up. After several calls to rude representatives who had absolutely no knowledge of the debt repayment program, I quit calling you back.
2. When you initially put me into the debt repayment program, I was making my payments as agreed to for quite a while. If you compare my balances from the beginning of the program, to the end of the time when I was making payments approximately six months later, my balances on both of my accounts had increased. How is this so-called debt repayment program going to help me repay my balances if the plan you set for me makes my account balances increase? Sounds more like a scam to me.
3. On August 30th you sent me a letter stating that you had completed my fee adjustments and that my account would be restated. You also stated that the changes would appear on the card within the next two billing statements. It is obvious to see this was never done, and once again you had lied.
4. I also requested that you no longer contact me via phone as you were calling my roommates number and causing him distress. The fact that any agreements you had given me over the phone were not upheld, when dealing with liars, I know it is wise to get things in writing. So in writing, on 10/26/02 you gave me confirmation that you received my request to only communicate with me via mail. Once again, this promise was broken as I received more calls regarding both of my accounts. I believe this is harassment.
I am now giving you one last chance to collect the debt on these accounts with no legal action from me. I propose that you do as you originally had committed to:
H Place all of my funds that I put down as a deposit plus the interest collected against the amount I owe.
H Take off all over-limit and late fees after you originally put me into the debt repayment program.
H Establish monthly payments agreed by both parties to reduce the debt.
H Reduce interest rates as originally proposed.
H Recalculate the accounts with the fees taken off and interest reduced.
H Once debt is zeroed, Providian will take off all negative comments on my credit report.
Please send back to me in writing your response to this so that I know how I need to deal with this nagging debt.
Once again, this is my last of many attempts before I contact my attorney, The Better Business Bureau, The Attorney General of California, and many other entities. Many of these I know your company has had many encounters with already. I have always made it clear that I understand my debts, and have persistently tried to work out arrangements with you, have agreed to those arrangements, and then have been failed by your company in the end. It appears to me that you are in the business of taking advantage of people, please prove me wrong and let me put and end to this constant headache and stress you consistently cause me by taking advantage of the situation I was in.
Kirk
West Hollywood, California
U.S.A.
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