Complaint / Review
Account Secure Plus With Orchard Bank
Account Secure Plus Denied eligibility of hardship once unemployment benefits

I was unemployed but made my minimum credit card payments until the unemployment expired. Only at that point did I experience hardship. I requested to activate the Account Secure Plus benefits on my MC and VISA that I had been paying 7.50 per card, per month for YEARS in addition to 28% interest! I was told their policy was that I must file 180 days after involuntary layoff. Even though I was laid off I was able to keep up the payments for over 180 days. Once my unemployment benefits expired and I experienced a hardship, I then tried to activate the Account Secure benefits only to be told I was ineligible. Apparantly this policy encourages to default immediately on layoff instead of keeping up regular payments, and this policy punishes you for keeping up payments and denying benefits when, at a later date of 180 days, you claim hardship. A better policy would be to be eligible while receiving benefits or unemployed/underemployed part-time after expiration of benefits and before returning to full-time working status. I will demand a full refund of all monthly payments on all cards for the Account Secure benefits program.