Aspire Visa
CB&T Faulty Charges High Fees Predatory Lending

I currently have a Visa with Aspire Card. I am trying like crazy to close this account and it is impossible. You cannot reach a live human on the phone from any of the phone numbers provided on the credit card, invoice or website. All 3 places refer you to an email address. I've sent no fewer than 6 emails, 1 letter and 1 fax in the last 45 days asking them to please close my account. I have received no response. What prompted my original request to close the account is as follows:

Aspire had been invoicing me $6.50 a month for an "account maintenace fee" that I was paying even though I was not using the card. I was starting to get tired of paying this fee for the pleasure of carrying around their card in my wallet when a bill showed up in September for $150. This was for an annual fee. I decided then and there that I did not want to keep this card any longer as the $150 a year annual fee plus $78 a year in "maintenace fees" was way more money than I wanted to spend for a card that I had never once used.

So I tried to call them, which I was unable to do. So I emailed them twice in September asking to please close my card and to remove the $150 annual fee since I would not be renewing the card for the year. I received no response. Since I am in the process of buying a house, I finally sent payment on the 2nd of October for the $150 plus the $6.50 account maintenace fee along with a letter asking them to please close my account and credit me the $150 since I was not renewing the card.

I expected that was the end of it, except when I received an invoice for October, not only was my account still active BUT there was a $35 "late fee" plus the $6.50 account mainatenace fee listed as new charges! So now they claim I owe $41.50. I sent another email to Customer Service stating that I would NOT pay these charges and that I also wanted my $150 refunded. I also sent a fax to the dispute and customer service fax requesting the same thing. Of course I have not heard anything back.

I filed a complaint with the BBB and I am hoping this will get them to close my account and hopefully refund me the $150 PLUS credit me the $41.50. This $41.50 was due on 10-31-03 and I did not pay it since I don't feel I am obligated to do so considering I've been asking them to close the account since September. I am sure they have levied another $6.50 late fee against me. I don't know where to turn to get them to refund me my money and close my account. These people are the worst company I have EVER dealt with. I also just realized this week when I got my new Providian card, that Providian is now working with these people!

Please anyone reading this, DO NOT open an Aspire card or an Emerge card or any other card wiht Aspire/CB&T. They have been the WORST company I've ever dealt with. Not only do they charge ridiculous fees for NOTHING, but they also have a ridiculously high APR if you would ever happen to actually use the card.

Please anyone with info, please help me with this company, thanks.

S.K.
Rockville, Maryland
U.S.A.

Company: Aspire Visa
Country: USA
State: Georgia
City: Atlanta
Address: PO Box 10555

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