Emerge - Providian
Ripoff, high fees, no service

I just got off the phone with an Emerge representative. Several problems I was having with them.

The initial problem started when it switched to Emerge last year. I kept getting charged over the limit fees because of the annual fee charged to me. I was told as long as I made the minimum payment, I would not be charge over the limit fees from the rediculous fee. Over limit charges started appearing out of nowhere and so I finally paid the card down a bit so it wasn't over limit. Considered closing my card at that point and paying it off, but decided against it.

I've had my card for over two years and have NEVER been late. This month, I called three days before my payment was due to do an automated payment. Had trouble with it taking my information, then time got away from me and now my payment was late, for the first time ever.

The calls started up to 10 in one day I counted. It showed up as "Private" on my caller ID. I was at work and looked at the caller ID log to see the calls were sometimes just 1 to 2 minutes apart and on Sunday, too.

So I call Emerge to get this straightened out. I was informed that my bill was $165 over the limit. The breakdown, 89 for annual fee, and a 35 over limit fee and a 35 late fee (something close to that). Whoa!

The representative was trying to be helpful. Mind you this is the first representative that has spoken clear English. I am in no way prejudiced to someone speaking another language, but I'm telling you, I couldn't understand the representatives I was talking to and that the only thing they could tell me was the "script" they were reading from when I would call with a complaint. So today was better. The lady understood me this time.

She then asked me if I realized that my account was closed. CLOSED? She couldn't tell me why, only that I would receive a letter. I was amazed. My first late payment with them ever and my card is closed? That's the way it looks, she told me. It was closed within 7 days of my late payment. The amazing thing is that just two weeks before my November payment they sent my new card to me. The representative said they would reverse my annual fee and possibly the over limit fee, but she would have to put in a request. How can I be paying an annual fee for a card that I don't have???

THE MORAL OF THE STORY HERE: Emerge has been impossible to deal with since last October. No communication, no customer service, just fees, fees, fees. Really it's the best thing that could have happened that they closed the card because now I will just get the balance paid off and never have to deal with them EVER. I agree with the other complaints on the board here. It's shocking this company can still be allowed to do business.
Do not do business with these people. They will make your credit situation worse. Find a reputable company to build your credit with!!!

c
kentwood, michigan
U.S.A.

Company: Emerge - Providian
Country: USA
State: New Hampshire
City: Tilton
Site: emerge-card.com

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