I had been working for 2 years on getting my credit repaired and rebuilt. I had all old accounts paid and nothing bad on my credit. I bought a brand new car (Mercedes) with which I had to put $8000 cash down (so all can know that I was not short on coming up with money to pay Aspire, which is what they accuse me of), and I wanted to get a few more accounts so that over time with no late payments I could have great credit again, which I had damaged when I was very young and in college.
I work in the mortgage business and I understand credit and credit reporting very well, and I have to say that what Aspire does seems criminal, but no one seems willing to stop them. At least not any government agencies.
I received a pre-approved letter from them with no secured funds required, so I promptly accepted. I received the card a few weeks later which said I needed to make the May minimum payment to activate the card, which was $20. The limit was only $250 which they had applied their fees to, which after the $20 payment was made I had $72 available credit. That was okay with me because I did not get the card to have available money, but to establish good credit.
That was May 5th when I received it and made the payment on an automated system over the phone. I was not able to use the card for 2 weeks so they could verify my check cleared. On May 17th it was activated, which I know because when I called the automated info line it told me my available credit and that the minimum payment due was $0 due by May 31st.
In the last week of May I tried to use the card for a $10 purchase and it was denied. I had used it before and it worked and I thought that somehow I had used up all the available limit. I called to check and the automated system said I had $25 or so available and that there was a $20 min. Payment due by May 31st, just a few days away. I waited on hold to talk to a person who told me the account had been deactivated because they sent me a statement which was returned to them saying I was not at that address. I verified my info and he said it would be reactivated and not to worry about the recording saying I owed $20 by May 31st.
In the 1st week of June I got a statement from them which showed I had a $35 late fee, which put me over the limit and so there was also a $35 over limit fee added. I called and talked to them and I was extremely mad at this extortion. When I told the lady I had made the $20 payment she told me that was something different and that there was another payment due before May 31st, which was mailed to me on a date that was before I even had received the card. I never received such a statement, and what they were talking about was the supposed letter that was returned to them by the post office. I do not believe it ever happened. The lady at Aspire told me it was my fault and that if I would pay my bills on time it would not have happened.
I lost it. I told her to f* off and that I would not be paying it and she needs to close the account right now. She told me she did. I immediately filed complaints with the Georgia Attorney General and the Oklahoma Attorney General. They sent me a series of letters more or less passing the buck to another government agency, and they obviously have never even looked into it. The Georgia Attorney General did forward my complaint to Aspire and asked them to resolve it themselves. I got a letter from Aspire saying that the account was closed at my request, and that within three months I would receive a credit for those fees but I would have to pay for my charges and the monthly fees. That was fine for me.
Except that the credit never came, but I have received statements every month with them tacking on $70 a month in fees, and some calls from them for collection. I have refused to talk to them, since I still have the letter they sent. I know I can always use that as evidence with the credit bureaus to show what they report is a lie.in December I got a letter and a call saying they had charged it off but they would reverse it if I paid $30. I went ahead and did it in the interest of putting it behind me. I was told I would receive a letter that would waive all the late fees and give me a payoff amount.instead I got another bill with another $70 added on. They at least showed I made the $30 payment.
Now I owe, according to them, almost $700 for the $72 credit limit I received in less than a years time. I just filed a complaint with the FTC and will wait for them to respond. If not I will have to take some costly legal action I guess. The thing I worry about most is what has happened to my credit, which is perfect for the last year and a half with 3 or 4 other accounts, with exception to this one.
Anyone and everyone should stay far away from these people, they are only looking to steal your money!!
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