I got this card in April, I didn't have such great credit because I was in a car accident a few years ago and the bills piled up. I've been able to pay off my 50,000 dollars in debt now that my settlement from the accident has came in but my credit score still isn't great. So it was either get a secured credit card or a "Total Visa" and pay the fees. I chose to pay the fees.
Now, I knew up front I was going to be charged 250 dollars on the card and I also knew that was my full credit limit (basically the same as a secured except with secured you ACTUALLY get your money back). I was told that I had 30 days to decide if I wanted to send it back and get my money back.
I went ahead and paid the full amount up front in April, before I even recieved the actual card it's self (I got a statement before the card!) online and although it came DIRECTLY out of my checking account that day, it was posted to my account TWENTY days later.
I tried using the card and kept being denied and although they acknowledged my payment and so did my bank statement, they told me they had to wait 14 days after they posted it as being received. Ok fine...
Well, they post it as being received 6 days after it comes out of my bank statement; that irked me. Then I waited another two weeks just to have a "blank balance", well with a 19.92% interest rate and the 6 dollars a month they charge you just to have the card, the 30 bucks I spent quickly went up before my next statement!
So, here I am with a card that I have spent 300 dollars on but only charged 37.61 to. Ok, my fault.
I called them to cancel my card yesterday, finally realizing that everyone was right and I was being ripped off. I waited on hold for 25 mins before speaking to a representative.
The rep. Was actually VERY nice, I was shocked. Everytime I have called there, they've been SO rude. But not this lady, she was so nice; I was pleased.
She told me that I'd be receiving a letter in the mail confirming my cancellation of the card, she asked me out of "curiousity" why I was cancelling my account. I told her that honestly, I feel the card is a total rip-off if anything. She laughed and told me to visit the usacomplaints.com
I was actually pretty shocked that she told me that and told her I hoped she wasn't being recorded, she said "Around here? Yeah right!".
I don't know if I will receive that paper anytime soon, I was told it was canceled... We will see. I was also told I won't be charged any more fees or interest on those fees. We will see.
I knew what I was getting into with this company fees wise, I didn't know that it'd take a month to post my payments basically when they came directly from my checking account. Nor did I know that you can't use the card at gas pumps, you have to go inside to use it along with many other places.
I also didn't know that they didn't have a 24 hour help line or that I'd have to call one number to be directed to another number just to sit on hold for approximately 30 minutes to talk to a customer service rep. And that they'd be incredibly rude.
Basically, this company can get away with this. It's a company that provides credit cards for people with bad credit, instead of getting a secured card (which is a much better deal and I am now using), they get this. Because of their credit history, this company can rip them off. BUT, that's exactly what they do.
There are some people who are happy with this card, I am happy for you. But, I would have to honestly say I am not happy with it and it's the worst mistake I have ever made. It's a rip-off, plain and simple.
Ultimately, it's up to you whether or not to get this card but I'd adivse you not to if you're researching it. I spent 37.61 and paid 300 dollars (and maybe counting if they don't cancel my account like they say they are), so you do the math.
Good luck...
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