I was first called at my home the beginning of May for a credit card with a credit line of up to $2500. They knew I had filed for bankruptcy a few months ago and assured me that they report to all the major credit agencies, so this would be a great way to rebuild my ailing credit. I was also assured that this was not a secured credit card.
I agreed to have the $199 activation fee debited from my checking account. They were very good about that.
I did not receive my benefits package until roughly 2 months later. My first impression foreshadowed everything that was about to come. Before I had even opened the envelope I noticed that they had misspelled their own company's name.
Aside from the fact that they have no toll free number and very limited "customer service" hours, I still wanted a credit card to rebuild my credit and to have as an emergency. Fortunately, I read and REread everything and saw that this was a "Stored Value" credit card.indeed, that was another way to say SECURED credit card.
I called several times to find how out to go about getting a refund. At firdt I was told to send the benefits package back along with a letter stating why I wished to cancel. I did so, stating that I wanted a line of credit and therefore, this card would not benefit me. This was in August.
After SEVERAL calls to their "office" and a $73 long distance bill later, I finally got a so called "supervisor" to take my call. Then I was told to fax a letter stating that I wished to cancel and why, and also a copy of the bank statement that reflected the debit withdrawal from my checking account. I was told it would take 10 business days to have that money refunded.
I called yet again on September 25th, supposedly someone left my fax on the machine for over two weeks, because no one bothered to work on refunding me. (Joy the supervisor there said it was left on the fax... This is not my vindictive side!) I was told then that since it was their fault it wasn't processed when it was supposed to have been, they would try to expedite the redeposit of the activation fee into my account.
On October 10th, I was given the run around yet again — I was hung up on, talked down to, and the ultimately told to just call after 2pm to talk to someone else. Is it possible that just 1 person was answering the phone for a credit card company? Hmmm...
Naturally, when I called back later that day I got much of the same — either it rings and rings and rings, or I get an answering machine, or I get hung up on.
I waited a few days to try calling back and now the phone number no longer exists. So, now what? I am out WAY more than $199 from long distance calls!
I live on Social Security Disability benefits and could really use this money back. I hope you can help.
Jennifer
Greenwich, Connecticut
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