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Message |
    
themp
Supporter
Username: Themp
Post Number: 2482
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 25, 2006 - 1:00 pm: |     |
Is there really any competition between credit cards that might result in better service?
I just had a negative experience with Citi. I was a citi Mastercard holder for maybe 10 years and used their card all the time for everything (bikes, clothes, books, jewelry, etc). Recently, when we had a baby, we let two months slip by without payment becasue we were a little disorganized. We had a balance of 4k. I sent them a check for that amount when they started dunning me.
Apparently, they reduced my credit limit to $1000. Holiday shopping had subsequently pushed my balance above that mark, and my card was declined at a restaurant.
I was really annoyed by this. After all these years? And the thousands and thousands of dollars I have paid them? And me perfect credit?
So I told the woman I wanted to cancel, and send me a final bill. I'm done with Citi. Does any credit card company actually act like they VALUE your loyalty? |
The Man
Citizen
Username: Bumboklaat
Post Number: 135
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 25, 2006 - 1:06 pm: | |
In my very limited experience with them (only 5 years) I've found Capital One to be pretty accomodating when certain problems arose with my card. One instance where I missed a payment because I was moving and didn't get my mail forwarded in time was handled without late fees or surcharges. I would advise giving them a try, but remember that any credit card company is the equivalent to a legalized loan shark. |
Natb
Citizen
Username: Natb
Post Number: 92
Registered: 8-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 25, 2006 - 1:14 pm: | |
I would say that American Express is really the best when it comes to service. I had to dispute a charge once and they handled it well, also when I have had a problem they are polite and patient. |
CFA
Citizen
Username: Cfa
Post Number: 1553
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 25, 2006 - 2:20 pm: | |
Not to burst your bubble, but I'd say there's no excuse for missing a payment all together. When I was married, we had twins and things are doubly hectic but we never missed a payment. I do agree they should have at least told you that your credit limit was reduced. That is a legitimate gripe. |
CageyD
Citizen
Username: Cageyd
Post Number: 565
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 25, 2006 - 2:20 pm: | |
Second that on AMEX. They have always done well by us regarding great customer service |
Tom Reingold
Supporter
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 12062
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 25, 2006 - 2:23 pm: | |
There is no comparison between American Express and everyone else. If service is important, use your Amex whenever you can, and carry a Mastercard or Visa for when the Amex won't work.
We use one of those Amex cards that gives us airline miles as a bonus. I was skeptical, but after using it for a few years, we got four tickets to France (and back) this past summer. So the membership fee was worthwhile.
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cmontyburns
Citizen
Username: Cmontyburns
Post Number: 1703
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 25, 2006 - 2:34 pm: | |
Most credit card issuers have an "auto pay" feature that will let you tell the company to automatically deduct your monthly minimum from your checking account if you haven't paid it. It's a good idea to set this up, since you're likely looking at $50 or less, but saving a lot of hassles in late fees, interest rate increases and other horrors. |
themp
Supporter
Username: Themp
Post Number: 2485
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 25, 2006 - 2:44 pm: | |
"Not to burst your bubble, but I'd say there's no excuse for missing a payment all together."
Is that a moral statement? Not sure what you mean. |
Phenixrising
Citizen
Username: Phenixrising
Post Number: 1373
Registered: 9-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 25, 2006 - 2:45 pm: | |
I like American Express Blue
https://www124.americanexpress.com/cards/loyalty.do?page=blue&Card_name=Blue&lin k=CARD_SELECTOR
Unlike other American Express cards, Blue allows you to carry a monthly balance. It has no annual fee and some attractive interest rates.
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Bob K
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 10409
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 25, 2006 - 2:54 pm: | |
Unfortunately credit card companies work on the law of averages and automatically reduce credit lines when payments are missed. Maybe, if you want to spend the time, you can talk them out of it, but it is a maybe.
Also, this is probably on your credit reports and will be a negative when you try to replace the line of credit. |
themp
Supporter
Username: Themp
Post Number: 2486
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 25, 2006 - 2:58 pm: | |
Already cancelled. They have lost the privilage of making money from me. I pay off my balance every month, but I am late enough every now and then that I was probably the most profitable type of client who presented little risk of defaulting.
Here is some actual consumer info from the main stream press. I though they had given up on that.
http://money.cnn.com/2005/11/29/pf/debt/cards_1205/ |
themp
Supporter
Username: Themp
Post Number: 2487
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 25, 2006 - 3:15 pm: | |
Sorry about the terrible spelling. I am letting my standards slip lately. |
MHD
Citizen
Username: Mayhewdrive
Post Number: 3274
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 25, 2006 - 3:36 pm: | |
AMEX is good for Customer Service.
For no fee, MBNA (which just got bought by Bank of America) is also notorious for Customer Service. I've paid bills late (my mistake)and they always take the late fees/interest charges off when asked.
They used to be a client of mine and they are RELIGIOUS abour customers - over virtually every doorway in the Building it says "Think of yourself as the Customer". |
Cynicalgirl
Citizen
Username: Cynicalgirl
Post Number: 2252
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 25, 2006 - 3:56 pm: | |
They are nearly as bad as WalMart to work for, though (MBNA). Much drink the Koolaid or else. Husband used to, many friends used to. |
jet
Citizen
Username: Jet
Post Number: 1008
Registered: 7-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 25, 2006 - 3:59 pm: | |
If you fly out of EWR , you will be on Continental so why not Chase MC Continental. |
jet
Citizen
Username: Jet
Post Number: 1009
Registered: 7-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 25, 2006 - 4:01 pm: | |
If you fly out of EWR , you will be on Continental so why not Chase MC Continental. |
sylvester the investor
Citizen
Username: Mummish
Post Number: 104
Registered: 6-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 25, 2006 - 5:18 pm: | |
Fact of the matter is that you missed two payments. Almost any card company is going to treat you the same. There isn't any excuse for missing two months in a row (or one month for that reason).
You should make sure that if you have balances on other cards that they were not affected. Due to reciprocating laws, once you miss a payment on one card, any other card you have can raise your interest rate, charge you fees, etc.
Moral of the story, don't carry a balance. Why would anyone in their right mind carry a credit card balance (with the possible exception of 0% financing), its just insane.
Use Amex of Discover. I put 95% of everything and I'm talking everything that I buy on amex. We have flown first class to london, cali, florida, I got a new callaway driver, free rental car for a week. And discover gives you cash back.
And let me repeat. DO NOT CARRY A BALANCE!!!!!!!!! |
CageyD
Citizen
Username: Cageyd
Post Number: 566
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 25, 2006 - 6:10 pm: | |
Also with Amex, if you are a costco shopper you can get a Costco card/Amex card for no extra fee. So you either get a free costco membership or a free Amex - however you want to look at it. You also get cash back every year |
themp
Supporter
Username: Themp
Post Number: 2489
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, January 26, 2006 - 12:33 pm: | |
"There isn't any excuse for missing two months in a row "
Oy, another moralist. Thanks, dad.
I don't carry a balance. I have more cash that Joaquin Phoenix. It was a confusion born of babies, maternity leave, etc. My credit is perfect with this exception. |
Smarty Jones
Citizen
Username: Birdstone
Post Number: 234
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, January 26, 2006 - 12:52 pm: | |
I don't think mixing Morals with Finance is the right way to approach your life, otherwise, you will stress about things that companies want you to stress over (ie credit report, monthly payments, etc.) which plays into their hands. These are business, and they aren't always honest themselves. Lets take Chase as an example: I had a 2.9% deal that we used to spend approx $10,000 on credit for home improvement. I set-up to make monthly payments, same time every month, for twice the amount due....and stopped thinking about it. (my mistake :-)
After a year, Chase changes the Post date of the statements, making one of my payments hit TWICE in one month, and taking it away from applying to the next month....thus a LATE PAYMENT, which not only had a late charge, but also moved my interest up to 21%.
No notification, no letter, I realized this by accident, and in time to cancel the account, pay off the balance, and decide to never, ever, ever use Chase again.
While legal, it certainly wasn't moral. I found that to be a little too much funny-business that I'm comfortable with, and they aren't treating me with any sense of "Moral Obligation".
I've also given up on trying to pursue ridiculous interest rate offers, and have accepted working with my local credit union only, and whatever rate they charge is fine, I won't carry a balance longer than a month or two anyway. It's too hard to keep up with the shananigans.
Life has been much easier since that call. |
themp
Supporter
Username: Themp
Post Number: 2491
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, January 26, 2006 - 1:13 pm: | |
It's all economics, not morals. It's not like I'm Ken Lay here.
I'm going to check out my credit union this afternoon for cards. I do my banking there already. At least you can talk to a teller there. |
sylvester the investor
Citizen
Username: Mummish
Post Number: 108
Registered: 6-2004
| | Posted on Friday, January 27, 2006 - 9:47 pm: | |
"My credit is perfect with this exception."
Not any more. Check your FICO score and see what happened. It probably dropped a good 75 points. So long prime minus 100 basis points on that HELCO you wanted. Now you are looking at prime plus 100.
and you were on maternity leave....did you not see two envelopes come to the house.
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Tom Reingold
Supporter
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 12125
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Friday, January 27, 2006 - 9:52 pm: | |
How many times does themp have to prostrate before you for you to stop the flogging?
"This is the only thing my signature says." |
Just The Aunt
Supporter
Username: Auntof13
Post Number: 3758
Registered: 1-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, January 28, 2006 - 11:22 pm: | |
I love Amex! They are great when it comes to resolving problems.
I've also had Capital One for a number of years. For some reason a couple of months ago I sent the payment for the wrong amount. Boy was I annoyed when I got my statement with a $25 fee!
At first when I called them, the guy in India couldn't figure out what the problem was. I kept trying to tell him there was no way the payment could have been late because I mailed the payments for both cards in the same envelope and the other one wasn't late. Also I told him, my bank tells me the check was cashed!
After I called and checked again with my bank, I called Capital One back. This time the person on the other end realized right away what the problem was. I made the check out for $3 something less then it should have been! Give me a break, I tell her! You've got to be kidding? I was surprised when she told me she would wave the penality and it will appear on my next statement.
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Rastro
Citizen
Username: Rastro
Post Number: 2296
Registered: 5-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, February 2, 2006 - 8:12 am: | |
FYI, though it's probably too late, Citibank now has a program where if you make a purchase during a month, there is no late charge, and I would guess, no change to your terms. They call it CitiSimplicity. |
Bob K
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 10508
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, February 2, 2006 - 8:50 am: | |
We are in the middle of an AMEX mess. We sent them a check in September covering the full balance and they credited our account for the amount. In November they debited our account for the amount previously credited. It appears their lock box facility lost the check. Because of this our December bill was twice the normal amount, which is substantial since we like Sylvester use our AMEX cards a lot. A few phone calls got this straigtened out and we sent another check. It cost us the $25 stop payment fee, but, hey we figured we got off easy, right? Wrong!
While AMEX didn't charge us a late fee or mark our account deliquent, the wonderful folks at TransUnion, Equifax and Esperian decided that the account showed unusual activity (our balance was more than double the normal amount and an historical high) and cut our credit score by fifty points.
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