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Commentaries |
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Credit Card Commentaries |
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Providian Visa® Platinum Preferred Card
Issued by Providian |
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| Total Posts: 7 |
Average Rating:
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Category: Regular |
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Showing 1 - 7 of a total of 7 Commentaries |
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1-7 |
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| "Pay Attention & Talk Loud" |
| This is one of only 2 credit cards I own, but the amount of time it takes to read the messages and change information that accompanies the bill monthly is a good reminder that credit is not my friend. I am always looking for the hidden changes that will impact my account. A few months ago, I transferred a portion of my higher rate credit card to this account, then overlooked the monthly payment due on this account from all the reading about the transfer. After viewing the late fee through the online billing, made the payment,then I phoned to have the fee removed and to request a lower rate on this account, as I have had it a number of years and pay on-time and far above the minimum. The accent-heavy agent said my fee would be reversed and that my interest rate would be reduced to 14%. When I received my paper bill the following month, I not only had a late fee, but the interest rate had been INCREASED. I phoned India (customer service) immediately and explained my dissatisfaction with the charge and asked how it was that my rate was increased rather than decreased Madam India proceeded to justify the charges from her script, after which I insisted that I speak with a manager. Resistant to my request, she stated that the manager would not be able to do anything and attempted to began to read her script again, inaudibly of course. Then my disdain and anger took over as I screamed that I wanted her supervisor and not the script she was rehearsing on me. Shortly afterwards, a calm, non-accented male came on the line and I repeated my anger over the fees and rate that were put on my account. He acquiesed and my next statement showed the adjustments. I keep a close watch on them because they have been involved in a class action suit a few years ago, |
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| Most attractive feature: Online payments |
| Least attractive feature: Outsourced customer service to India |
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| Posted by: brenda |
| Date: 12/13/2006 |
Recommend?  |
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This person does not recommend this card.
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| "Started out great, nothing but problems for the last year." |
| This is a terrible card! Started out with a nice rate 11.9%, then went to a reasonable rate, 14.9% -- then jumped, jumped and jumped to 29.99% my gosh! I only had one late payment. Count it. One. (But you'll see they forced it to two.) It was an accident. I accidentally selected pay off balance instead of inputting my payment amount. Caused the payment to bounce (fee). I called Providian begging them not to resubmit the payment, to let me pay the correct amount. They said too bad, so sad and resubmitted it. Fees all around from my bank and Providian. It ended up coming to around $150 in freaking fees! To top it off, they would NOT let me pay. No check by phone. No online Western Union. No time to send something by mail. I was snowed in to top it off. On the very day I could get out to make my payment via Western Union B&M, guess what? They called ME and asked if I would LIKE to make a check by phone payment! I could not believe the gall. They were just trying to FORCE a second late fee out of me, and they WANTED to damage my credit rating. What kind of company is this? Highly unethical in my book. They just sent me a new brochure with new terms. Guess what? My new rate will be 29.99% (between two rates on two types of balances, it now averages 20.6%) or xyz + the prime rate - whichever is HIGHER! Unless I opt out and cancel the card, paying off at current terms. Guess which I'm doing? This card is history. I so hate them that I'm not using/paying off/shutting down all my Providian cards (I have two.) |
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| Most attractive feature: None known. |
| Least attractive feature: Many calls are sent to India now. Good luck understanding what they are saying. |
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| Posted by: Burned by Provo |
| Date: 4/9/2005 |
| Recommend? |
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This person does not recommend this card.
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| "What have I done to deserve being treated like crap?" |
I got their offer for a card and took it.
I activated the account and created an online account.
In the evening of the same day I reveived 2 voicemails that I should call the Fraud Prevention department.
The number they gave me ended up in Customer "Service" and I was told that because I did not call from my home phone# to activate the card they have closed my account! Now why would they 1st activate the card and than close the account?
Anyhow, the rep after confirming all of my information told me you will get a new card in the next 4-7 days and please activate it from your homephone. When I told him, that I don't think that I just want a new card, he said, Fine, if you don't want than you don't get one. Have a nice day.
Because I want to know what's going on I asked him about how this will reflect on my credit report and he told me that it's going to be "closed by issuer", which I can not accept. When asked for his name, he refused to give me his full name.
I am going to complain like hell about this to everyone I think has remotly interestest on them.
Stay away from them. |
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| Most attractive feature: - |
| Least attractive feature: Customer Service |
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| Posted by: Me |
| Date: 5/7/2004 |
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This person does not recommend this card.
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| "Nice card" |
| After moving from England I had to build my credit in the US. This is one of the few "normal" credit cards that was available to me. I've had the card for almost a year, I spent about $30 over that time on it ($4-5 a month) and paid in full each time (online payment is relatively good). Despite making $80k+ a year, my credit limit is still astronomical $250, so this card is pretty much useless since it doesn't cover even the weekly grocery shopping we make. How can Providian make any money from cards with such low limits remains a mystery to me. (fortunately I still have my Barclay's visa card with $20,000 limit) |
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| Most attractive feature: Good looking card |
| Least attractive feature: Low credit limit |
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| Posted by: David |
| Date: 12/25/2003 |
Recommend?  |
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This person does recommend this card.
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| "Way to expensive" |
| This is an extremely expensive credit card and the APR which is 19.99 is not competitive at all. I end up not using it at all unless I know that I will pay it off at the end of the month and earn rewards for any purchases I make on it. They alledgedly review each account for better offers, but I think the best way to do it is cancel and apply for a Capital One, which is awesome. |
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| Most attractive feature: I like the rewards program |
| Least attractive feature: APR is really high |
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| Posted by: Chips |
| Date: 12/17/2003 |
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This person does not recommend this card.
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| "SELL OUT" |
| I too had a Providian Platinum Visa that was sold to Aspire. They added charges to make the card overlimit, and have yet to sent me a statement. They [Aspire], also raised my interest rate from 15% to 20%, Contacting them about it is impossible, because all I get is recordings. |
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| Most attractive feature: None |
| Least attractive feature: See below |
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| Posted by: Michael |
| Date: 9/1/2003 |
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This person does not recommend this card.
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| "Providian" |
| I became a card holder 2 years ago. Went from gold to Platinum and they doubled my credit limit. Always paid on time and well above the minimum! I tried to use my card on Aug 6th and it was declined. I had just made a double payment and couldn't understand why. I called customer service and they told me I had closed my account. I was put on hold and when she came back to the phone I was told my account was sold to Aspire and they closed my account! I have two other cards, but it ticks me off that I wasn't even notified ahead of time. Customer service...what a joke. |
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| Most attractive feature: Did not have a problem until this month (Aug 2003) |
| Least attractive feature: Sold my account to aspire! Rude service when questioned! |
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| Posted by: D |
| Date: 8/14/2003 |
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This person does not recommend this card.
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Showing 1 - 7 of a total of 7 Commentaries
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1-7
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