These are answers to questions that RADIO SHACK asked me on a marketing survey. I am duplicating my responses here. J. Williams, RADIO SHACK cardholder for over 6 years Q: Would you recommend Radio Shack to your friends? Radio Shack has incorrectly reported me past 30 days on one $40 payment. I have cards that are $4000 per month (amex), and to have such a small card create the only scar on my credit is frustrating. There was NO possibility in your rules to get this fixed unless it was a "bank error". There are reasons far beyond bank errors that can result in such an incident occurring, yet your resolution infrastructure does not allow for them. In my case, Radio Shack had a returned check from me for my $40 payment. Radio Shack did not send a notice of this returned check. In fact, my bank did not either, in fact, they have no record of the check at all, so only Radio Shack believes the check was presented at all. I have requested a copy of the check from Radio Shack, to no avail. Even my NEXT bill had no notice of a returned check or a missed payment, so I paid the second bill as I normally do, but just a few days past the due date (my fault, on the 27th instead of the 25th due date). My next (third bill in this story) bill showed the returned check notice (about 60 days later) and that I'd "missed a payment", therefore got the mark on my credit. Of course I paid all of the money in question, along with two service charges of about $30 each to Radio Shack. A single phonecall, notice about the returned check, or note on my next bill would have solved this, it was ONLY $40, and my ONLY late payment with Radio Shack or anyone else on my credit history EVER. And as I said, no record of the check at all from Liberty Bank, as far as they can see it was never even presented. I do not recommend a financial institution to colleagues or friends that have no protocols in place to fix a problem of this nature. It is shameful, in my opinion, for Radio Shack to stand firm on this without looking at the big picture and doing the right thing. Nothing is accomplished by scarring my credit for 7 years, absolutely nothing. If indeed I were a credit risk, this would become evident quickly with repeated derogatories, but this is the only one. It has already caused me problems with my credit acquisitions, and has lowered my score. Hiding behind the term "Bank Error" is a very "legal" way to be a robot and hurt people antisceptically and without getting your hands dirty. You don't have to truly deal with human beings, you just get what you want out of them — and ruining our credit is actually in your best interest as it allows you to raise rates on people. I am disgusted with this general attitude in the Financial Industry, and so is the rest of America, thousands of us who had a tough time in a terrible economy and received no understanding from our credit card companies whatsoever. I only owe less than $1000 on this card, and it will be cut up once I pay it off and I will avoid the brick and mortar stores that employ the financial services of Credit Card vendors such as yourself who have no heart or soul. American Express is the only way to go. They have true customer service, and protocols to resolve silly situations like this without losing the customer and ruining the credit of people whom without their commerce they would have no ability to survive. Think about this, check their policies and LEARN something, it benefits us all. And feel free to do the right thing and remove this unfair derog that I had no way of foreseeing or preventing without some assistance from your reporting and billing systems. Shame on you if you do not. Q: Why do you feel your issue was not properly resolved? I was shut down with the gallery response that my issue was not a "bank error" on their part. Evidently there is NO protocol to deal with any customer service issue beyond that descriptor with this Radio Shack card, and that is truly negligent because there are occurrences that hurt people outside of that narrow catch-all response. I have no doubt this has occurred many times to your customers, it was very easy for it to happen to me, and impossible for me to have done a thing about it. The further implication is that I am lying about any part (or all of) my story here adds insult to the damage done to my credit. Any reasonable human would look at the fact my bill was only $40 and wonder “why would we want to ruin a guy who’s been with us nearly seven years, always paid his bill and used the card instead of giving him the benefit of the doubt and retaining the business?” Or perhaps ask :Why on earth would this guy purposely go past 30 days if his credit is so important to him, he has NO other derogs, and the bill was only $40?" The answer is: A. I did not know a check was returned because Radio Shack sent no notice or call. B. Liberty Bank insists the check was not presented — they did not charge a insufficient fee or send any notice. It did not show up on online banking. C. The returned payment AND FEE did not show up on the NEXT Radio Shack bill, but finally did two bills later when it was too late for me to do anything about it and rescue my rating by paying the “insuff” check that my bank denies ever seeing. I admit something happened here, but I had no control over what it was. This is the truth, and it is a horrible way to treat people you have profited greatly from, and Radio Shack has made a substantial amount of money from me. What could the customer service rep done to better solve this issue? Absolutely nothing. The rules were set. He understood my issue and seemed to want to fix the situation, but his hands were tied by policies designed to ruin consumer's credit scores so that financial institutions, especially credit cards, can lower limits, raise interest rates, and milk middle class people of money because they know we care about our credit scores and will do anything to keep our obligations met. We pay our bills because it's the right thing to do, we owe the money, we incurred the debt. But there are always pitfalls and traps like this situation that happened to me along the way that take us in deeper than we would have ever agreed to. Unforeseen events that raise our interest rates, hurt our credit, and protract a monthly bill for a relatively small purchase over years. And yes, I get it. This is good for your business. Sadly the answer is, if you can't afford to pay cash, don't buy it, and more and more people will be taking this option after the last three years of a terrible economy. But actually, In my case, I could easily afford what I bought at Radio Shack that prompted my credit application. As I whipped out my Amex to purchase two 39-inch hi-def televisions for my recording studio, the Radio Shack salesman said that I could get zero interest for a year if I applied for the card. Sounded good to me, how could I lose? Well, this purchase put the only scar I have on my credit report, so I had a lot to lose over this tiny (in perspective) purchase. I would have been ahead punching the guy in the nose for asking. I’d rather take a fist in the face before taking seven years with this bad entry on my credit rating. I’m 51, it will be until I am 58 years old before this goes away, I do not deserve this. But I learned a lot about CitBank (and credit cards in general, because in your defense, most have these archaic and unfair policies) that is very unflattering and revealing of your ethical practices and customer service (or lack thereof). Hopefully your marketing company takes this data and does something good with it. I know I'm not the only one here, and you know it too. What rewards or benefits do you most enjoy from your Radio Shack card? I have seen no rewards or benefits, I would have been better off using my AMEX Platinum and earning Membership Rewards there I can use almost anywhere. Better off if I’d never gone to Radio Shack, and instead gone to Best Buy and using AMEX (which has the full balance due in 30 days and gives me excellent reward points). I will not repeat this error.

for that one guy up top. 1) You don't get 10 percent off many things the first purchase including IPODS and TVS anything that has basically no profit margin does not fall under the 10 percent. 2) Radioshack employees suck at giving you the other benefits (i should know i used to watch my fellow employees) the discount for batteries does not automatically apply, you have to ask for it unless the employee remembers which they don't. I often see confused employees giving you regular 30 day revolving even when you spend over 100 dollars because they don't know what they're doing so you end up not getting these great no payments for 6 month deals you're talking about. Radioshack is a bad company and their cards are a rip off.

I have given this card out to many people. Most people use it wisely and are very happy with the card. During your first purchase with the card you get everything except televisions, computers, phones, digital cameras and ipods at 10% off. If you purchase something over $50 you get 90 days no interest. If you purchase something that is over $200 you get a year of no interest on that. You also get 15% off all battery sales which comes in handy because batteries are getting expensive. The interest on this card is quite a bit though. If you have the 1 year no interest don't miss a payment because you will be stuck with all of the previous interest. Also, pay off the item within that one year. Otherwise you get all the back interest too. Overall if you are smart about the card, it is a very good thing to have. if you have troubles making payments though, don't get this card. Oh yea, you can always cheat the system and get the card to get 10% off your first purchase then pay off the card all in the same visit.

From reading alot of the posts most have been having problems that could be solved just by talking to a radioshack sales associate. Most associates will bend over backwords just to make things right with you and the bank. most mangers will also fight for you. i actually got the card and purchased several things on it and have not had a problem. i payed off my expenses within the time limit and am happy with the card and no hassell. Some people dont realize that radioshack will take care of alot of things for you. including making your payment right there in a store. processes have changed as well when you want a higher or lower balance from the bank. its a process that might take up to 2 minutes at a radioshack near you. i say if your having problems go find a radioshack near you and talk to one of the associates.

Please note that Radio Shack has long since terminated its arrangement with Hurley State Bank; the AnswersPlus credit card is now issued by Citibank USA. I have used this card extensively over the last few months and am happy to report no problems at all.

As good as Radio Shack is, it's a shame their credit card system is managed by Hurley State Bank. This customer service department uses a computerized system that even they can't access, but makes all their decisions for them regarding credit approvals, increased credit lines, or disapprovals regardless of the customers past history with their bank. Whatever the computer says is their final word. My final word is, "If I live to be a thousand, I'll never spend another penney in a Radio Shack Store as long as they're connected with Hurley State Bank".

There guys are a big fraud. After a huge dispute over a piece of junk electroncis I tried to return, they charged off $300 or so and just recently 14 years later reported this chargeof as a new chargeoff on my credit report, presumably to be vindictive and make sure I never forgot how much I regretted even hearing the name Radio Shack

We bought a computer over at Radio Shack thinking we were getting a good deal. Never once were we told we'd be forever trying to pay it off. The first month we had the computer we had to take it twice for the same problem. When we took it the third time suddenly it was just the keyboard that was not working. That was in 2000. We are still paying off the computer and doing calculations we'll be a couple of more years paying it off. The computer has cost us over twice what it originally cost. Not to mention, even then friends told us Radio Shack was "jipping" us on the computer. Friends know best, Salesmen know sales. Run away from this card as fast as you can.

I have paid for my VCR 4 times the amount. Radio Shack keeps sending me bills. I had automatic withdrawals from my checking account and they are still hounding me. Overall i have paid $1800 for a VCR. I am also paying for back statements from my back to show this payoff. I need help. Please advise. THis is ROBBERY. DUE TO THEIR POOR ACCOUNTING, I AM RECEIVING A BAD CREDIT REPORT. AGAIN THEY WANT $1100 TO PAY OF MY ACCOUNT FOR THE 3RD TIME!!

In 1999 I recieved an offer in the mail saying I am Pre-Approved for the Radio Shack Credit Card. The only thing I purchased at Radio Shack was Cellular Phones. My daughter asked if I could get it for her and she would pay it. I did get it and she maxed it out on hideous stuff. I finally recieve a bill from Hurley Bank stating my account will be sold to Aspire Revocable Card Services and they would issue me a MasterCard, with a lower interest rate and higher limit. Ok I said I guess. Two weeks later I recieved a letter from Aspire saying how glad they were to issue me their Satndard MasterCard with a limit of $5,000.00 at a 9.9 fixed interest rate and were also willing to work with me in any way to pay off my carrying Radio Shack balance of $987.32. It sounded great. Within two days later I recieved my new MasterCard, only to find out this was not a real MasterCard, a phony way of Hurley selling my account to this lousy collection agency. I was so upset I alomost broke my $3,000.00 Versace Vase. i immediately paid my balance in full Via Western Union. I sent them a letter requesting they quickly cancel; this phony card and send me letter stating "I" The Consumer Closed this Account. To my surprise they did! I called Trans Union Credit Reporting Agency requesting a Updated copy of My Credit profile. When I got it Hurley State Bank reported "Acoount Sold due to Delinquency" LIARS!!!!! I immediately requested letteres from Aspire to prove that Hurley sold my account for no apparent reason. I also got my last bill from Hurley which stated everything. I faxed them to Trans Union and Experian as well as the other two reporting agencies. They quickly fixed the error, they also told hurley to no longer report onm my credit profile. All this cause: the stupid Radioshack card.

I HAD AUTOMATIC PAYMENT TO THIS ACCOUNT THEY CHARGED ME OVER 100 DOLLARS A MONTH FOR INSURANCE PROTECTION THAT I DINT NO ABOUT. I WAS OVERSEAS AT THE TIME ALL MY BILLS WHERE BEING SHIPPED HOME I HAD OVER 1500 DOLLARS IN LATE PAYMENT CHARGES I CALLED THE BANK THEY SAID OH WELL.

Poor Service-Bad Business Decisions

This is a credit card and of course some cards APRS are higher than others. The cardholder agreement states the interest for your account and the terms. I do not understand why people act like this comes from no where. And just like with any other card if a payment is recevied late there is a late fee. Normally customer service will always work with a cardholder to remove 1 as a courtesy even. The problem is consumers are late every other month and it is always everyones fault but there own. Normally of course it is always the banks fault according to the cardholder. They don't have a problem charging $2000 but when the bank ask for the min payment and they decide to pay it 10 days late then we are the bad guys. Radio shack does offer several no interest plans which isn't a bad deal. One thing a lot of people should realize is that retail (private label) cards don't have low APR's. I work at citibank customer service (used to be hurley state) and that is my two cents since everyone is always bashing the bank and customer service I thought I would bring different light to the subject.

interest rate is too high compare to others

We spend more money on paying back. This is a rip off and should be investagated. If something cost as low as $15.00 I'm paying as twice.

I used the card to purchase a computer a couple of years ago. I paid it off early. Each year I get another new card in the mail. placed an order with Radio Shack yesterday, my car was denied. Radio Shack said to contact the bank. The bank said to contact Radio Shack. I came up with a better idea. I now have a DELL account and will not have to mess with Radio ripoff Shack or Hurley State Bank. Throw the card away!

This credit card comes with no benifits. You get ignored repeatedly by customre service. The interest rates are out of this world. Not to mention Hurley State Bank has lost numerous law suits for credit insurance fraud. I would stay as far away from this credit card as possible. While you're at it....go to best buy or circuit city where you can bye real brands and for much cheaper.

I have found that this is a terrible card to have because of the outrageous interest rate and late fees. The interest rate is near 30% which can mean that your minimum payment can't even pay the interest. My balance started at $500 and is now at $2500 with no additional purchase after the original balance. Don't dare be late with this card because the late fees are $25 to $30 and are often subject to increase over the time you have the card. The interest rate also changes as you have the card. My interest rate started out at 18% and is now 29% since the 6 or 7 years that I've had the card. This card is just simply a trap unless you can just pay off the balance every month.

They also give you 90 days same as cash, and 10%off your first purchase.