Horrible Customer Service
Written: Nov 08 '06
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Pros: Card is OK while you follow their rules.
Cons: Horrible customer service if needed.
The Bottom Line: Cannot recommend card. Cannot access account online. Useless customer service when problem occurs. I will close this account ASAP.
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| microman33's Full Review: Aspire Classic Visa |
I acquired this card in 2003 with a 15% interest rate and a $5000 limit. It has risen to 19.75% as the prime rate has moved up. I actually did not have any bad experiences until now. I paid the minimum or more for over three years - no extra fees, no problems. In late October, I tried to use the card for a $300 purchase. It was denied. Odd, I thought, and used another card. A week later, a scheduled payment was to be charged for my grandson's braces. Denied. My daughter called to tell me - no call from Aspire and no emails. I call the 800 number on the card and work my way through the menus. I find a choice that lets me hear my last six transactions. I recognize one of them, not the other five. Aha! It appears my account number has been stolen. I go to the website for Aspire.com. There is no way I can see my account for review. I can make a payment or change an address and a few other things, but I cannot access MY account. I call the 800 number again. I do manage to reach a person after a while. She has an Indian or Pakistani accent and is pleasant. I say I want to report fraudulent use of my card. She asks for the number, the last four of my social security number, my zip code and a few more identifiers. Apparently, I slip up on mother's maiden name. I have used my mother or my mother-in-law maiden name. I give her both and spell them. After a while she says I cannot pull up your account. I say this is an emergency. We need to review the transactions to see if any are mine or cancel the card. All I get is I cannot help you, I cannot help you, I cannot help you. After four or five of those, she hangs up. Unbelievable. I run around my house for two minutes ranting, screaming and swearing. After calming down, I go back to the web site where I find the option to send an email if there is a problem. Yes! There is a problem. I follow instructions for the email, adding all the identifiers I gave verbally earlier. I list the transactions I heard on the phone. I identify one as a legitimate one, the rest seem fraudulent. I send it off asking them to call me immediately and also to cancel the card to prevent further fraud. Four days later (I said FOUR days later), I get an email that says we are sorry you had a bad customer support experience. Our employees are trained to give the best service possible. If you have any further concerns please call the 800 number on the back of the card. UN-Freaking-Believable! To be fair - they did include another phone number of their fraud department. I will call that number in the morning. This story is not over yet.
In conclusion, I had nothing bad to say until now. If something goes wrong, they are not setup to help you immediately and I can't believe I cannot access the account on the web site. I cannot recommend having this card.
Recommended:
No
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Epinions.com ID: microman33
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Member: John Lutz
Location: Montague, Michigan
Reviews written: 15
Trusted by: 3 members
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