Abhorrent Customer Service
Written: Aug 07 '00 (Updated Aug 07 '00)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Easily obtainable by college students
Cons: Easily obtainable by college students, poor customer service, poor customer benefits, no website
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| Aelwyn's Full Review: Associates (Mastercard/Visa) |
It was my freshman year at Arizona State University. I was suddenly inundated with credit card offers. Excited by the prospect of having my own credit card for the first time, I decided to go with a VISA from The Associates, mostly because it offered the lowest APR (a fixed 14.99%, I believe).
For years, everything was fine...I kept a balance on the card, but I always paid my bill on time. Earlier this year, things started to go wrong. It started when I moved. On the back of each payment coupon, there's a form you can fill out to notify them of a change of address and phone number. I filled this out on at least two occasions, but apparently they never updated their records. When the post office quit forwarding mail to my new address, I missed a statement from Associates. I had completely forgotten about the card until the day before a payment was due.
Incidentally, this exact same thing happened with my OTHER VISA, but when I called them they gave me the option of either extending the payment deadline a few days, so that I could mail the payment off...or they would allow me to pay over the phone, simply with some of the information from one of the checks from my checking account (with a totally different bank). This service was offered free of charge, and I also discovered that the bank for this OTHER VISA has a website where you can check all transactions, and even pay your bills online - with no extra charges or fees.
When I contacted The Associates, however, to rectify their SNAFU, I waited on hold for 45 minutes before being connected to a customer service rep who barely spoke English. She eventually managed to convey that The Associates does NOT offer pay by phone, does NOT allow customers to pay online (or even check their balances or transaction records online), and does NOT allow payment deadline extensions. Ultimately, I ended up having to eat the late charge, and then call them back (waiting on hold for another interminable amount of time) to have the charge removed.
At this point, I was thoroughly disgusted with this card, so I tore it up. I decided to not use it anymore, and just continue paying the balance. However, being a naive college student at the time I obtained the card, I never read the cardmember agreement thoroughly. As it turns out, if a month passes with no credit card activity, they raise your interest rate. I don't recall how much my interest rate went up, but it was enough to be more than slightly annoying.
And then a few weeks ago, I received a notification of change to the cardmember agreement. My interest rate (which used to be 14.99%) was being raised to a certain amount plus the prime rate. My interest rate ended up exceeding 21%. I was livid.
Fortunately, the very next day, I received notification from my OTHER VISA that my credit limit was being raised. They also sent along a few checks that I could use for purchases or balance transfers that included a FIXED 9.99% interest rate (which is exceptional, for balance transfers). I've now paid off my Associates VISA and closed the account, and it's a tremendous relief.
Folks, I would not recommend anyone apply for or accept a credit card from The Associates. They're shameless financial vampires who, from a technological and customer service standpoint, are still in the dark ages. There are much better banks out there. MUCH better.
Recommended:
No
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Epinions.com ID:
Aelwyn
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Member: Jason M. Stone
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Reviews written: 4
Trusted by: 1 member
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