Avoid these cards like a Plague!!!
Written: Jun 22 '00 (Updated Jul 02 '00)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Easy to get, Cash back program
Cons: Bad customer service, high apr, Can't check account online
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| kil45's Full Review: Student Visa/Mastercard (The Associates) |
It was a mistake for me to sign up for an Associates Visa card. I am a college student with little credit history(a Macy's card). One day, while I was walking around campus a guy comes up to my friends and I and offers us a bunch of free stuff if we filled out 3 credit card applications. One application for a Capital One Visa, one was for a Associates Visa, and the other was for the Associates Mastercard. A few weeks later I recieved a Associates Visa and a Associates Mastercard in the mail. They had misspelled my name on the Associates Mastercard, so I cut that one up and threw it out. As I glanced over the specs of the Associates Visa, the card did not seem that bad. The APR was high but what do you expect from a student card? Associates also offers a 3% cash back on all purchases. From here on my experience with the card went down hill.
First of all Associates does not have a way to check credit card statements online, which is rather inconvenient. You can call up to a automated system. Whenever I called in for customer service issues, the line was always busy. If the line gets too busy, they just tell you to call back later which is rather annoying. I would rather be placed on hold than constantly redialing the same number and getting the same result. Associates also calls me a lot about special offers/deals, which is very annoying. I actually signed up for one of these deals and I had the worst experience in the world trying to get out of it.
Customer Service/Convenience Rating: 2
The card has no annual fee and has that cash back offer similar to that of the Discover Card. However, I found out that the cash back offer only applies to purchases over a certain dollar amount. Other then this the card has no real benefits. However, I did not expect too much from a student card. I am actually suprised that there was even a cash back program on a student card.
Benefits Rating: 4
The company gave me a initial limit of $500, which is pretty much standard for a student card. However, after about 6 months the other two credit cards I had recieved after I got the Associates had increased my limit to $1000, while Associates only increased my limit to about $650. Associates is kind of slow when it comes to these matters so do not expect too much.
In the end I found that the Associates Visa card is sufficient for building credit but is not worth the hassle of dealing with telemarketers and busy signals and the inconveniece of having to deal with a automated response system for minor account information. I would suggest applying for a Citibank card, Amex, or Discover card. The Citibank would be the best replacement for this card, especailly if you can get the Citibank Sony Card which is a student card and has benefits. The only thing about the Sony card is that it is much harder to get approved for than the Associates card.
Recommended:
No
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Epinions.com ID:
kil45
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Location: Irvine, CA
Reviews written: 24
Trusted by: 9 members
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