Capital One is a Capital Pain...with a Capital P
Written: Jun 15 '00 (Updated Aug 28 '00)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Ummm, errr, uhhhhh
Cons: Read away
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| ttee06's Full Review: Capital One |
Ring Ring....Ring Ring
Hello?
Hello, Soandso?
yes?
This is Mr. Paininthebutt from Capital One...
My mind goes blank as I try to block out what he is saying
No thanks, I'm not interested?
But Ms. Soandso...did you know that as a valued Capital One Customer (he chokes) if you take advantage.....blah blah blah blah?
No thanks, I'm not interested?
But Ms. Soandso(with more force and frustration)...did you know that .....blah blah blah blah?
No thanks, I'm not interested?
click
So, the next time the caller ID comes up with that "out of area" message I let it ring. No one leaves a message. Three hours on the nose, the phone rings again...out of area...no message. Later that day....oh c'mon it can't be them again!
Hello?
Hello, Soandso?
yes?
This is Mr. Paininthebutt from Capital One...
No thanks, I'm not interested?
But Ms. so and so...did you know that if you take advantage.....blah blah blah blah?
No thanks, I'm not interested?
But Ms. Soandso(with more force and frustration)...did you know that .....blah blah blah blah?
No thanks, I'm not interested?
click
You know the drill. Capital one has to be the worst when it comes to the incessant sales calls.
We have two accounts with them that were opened when our credit was "less than stellar." One was secured with a low limit and one was unsecured with a greater limit. We have shown good credit history with both accounts, but on occasion have had some odd circumstances occur.
We mailed that payment in plenty of time
The statement arrives and that's funny...there's a late fee and our payment posted exactly one day after the due date. How can that be? Not just once, but on several occasions. So I pick up the phone...blah blah blah, yes sir, no sir, blah blah, please remove the late fee from my account. And they do...you just had to call and ask.
But wait Ms. Soandso...don't hang up yet
Now that we've taken care of your billing problem, did you know that as a valued Capital One customer you can take advantage of our payment protection program.
No thanks
But....
No thanks
Did you know.....
Hmmmm sounds great, I'm self-employed...can I still take advantage of that? Tee hee
Well, uh, er, no.
Okay...like I said...no thanks
PUHLEEEZ!
They've got their gig down
So now let's say you are near your credit limit and you make a minimum payment (which I NEVER do anymore, btw) and your anniversary date is near. They charge you the $29 annual fee which bumps you over the limit. Then they post your payment the day after it's due...again. Now they've dinged you with a double whammy. Here we go again....blah blah blah, yes sir, no sir, blah blah, please remove the fees from my account. And they do...you just had to call and ask. I won't bore you here with the dialog that follows, but just a hint...it starts with: "Oh and Ms. Soandso, did you know that as a valued Capital One customer...."
Gag me with a spoon....twice.
Did my payment go through? What's my balance
I use the automated phone system to sometimes check my account status. What a pain. Before I can get my personal information, I have to sit through a painful recorded presentation: "As a valued Capital One Customer....." GEEZ!
My advice
As a valued Capital One cardholder, I would suggest canceling your account or not opening one in the first place, but if you do I suggest:
1) Dispute every late fee or over the limit fee that they charge. It's a painful process but do it. Why let them have your hard earned money..they make plenty.
2) Negotiate your account in terms of annual fees. Call and ask about programs they have available for this. For example, I got my annual fee waived by switching my long distance to MCI. It remains in effect until I cancel MCI or Capital One...(I recently took my own advice and cancelled the secured card.)
3) Negotiate your interest rate. If you make your payments on time, call them and ask to lower it. They did for me. And more than once!
4) Be firm..say no to stupid offers. Don't be a sucker.
5) My latest request from them was to take me off their "call list". We'll see if the sales calls stop.
Note: Since cancelling both cards, I can now answer my phone without my blood pressure rising an octave. Citibank, Discover and Bank of America never call!!!!
Recommended:
No
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Epinions.com ID:
ttee06
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Location: The Capitol, CA
Reviews written: 31
Trusted by: 25 members
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