Can this be legal?
Written: Oct 10 '01
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Pros: None, a complete scam
Cons: Too many to list in one paragraph, read on...
The Bottom Line: I would not recommend this nightmare of a company to my worst enemy, and I fear that my troubles with them are far from over.
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| ouroboros's Full Review: Cross Country Bank |
While I was in college, I incurred some small damages to my credit that made it difficult to obtain credit. After much work, I was able to open a secured account at Providian, and soon after, a real Visa card. Several months ago, I received an offer for a card with Cross country. As I had managed to repair my credit, I usually tossed these solicitations. I still regret that I did not do so this time.
However, my son had a birthday coming, so I thought the offer was well timed and signed up. The card offered a large 'origination fee' which seemed fair at the time as this wass in lieu of an annual fee(ha!), and seemed minor for the implied credit limit of twenty-five hundred dollars.
What I received was a card with a credit limit of $300, the minimum offer. With my respectable credit, this seemed a bit low, but I shrugged it off- I'd only wanted it to purchase birthday gifts anyhow. I charged a few items, about a hundred dollars worth, and put it aside.
About two days later, we had an unexpected minor car repair. We decided to use half the 'remaining' $200 on the card... and the card was declined. I called the toll free number on the back of the card, and was informed via computer that we had very little credit left. Several attempts to find a live person to discover why were fruitless.
After THREE DAYS of trying, I reached a human being, who informed us that we were over our limit! How was this possible? She curtly informed me that the 'account origination fee' was included in the credit limit, as well as several other 'fine print' fees. We had also managed to incur an 'over limit fee' as a result of using the 'toll free' account hotline...apparently it cost us fifty cents EVERY TIME I pushed a key to hear the acct. balance, etc.
I ranted, I raved, I hollered, all to no avail. I was now in the hole $330 for about a hundred dollars in purchases, and it had only been a week! I cancelled the card, and asked for the final bill. Ten days or so later, I get a regular statement, indicating that my bill is now $390! Another round of calls yielded no answers, nor any human beings.
A written plea went unanswered, followed by a bill for five hundred and eighteen dollars! Another three dollar automated call confirmed that the account was not closed, that an ADDITIONAL over limit fee was charged a week after the first, followed by yet ANOTHER over limit fee, and ANOTHER late fee, as well as several 'finance charges'.
In two month's time, I was charged over four times what I spent. Further inquiries and demands have been ignored, long distance calls run me through a voice mail system, but disconnect me whenever I attempt to reach a live operator. The website refuses to let me log in, and nobody responds to email, either. Their automated systems appear to be rigged to prevent the consumer from discovering how the card works, and avoiding the fees that make up their profit base.
I have concluded that Cross country Bank is intentionally operating a credit scheme that borders on fraudulent. I suggest you avoid them like plague, as my research has shown that there are very few consumer protections against this kind of credit card scam.
Recommended:
No
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Epinions.com ID:
ouroboros
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Reviews written: 15
Trusted by: 2 members
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