Last chance credit card can improve your quality of life
Written: Aug 29 '02
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Pros: helps rebuild credit, gives confidence and buying power
Cons: it costs a few dollars to pay your bill by internet or phone
The Bottom Line: Sometimes you have to pay to play. Extra fees, poor customer service are hassles but with this card if you pay your bills on time you will be rewarded.
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| meetvirginia's Full Review: Cross Country Bank |
I've read through several of the reviews here about Cross Country Bank and felt that I wanted to add my good experiences in with the bad. I don't want to try to defend them and can see that people have valid complaints about this company. My experience has been completely different however.
A few years ago I ran into financial trouble (lost my job) that only lasted a few months. I got back on my feet quickly but the effect on my credit report would last for several years. No one cared that with my new job I was more capable of paying my bills and I could not get any credit. No credit cards, no car loan, I even had trouble renting an apartment.
I have gotten through two years since then by paying cash for everything, which can be very embarrassing and frustrating at times. Then I got an offer from Cross Country Bank for a credit card.
I would have never considered one of these cards before, but sometimes high fees are the price you have to pay to regain what you've lost. I got the card with a $250 limit and of course it was almost at its limit after the origination and all the extra fees were added on. I paid those off as soon as possible and began using my card.
I have paid every bill on time, by mail to avoid the $7 phone and $3 internet payment fees, and have accepted one credit increase so far. I can't tell you how much my credit score has improved. A few months ago I got a new car and have also accepted and opened a Capital One card with a small limit as well.
I agree with the other reviews that CCB's customer service is not the same as you would get when making a call to American Express. Again, I feel that goes with the concept that you have to give up a little right now to get a lot in the long run. I feel the same about their outrageous fees. It's not a great feeling to sit and look at the 21.99% interest or the account fees but I made my bed and this is what I consider lying in it. I could not help that the company I worked for went out of business or that I had no money to pay my bills for a while, but I can control whether I dig myself out of it or sit around and whine until it is expunged from my credit report in 7 yrs.
Cross Country offers people with bad credit a jumping off point. You don't have to pay high fees and interest forever, just until you can prove you can manage your financial situation. For me it was a second chance I could not afford to pass up. I plan on maintaining my account with them for at least another year until more reasonable rates and opportunities arise.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
meetvirginia
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Location: Pennsylvania
Reviews written: 12
Trusted by: 0 members
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