Cross Country Swindlers
Written: Aug 16 '00 (Updated Aug 16 '00)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: none
Cons: yeah, they are 'cons'
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| grneyedcwboy's Full Review: Cross Country Bank |
As I merrily skipped to the mail box to grab our stack of monthly bills, I wondered what wonderful company would offer us a credit card this month.
Alas, it was none other than Cross Country. What a deal! Pre-approved for up to $2500.00 was written right on the envelope for God and everyone to see. I quickly opened the envelope, trembling in anticipation, so I could scan the tempting offer that they had sent us.
They advertised a credit card that was available for a scant $129.00 one-time fee. 'Hmmm', I thought, 'that isn't too bad if it is only one time. Most cards charge a yearly fee' OK, so maybe $129.00 isn't scant, but when you add it up over the years, it is better than paying a yearly fee of $29.00 for over ten years. After all, we usually keep the same cards for years, so it should be worth it. The high interest rate of 21.95% was bearable if you paid off the balance monthly, which we try to do.
Well, after filling out the brief application, I licked the envelope with a satisfying grin, and sent it out in the mail. I was grinning from ear to ear thinking of all the great things I could buy with our new-found credit. All of our other cards were either for emergencies or were already to their limit. I pondered purchasing a new pool table for my husband, or perhaps showering our daughter with a new wardrobe for school. The possibilities were endless.
Finally, after waiting only 3 months, <eyeroll> the card arrived. I quickly tore into it and my eyes scanned the enclosed for our generous credit limit. Wow, we were approved for a whopping $350.00! What were we going to do with all that credit? Buy a night on the town and a pair of Levi's? Wait, that would put us over the limit.
OK, so I was disappointed. But, I went ahead and activated the card anyway. Maybe we won't get a pool table. We would still be able to use it for smaller purchases. We used it to go out on his birthday and for a couple other small purchases.
After having the card for a couple of weeks, we found that we needed some extra cash in a hurry. I take care of the checkbook and I made a major error and spent money that I thought we had. I admit it, I am not a mathematical wizard. I put us in the hole and needed to dig our way out in a hurry!
I told my husband not to worry. We had plenty of money on the card that we had just received. We had only spent about $200.00 on it, so that would leave us with about $150.00 dollars. Just enough to dig us out of the mess I had made.
My husband went to the ATM to pull out the money, tapping his fingers on the side of the machine. 'What's taking this thing so long?' he wondered. Then, after a few clicks and clacks, the receipt came out, but the money stayed in.
He scanned the tiny paper only to find the words...INSUFFICIENT FUNDS.
'How can this be?' he thought. He calmly called me and asked me to look into the matter. He brushed it off as a problem with the ATM and said not to worry. So I didn't. Until I called to check the account.
First, there was no '800' number to call. Oh well, I dialed the long distance number thinking 'How long could it take'? Fifteen minutes later, I hung up the phone and I was shaking so bad from anger that I had to calm myself down before I called my husband.
Here is what I was told. There was a ZERO balance on the card. The one-time fee of $129.00 was put on as a debit to the account (none of the other cards we have take it off your balance). In addition, there was a $29.00 start-up fee for initializing the card. Now, I am faced with an overlimit fee too!
I didn't bother talking to customer service because it would have cost me more in long distance. In addition, they charge .50 cents for every inquiry into your account past the first one. I had heard all needed to hear, via the tin-can sounding voice that recited our account balance to us with, what I conceived to be, an evil grin on its mechanical little face.
What a total piece of garbage this card turned out to be! I wouldn't dare use it to open a locked door for fear that they may charge us for misuse of the card.
If I had known that they would take off the initial charges the way that they did, I would have never signed up for this card! The words 'Run, Forest! Run!' come to mind when I see their offers now.
Now, I don't skip to the mail box. I walk slowly, praying that I won't see another offer from them. I haven't even got the first statement from them...imagine what will happen when I do. Someone call 9-1-1...
I will keep you posted. If you need credit, don't use Cross Country, use a loan shark, they will treat you much better.
Recommended:
No
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Epinions.com ID:
grneyedcwboy
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Member: Teresa Whitaker
Location: LaCygne KS
Reviews written: 107
Trusted by: 101 members
About Me:
I have a tendency to show up here at the strangest times!
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