Orchard Bank Credit Card - No means no!!
Written: Feb 20 '05
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Pros: Fairly easy approval
Cons: High interest, fees, pushy customer service people, site slow to update.
The Bottom Line: If you're desperate, then go ahead, but be prepared for pushy reps trying to sign you up for things you might not want!
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| LisaDo's Full Review: Orchard Bank Credit Card |
This review may seem premature, but since I have decided to close my account already, I decided to go ahead and write the review of my experience in my short time with my card.
A couple of weeks ago, I received a pre-approval for a credit card from Orchard Bank Credit Card. I had seen, here on Epinions, that they seemed to be a fairly decent company, so I went online and filled in my information to apply. I did the rush processing fee that they offered, which would be $35 charged to your new card if you were approved, so we could find out sooner if I was accepted or not. They offered a couple of different card designs, including the coastline one that I preferred.
The next day I received an email stating that I had been accepted and that I would receive my card within the next 10 business days. I was tickled! My husband and I are trying to rebuild our credit, and this seemed like another step in the right direction. We wanted one card to charge things to and pay off to get our credit rating up.
Within a few days my card was, literally, dropped on our doorstep. There was no signature required. The company, Fed Ex, I believe, just hit the doorbell as she walked away from the door, leaving the card laying on the doormat. We were home, so there was no excuse for this. I wasn't happy that Orchard Bank Credit Card was this lax with the delivery. I would have thought that a signature should have been required.
I called the next day to activate my card. I went thru some automation before it transferred me to a real person. This surprised me at first, but it wasn't long before I caught on as to why they had me talk to a real person. She is a program pusher. I opted not to go with their AccountSecure Plus program, which covers your account without counting you late for payments in case of unemployment, divorce, disability or hospitalization. With my husband being in the Navy, he gets paid even if he gets hurt, so we didn't worry about it. It's only 84 cents per $100, but for a $300 credit limit I wasn't to worried about it.
She didn't even ask, she TOLD me she was going to set me up for this and was that ok. No, I wasn't interested. I even checked the little "no" box on the application. When I said I didn't want it she wanted to know why and started into her speech about how wonderful it was and that I should sign up for it. I said no, I wasn't interested. She started in yet again about why I should. I said no, I don't want it. By this time I think she heard that I was getting angry and let it go, activating my card and letting me get off of the phone.
I immediately went to their website and created an account so that I could view my account and pay my bill online. I like to keep track of what is going on with my account and it's easier to pay online for me. According to the site, as long as the payment is made within 2 business days of the due date, the online payment option is free. If you have to do a rush payment, which is anytime after the 2 business days before it's due, there is a $12.95 fee for this. High? You bet, but the late payment fee is $29, until June 3, 2005, so it's cheaper to bite the bullet and pay the rush charge.
The online access to your account is fairly vague. I can't find any specific info anywhere, such as what my APR is. I find generic info, such as what it COULD be, but nothing specific for my account. The best I could find was 19.90%. I could swear that the application, that was shredded, said 17%, but I guess I'm wrong. You can, however, check account status, make a payment and even get special offers, such as free shipping from Overstock.com for orders over $50, if you click on their shopping link. You can also view statements and request credit limit increases.
I couldn't find anywhere on the site, nor was it offered anywhere, to add my husband on to my account as authorized to make purchases or talk to them about my account. In my brief conversation with the lady to activate my card I didn't think to ask. No way was I going to call again and find out about this, figuring they would decide to sign me up as well. I searched the site in my account information and didn't see it offered there, either.
I have no idea how often their site updates the account information. I made two purchases online, one at Amazon.com and on at yourdiaperdayz.com, which was made via Paypal. Both charges were made on 2-17-05. As of this morning, 2-20-05, 3:42am CST, neither purchase has shown up on my account. So far, the only charges I have are the $35 rush processing and the $59 membership fee, both taking a chunk out of the $300 credit limit I was given. Paypal charges immediately, so I have no idea what the deal is. Maybe it doesn't update on weekends? Maybe they're just slow? I don't know.
So why am I in such a tizzy and wanting to close my account already? I wasn't happy with the lady giving me such a hard time when activating the account to start with. When I say no, I mean no. Not maybe. Just plain no, especially when I was asked when I applied if I was interested. I said no then and I meant it. If I had changed my mind, I would have called them.
Four days after I activated my card, my phone rang. I wasn't feeling good, so I was taking a nap. My husband answered, but when he found out who it was, he woke me to take the call in case it was important. The lady on the other end had a thick accent that I had trouble understanding. I quickly noticed that she appeared to be reading a script. She said that she was calling me because I was a preferred cardholder (pretty amazing since I had had the account for a whole 4 days) that they wanted to enroll me their Creditkeeper program. It was only $1 for the first 30 days and if I decided not to continue in the program that the $1 would be refunded. She didn't ASK me if I wanted to be enrolled, she was TELLING me she was enrolling me.
Straight up, I'm a complete rag when I get woken up. I am NOT a morning person, or even afternoon person, if I am taking a nap. I was annoyed that I had to wake up and take a phone call, and that quickly turned to anger when I heard her tell me she was enrolling me in a program that I opted out of during the application process. Like the lady that gave me a hard time when I was trying to activate my card, this lady would not take no for an answer. When I said I wasn't interested the first time, she went into some speech about how identity theft was running rampant and this would protect me, so she would enroll me. I said I wasn't interested, using a little more force this time. Then she went into some song and dance about how the money shouldn't be an issue because if I had a $0 balance there would be no charge at all for that month and you can't put a price on your privacy. Once again I said I wasn't interested. She then had the nerve to ask me why. What it was that I didn't like about the program. I said what I didn't like was telemarketers trying to sell me crap that I didn't want. She said oh and quickly let me go.
Even though the interest rates and other fees can be high, the Orchard Bank Credit Card seemed, at first, like a decent choice for someone with crappy credit that was trying hard to rebuild it. After less than a week, however, they have totally ticked me off. I went thru something similar with Capital One and I don't plan on it happening again. I hate being called at all hours, much less by my credit card company, with offers to buy stuff from their affiliates. Having an account with some of these companies seems to open you up to telemarkers that you can't opt out of. I don't need that kind of hassle. I am going to pay them off next week and be done with it.
From the site:
Other fees and such:
~A one-time fee as low as $0 or up to $49 is due upon application for the credit card.
~Annual Fee - As low as $0 or up to $79 for unsecured credit cards; $35 for MasterCard secured.
~$3.50 per month on closed accounts with a debit balance.
~Cash Advance Fee: $4 or 3% through June 2, 2005. Effective June 3, 2005, the Cash Advance Fee will be $5 or 5% of the advance, whichever is greater.
~Your card could have an annual fee depending on the type of card you have. Please refer to your Cardmember Agreement.
~Late Payment Fee: $29 through June 2, 2005. Effective June 3, 2005 the late fee will vary based on the amount of your outstanding balance on your Payment Due Date and will be: $29 if your balance is more than $0 up to and including $1,000; and $35 if your balance is greater than $1000.
Recommended:
No
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Epinions.com ID:
LisaDo
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 - Top 200 |
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Member: Lisa D
Location: Back home in Indiana!
Reviews written: 552
Trusted by: 277 members
About Me:
Proud SAHM, Navy wife and member of SHLEPS!
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