Visa Classic (Providian Bank)

Pros: It is a line of credit which should NEVER hit the limit.
Cons: It can become an interest rate trap to be avoided!

With a default Interest Rate on my card at 31.49% (credit limit of $3,635.00) - they have figured out how to trap customers into an eternal revenue source by applying not warning you when annual fee's are going to be applied (which seem to pop up ...

Pros: There is not 1 pro I could possible find with using this horrible horrible card.
Cons: Lowers credit limits with no justification, high interest rates, poor customer service

After having this Providian Platinum card for several years and after currently paying almost $2000.00 to pay it off, Providian in all it's "wisdom" decided to lower our credit line to $250.00. Now I could see that if we were consistently over our ...

Pros: None.
Cons: affects ontime longterm cardholder's credit scores by lowering their credit limit.

Providian was a fairly okay credit card company until they started lowering customer's credit limits who pay ontime. By doing so Providian is in affect severly hurting good customer's credit scores by drastically affecting their debt to available credit ...

Pros: None! Selling a good zero balance account closed by the owner, to collection?
Cons: Shady business practices. Google them and find several complaints and suits against them.

I opened a providian account in April 1998. The account was never late, was paid in full, and then closed in June 1998 by me, the owner/consumer. In December of last year, I started monitoring my credit report, and noticed that this previously paid off ...

Pros: Great starter card, accepted everywhere.
Cons: Customer service lacking, high interest rates.

While picking through the huge quantity of credit card offers that had arrived in my mail one week, I came across a pre-approved offer for a Providian Visa Classic. They offered a nice introductory rate of 3.9%, and a respectable 11.9% after the intro ...

Pros: they say such very nice things about themselves...
Cons: they are skilled con artists. Their messages are profoundly misleading.

Providian is simply proof that sometimes, the bad guy wins... for the time being at least. They w ...

Pros: will give a card to anyone
Cons: high interest rates. Horrible customer service. Astronomic fees

Picture this. I'm 19 have already established one credit card account, but that's about it. I get this offer in the mail screaming that I'm pre-approved! Wow I have never been pre-approved for anything in my life. I ask my Dad if I should fill out the...

Pros: Generally available for $49.00
Cons: Racketeers of the worst sort--you'll bow to "add on" pressure and regret the day!

In an ideal world, all of us would have perfect credit and receive unsecured cards with low interests. Unfortunately, many of us through our own weaknesses or through pure circumstance encounter difficult financial stretches in our life.
...

Pros: Easy To Get If You're A Student - Acceptable Almost Anywhere
Cons: High Interest - No Grace Period - Lousy Online Access

Websites with student cards tend to have the Providian VISA prominently displayed. This is how I came to Providian; I was finishing high school in 2000 and wanted a credit card, and this was one of the first I applied for.

I received a card...

Pros: NONE
Cons: THIEVES,BAD BUSINESS PEOPLE,SUPER HIGH APR'S

Providian Bank will lure you in and give it all to you in the beginning, A low APR waive your annual fee if any, and give credit to just about anyone with good or bad credit rating's. Then after about 3 years they will really show you what they are all...

Pros: Ha!
Cons: 29.99% interest rate to "insure the satisfaction of its customers."

In every state except Delaware it is illegal to charge an interest rate of 25% or higher. This is called usery, and people go to jail for this with the label "loan shark." But in the great state of Delaware, which apparently has as its only perk to...

Pros: worst card in the univers
Cons: Providian visa is the worst credit card you can apply for

Providian via is the worst credit card you can apply for. They give one rate at first then they charge you smething else after.
Because of providian I lost thousands of dollars.
I contacted the BBB when providian knew about my inquery to BBB...

Pros: Offers "help" to those with no credit, or credit difficulties in the past
Cons: Take advantage

Many years ago following a problematic divorce, and ending up a single parent receiving erratic child support payments, and reticence from the other parent about fulfilling his obligations regarding medical bills, orthodontia, and the like, I ended up...

Pros: Did give me credit when others would not
Cons: The card itself

I have been a very good customer for a year and a half. I originally signed up for this card when I was rebuilding my credit. At first I got the APR hike letter. I couldn't believe they were raising the interest rate to 29%. I called and asked if I had...

Pros: None
Cons: Everything

I have been a great Providian customer for over 2 years. I have been rebuilding my credit and needed to start somewhere, despite th 29.99% interest rate. A few days ago I get a letter in the mail saying my account has been closed due to derogatory events...