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: Generous credit increases after about a year Cons: Untrustworthy? Good salesman/customer service?
If only I were more assertive...
I have a Providian Visa Classic and have retained it for well over 4 years. Providian seems to have locked me into keeping this card and for some ungodly reason, I just can't seem to escape.
Pros: A good start with financial recovery from debt Cons: Poor customer service skills, very high interest rates
Can't they at least get their stories straight when they are supposedly giving out information to you? I spoke to three (3) people a few days ago on the phone when I called, just trying to get a straight answer! This is clearly a case of the right foot...
Pros: Will give most anyone credit, excellent customer service! Cons: Rates are a bit high and fees can be costly!
Since there is so much talk lately about the credit cards that Providian offers, I thought that it was time to give you my take on this card. I deal with Providian on a regular basis because I've been a member for over two years now so I feel that I'm...
Pros: Willing to take chances on high risk consumers Cons: Poor Customer Service; high interest rates
How much of a risk do you want to run to establish a good credit history? Well, the following review talks directly to millions of people who, for one reason or another, have to put up with a company such as Providian to put their big toe in the...
Pros: Offers credit to those who can't get it Cons: Expensive, Poor customer service, Outrageous rates
Note: This review originally appeared under another Providian category when the original site was in existence. Here it is, in the proper category and fully Y2001 compliant.
Yes, I was one of those suckers who received a credit card...
Providian is the last holdout from the days when I had no credit, and would take a card from anyone who offered me one. All the rest are gone, canceled, long since replaced with better credit cards, but I've still got...
I hate to trip back and forth to my bank to get cash, a widely accepted credit card is a must for my life. I have been a Discover Card holder for a while. Discover Card is good, but, as you know, it...
Pros: Great customer service, no irate calls. Cons: high interest rate.
This covers both the Visa Classic, and the Visa Gold card offered by Providian. As far as I can tell, the only real difference between the two (in our case) is the credit line.
Four years ago, we had to file for bankruptcy, which totally wiped...
Pros: easy qualifications Cons: I could go on and on
While trying to build myself a credit history I applied and received a card for Providian, their Aria visa. I was very happy to have a bank let me build credit with them, and even though I never had a credit history, they gave me a chance.
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: Toll-free number, customer service, ease of use Cons: High APR and other miscellaneous fees
Building credit can seem like a Catch-22 situation. No one wants to extend credit to you or give you a loan if you don't have a well-established credit history. But how are you supposed to have a credit history if no one will give you credit?!? ...
Pros: Generous credit line increases, good internet site Cons: High interest, high annual fee, telephone solicitations
How This Credit Card Company Has Performed
Providian has served me well over the past three years at helping me rebuild my credit. But in order for success to happen, I had to constantly read the fine print on every piece of mail I...
Pros: quick credit for bad situations, can pay and review on line, credit limit increases Cons: Outragous Interest Rates, No Grace Period, Will "freeze" your account when traveling
I got this card in 1996 after my ex husband did a doozy on our credit. I found myself desperate for a credit card in my name ONLY and Providian was able to supply it. The fine print didn't matter at that time......21% interest rate....no grace...
Pros: Its a real live credit card...with your name on it ( fake enthusiasm ) Cons: Dishonest greedy company, No grace period, Outrageous interest rate, High fee's
Background,
I am 22 years old, and I currently have an American Express Blue, and Citi Bank platinum select Master card.
I love these two cards, and have had no problems with them.
Of course, in order to get those beautiful cards, I...
Pros: Customer Service; Good Terms for secured card Cons: none
After a horrendous experience with Capital One's secured card, Providian has been a pleasant surprise. I've had a Providian account for 3 years. My card started at 100% secured, and is now, for the last year or so, about 40% secured. In the beginning,...
Pros: Unsecured, online account access, regular increases, decent discount program Cons: Sloppy customer service, and they never met a fee they didn't like!
After some student loan overextensions, my credit needed some repair. I received an offer in the mail form Providian for an unsecured Visa Classic. Here's what you need to know.
1) The APR - mine was set at 19.8% when I opened the account in...
Pros: none I can think of ... Cons: $49.00 processing fee, 23.99% interest , .....
Providian "Gold" Visa
My daughter , all of nineteen years old - and with no established credit - received an interesting piece of mail today . With a shrug she passed the envelope to me - "Look at this Mom, " she said...
Pros: Gives cards to people who are just starting out. Cons: They can not keep their word, they mislead people.
I received a pre-approval letter in the mail in February of 2001 from Providian. My husband had just joined the Army a few months prior and was due to graduate in March. I thought that the card would open a lot of doors for me while I was in Georgia...
Pros: You have a credit card Cons: Everything about this company
I needed a credit card to use for on line things I wanted to buy, but my credit history due to a marriage problem was not all that great. So I called Providian bank after seeing a commercial about their secured Visa card.
Pros: Good starting limits, credit limit increase within 6 months Cons: Processing and Annual Fees
My experience is with the Providian Visa Classic card ... I'm not really sure why they have a logo for the WebCard on here, but anyway ... I applied for the card about 6 months ago after seeing a commercial on television ... I already had good credit,...
Note: I am not a Providian customer, nor will I ever be. I have been unfortunate enough to have extensive contact with their customer service, billing, collection, security, and tracking departments, which I will detail below.
Pros: Access account information by automated 24 hour 800 number service, better credit line than most "secured" Visas Cons: it is still credit, and you still have to pay the bills, at the end of the motnh
Like a lot of other people, my first credit experiences had plenty to teach me. Unfortunately, sometimes those lessons don't come when income stays stable. Through several job changes, and moves around the country, and not having proper advice about how...
Pros: Will offer credit to any breathing person Cons: ungodly APR, no grace period
I had managed to go through 24 years without ever having or needing a credit card. I was always responsible with my money and had savings for any emergencies. Then the time came when I needed a new car, and of course, a car loan. Luckily, we ...
Pros: Providian offers credit to those who have none. Cons: Using their card will definitely give you credit.....bad credit.
My experience with Providian National Bank has been extremely stressed filled and left me very dissatisfied. I applied for their card after being told I was already approved and all they needed was my processing fee. "I am already...
Pros: Not much, guys. Cons: Everything - it's going to drain your life-force and pocketbook.
I had some credit problems when I was in college and graduate school - you know, easy credit, spend the rest of your life paying for it. But rather than file bankruptcy, I went the route of debt consolidation three years ago. I pay $600 per month to the...
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.
Pros: None I can think of now! Cons: Bad service, high fees, rude staff, corrupt practices
Yes the BBB Better Business Bureau knows Providian well. They are the worst of a long list of bad credit card companies. They push high interest high fee cards. Yes they will give a card to anyone but you'd better be prepared to pay!
Pros: practically anyone can get a VISA, their website has real time account info Cons: High interest rate, costly annual fee
Providian has been doing a great job at giving credit to those whom have no credit or bad credit. Unfortunately, my credit is wrecked, but I qualify for their card under their loose guidelines and got the credit I needed WITHOUT SUPPLYING A SECURITY...
Pros: The bills are always on time, and they check with you frequently to make sure you will be paying. Cons: Business practices are deceptive at best, criminal at worst.
We went to Providian because we were promised "great savings" and "lower rates". Not only did we not get either of these, we were almost immediately bumped up to a 23.99% interest rate. When we tried to find out why this had been...
Pros: Willing to give you a second chance Cons: High interest rates & fees - 24 percent
I have been a Providian Visa Classic card holder for approximately three and a half years. When I became a card carrying member my credit was at the bottom of the barrel. I had tried on many occasions to reestablish my credit, but to no avail. Then...
Pros: If you have the cash to spare on fees, you can have a credit card Cons: Fees, fees, fees
This was the first card I applied for after I had to file bankruptcy. They take anyone, as long as you pay out the nose for it. But, I had filed bankruptcy and they were willing to give me a $1000 limit right off, and I only had to pay a $29...
Pros: Not a secure card Cons: Not customer-friendly
***FOOTNOTE to this review. A few weeks ago I received an unexpected mailing that looked like a check... I opened it and it was a document regarding complaints & class action suits against Providian and a check for about $9.00 for their settlement to...
Pros: Great for Rebuilding Credit Cons: High APR, and annual fee (due to troubled credit)
We have a somewhat troubled credit history, but applied for a Providian Bank Visa Card after seeing the commercials on TV. Much to our surprise, the commercials were true. We received a $400.00 credit limit, in about 2 minutes, I was actually stunned,...
Pros: Offered us credit with no security deposit Cons: High interest rate, does not have a web site
Circumstances beyond our control plunged us into debt,See my opinion titled Medical bills can ruin you.epinions.com/finc-review-F-CE72BAB-3925D745-prod3.
Five years on the Chapter 13(bankruptcy) commonly called the Wage Earner Plan. The...
Pros: Canceling the account Cons: Everything with this credit card company is a con
I once had a Providian credit card. It gave me buying power, it gave me an exceptionally low interest rate, it gave me oodles and oodles and oodles of money for a credit line.
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 forgive fraudulent charges Cons: Their employees are apparently the ones responsible for the fraud
I had great credit. The only reason I got a Providian card was because I thought all credit cards were the same. They sent me an offer for a card with no fee, zero percent interest for nine months.
Browsing all of the negative opinions on this Credit Card, I've decided to add my Providian horror story as well. It's not as bad as many of the others here, but it's the worst experience I've ever had with a card.
Pros: Keeping it in your wallet and paying cash! Cons: Annual Fee, pushy customer service, no grace period
I had no credit history but Providian decided to "take a chance on me" as they say in their commercial. I was so excited that they kept raising my credit line due to my using the card all the time. I did not know much about credit cards at...
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: 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: Great for those re-building credit Cons: Yearly fee, high % rate
Many people across the land enter the unfortunate situation of having bad credit at some point in their life, and I like those before me struggled to make ends meet. A few years back when credit card companies were turning me down left and right, I came...
Pros: Easy to get approved. This is the only plus! Cons: Totally deceptive practices. HIGH INTEREST RATES!!! No rewards for good credit with them!
Providian will lure you into their trap any way they know how. This is particularly true if you have blemished credit! They will give a card to anyone with a pulse. And, they will start with a generous credit line (most often $1,000 or more, with no...
My problems with providian started several months ago when I received a card in the mail. I didn't remembering applying for it and after looking over the information decided I didn't want it. I promptly called the company and called to close it. A...
Pros: Give you credit even if you have bad credit Cons: Will call you so much you'll want to change your phone number
I have horrible credit stemming from my younger and inexperienced years when I thought if I owed someone money, I'll just pay them back whenever I felt like it. Because of this, I'm denied for every single credit card I have ever applied for except...
Pros: None Cons: Ridiculously high interest rates to customers in good standing.
If you had asked me to review Providian a month ago, or even yesterday, I would have given them rave reviews. They were a great company to me back in 1999 when I first discovered them. I had a 4 year old bankruptcy on my credit report and they were one...
Pros: They give credit cards to people with less than perfect credit histories. Cons: The will bankrupt you with their increases, the credit limits, then the interest.
Providian Classic Visa. Nice sounding name in credit cards but that is where it ends. I applied for and received a credit card from Providian Bank several years ago. They started me with a $1000 credit limit and periodically, always around the holiday...
Pros: Easy credit for people w/ bad credit history. Cons: High Interest Rates/HORRIBLE customer service/HIGH annual fees
I selected Providian for my credit because I plan on opening a home based business and needed some credit for start-up. I have pretty bad credit and Providian is always telemarketing my phone and sending numerous applications in the mail.
Finally I...
Pros: easy to get for bad credit Cons: high fees, insane charges, bad Customer Service, bad Interest rates
Providian has served its purpose, but thats about all. The Customer service is not so great, the card is not easy to get, and they try to push you into big spending.
I chose Providian after my bankruptcy and divorce were final, because they...
Pros: Allows credit rebuild (unsecured), no annual fee, online account access Cons: high interest rate
After my bankruptcy a few years ago, I've been unable to get a credit card. Somehow, I'd been able to hang on to my American Express, but that isn't accepted everywhere, so I was looking for a Mastercard or Visa to fill in the gap.
Pros: Anyone can get credit, credit increases Cons: High interest rate to start
About two years ago, I received one of those letters in the mail saying that I had been approved for a Providian Classic Visa. I thought it was a joke. No one would give me credit because I had no credit history at all. When my husband and I...
Pros: quality customer service, responsive csr's Cons: 1 very confused csr 1 time
I do not remember when I received my gold card, but I really did not think that I would get one due to an ex-wife
who totally destroyed my credit and sent me into bankruptcy.
I sent in the application and in a short time I received a gold card...
I am one of those statistics, had a job, got some credit, got married, got some more credit, ran into problems (husband injured on the job).....oops bad credit.
We were doing fine and then it happened, are income to debt ratio changed...
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: Offer cards to those with bad credit. Cons: Outrageous interest rate, no grace period, unreasonable processing fee.
My credit background is not great thanks to my ex-husband's attitude about credit cards. When I left him we had several joint accounts that did not get paid on time even after my name was taken off of them. This has been a small obstacle in my life, but...
Too bad Epinions doesn't allow zero stars because this company deserves it.
I still remember when I signed up for my Providian Visa. I got an unsolicited promotion from them in the mail. What caught my eye wasn't the no-annual fee or the...
Pros: good customer service, lenient unsecured credit lending policies Cons: annual fee, higher than normal interest rates
I recieved the pre-approved application in the mail with an annual fee and a rather high interest rate of 22%. I was glad to get a card and decided that a $59 annual fee would be about the same as the checks I was bouncing before payday (yikes!). ...
Pros: line increases,earn credit Cons: finance charges,fees
I applied for the providian visa card in october of 1999.I was approved of course.
They sent me my card which had a limit of five hundred dollars,about four months later they increased me to seven hundred and fifty dollars now i have a limit...
This credit card was created to trap young people just starting to build there credit and people who have already destroyed their credit and are trying to repair it.
I was 18 years old when I received what I thought to be an incredible offer,...
Pros: Easy Payment options, Credit rebuilding, Gradual credit increases Cons: Interest Rate Jack-up by State you live in, No Grace Periods,
Extraordinarily High Interest Rate!
I decided to update this review because in spite of being a customer for more than 4 years there are some things about this card that perturb me. What I like about this card is: It is true that when I opened the account my credit ...
Pros: Large credit line Cons: High finance charges
I applied for a Providian Visa Classic card and was approved. I was young and very surprised when I got a $1000 credit limit. Then after a couple months I got $500 more. And increases since then. They check you account standing often and send you...
Pros: Great to establish credit Cons: too many purchasing offers
I opened my Providian Visa account in 1998. I had filed bankruptcy in 1997. My husband had been out of work for several months prior to the bankruptcy. Our credit was terrible. My husband and I separated early in 1998. A couple of months after the...
I actually got my gold card about 3 years ago and have had no problems. I do not use it that much but they consistently have been good about line increases and any fees I just called and told them what my other cards could do...
Pros: Easy to obtain Cons: Lots of hoops and poor customer service, HIGH interes rate
I was watching tv one evening when a commercial came on promising a credit card to almost anyone who applied. And it wasn't secured. I thanked the gods of credit and dialed. Within 10 minutes I had been approved and in 4 weeks I sent in my...
Pros: Providian gives you good credit line increases and they do it fast!!!! Cons: no grace period, high APR, high annual fee
I applied online in July of 2000 and got instantly approved with a $1000 credit line. My APR is 23.9 % but I really don't care as I don't plan on carrying a balance too long. If you read the disclosure of this visa offer it will tell you that your...
Pros: none Cons: 27% interest rate, so many fees I can't believe it
Providian decided that due to some bounced checks with them they were no longer going to accept checks from me. I said fine. They raised my interest rate so high that my card balance suddently sckyrocketed. How did my balance get so high is what I...
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: 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: Gave me credit when my credit was poor. Cons: Now that my credit is good, they continue to rip me off.
The attached article explains Providian's interest rate hikes. My providian visa card went from 16.99% to 23.99% to 29.99% in about four months. When I called to inquire, I was told that it was because they reviewed my account. But that was not true...
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: Low fixed rate on purchases. Cons: High rate on cash advances.
This Epinion covers a Providian Platinum VISA that I got through a mail offer last fall.
After the Providian offer came in the mail, with a 7.9% fixed rate on purchases, I couldn't resist. I was not actively seeking a new card. The card is...
Pros: Not many. Can get card if credit spotty or none. Cons: Yes, they are con artists. BEWARE!
Other than failing on a couple of occasions to properly post timely payments, the first year with them was uneventful. Then last year, my statements stopped coming. Since I pay from the statements, didn't notice right away. When I did, I called and...
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...
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: Higher credit limit, easy to get. Good website. Cons: High APR, Extremely high APR.
About 2 years ago I opened my first credit card, the Visa Classic from Providian. I started off with a $500 credit line, which at the time was fine for me, a 16.9 (or so) APR, and an $80 or $90 annual fee. After thinking over the annual fee for a week,...
Pros: high balance , ease of obtaining a card Cons: needs fixed rate and grace period, minimize fees
Just a note from a new Providian visa account holder. First they gave me a high credit balance when many others would not. They did mess up on a payment but the customer service department immediately fixed it. They were kind and helpful when I called. I...
Well, gang February is right around the corner and guess what came in the mail yesterday? Providian's statment. Now I have 2 accounts with Providian (for many years) and every month I give them business and every month they get my payment (even though...
Pros: Great for my first six years with them Cons: After six years they do it to you, 29.99% interest rates with no reason
I had great service with them for six years, interest rate at 15.99% then for no reason raise my rate to 29.99% - I contacted them and they said they sent me 2 letters explaining why, but I didn't get them - I contacted them and they told me they would...
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: Starts out good but then........ Cons: Will not give you back your money!
This credit card was issued to us after a bad run with credit and we gratefully accepted assuming that we could rebuild our credit from there. WRONG. We had this credit card approximately 8 months before we had the money to pay it off. Do you know that...
Pros: An opportunity to establish a closer relationship with your lawyer Cons: Extremely shady tactics
A couple of years ago, I was singing Providian's praises. After my credit had gone down the tubes, Providian was the most generous in granting me new credit. I started with a $300 card, and within 2 years had a $6500 limit. My interest rate had been...
Pros: Easy To Get A Credit Card Cons: You Will End Up Paying Out The A** In The Long Run!!!
Do not get any Providian visa cards. Despite them being in the news for fraud on their customers, I decided to get my first credit card through Providian (a Visa Classic).
What a mistake. What they do is, send you a late notice before your bill is...
WHY YOU SHOULD STAY AWAY FROM PROVIDIAN:
I was a student at college and got the credit card very easily, but once I got into debt they WERE NEVER willing to work with me to help me pay them. Apparently all they wanted was to see this debt...
Pros: Helps to re-establish your credit.
Nice credit limit. Cons: High finance charge
Providian Visa (Classic)! This card is really great to help you re-establish your credit if you've had some minor mistakes in the past. This card offers a great credit limit, deferred payments if you are injured or out of work.
Pros: No Annual Fee/Online Access and Bill Pay Cons: 23.99% APR/No Grace Period
July 12th 2001 Update
Unwilling to take the word of one and all of the extremely unhelpful and useless Customer Service Supervisors I called the Presidential Appeals office and spoke to a very nice lady who listened to what I had to say and...
Pros: The chance to rebuild Cons: High interest, etc.
I have been a card holder for several years now and I'm wondering what all the yelling is about? In this time, so long as I have paid my bill on time, there have been no problems. Customer Service has been available and generally helpful. Granted, you...
Pros: Providian is an excellent company if you are trying to rebuild credit Cons: High interest rates and annual fees
After having a horrible time with my credit, I got an offer for a Providian Visa Gold card, along with one for a Capital One Visa Classic. I applied for both, and within a few weeks received them both. I had to deposit $50 into a savings account for...
Pros: First to offer credit to me after divorce. Cons: Never reduce your APR!
I got approved for this card THREE years ago. During that time...they tried to SELL me credit line increases. (When I ignored the offers....they gave them to me for free). I paid EVERY bill ahead of time for three years. I wrote this company to ask them...
My fiance signed up for a Providian Visa Classic, and I didn't think to look here to find out anything about them, but I sure wish I had.
We got a bill the first month, and I promptly sent them a check. The next month, we got another bill, with a...
Pros: None that I can see... Cons: Typical corporate greed and complete disregard for my time and privacy
I receive (via snail-mail) credit card offers from Providian every week. I would never be stupid enough to get a card that charged 24% interest, among other undesirable features, so I never respond, but the offers just keep coming. I'm registered with...
I have had "THE WORST" service from this company!!! Not only do they send me late notices ( of which are not late!) I receive phone calls ALL the time!! The customer
service people are nice...but nothing seems to get resolved!! This...
Pros: I think they're great. Never had a problem. Cons: You got to check extra charges for late fees, extras, etc. But they fix it.
Had a Providian card since it was introduced to me a few years back at 7.9%. It has never gone up! I still pay a low 7.9%! My payments are timely and I make more than the minimum. Unlike Fleet, where they up your apr to a ridiculous rate. I cannot think...
They Prove that Credit Cards are out to get you by maeploy ,Oct 28 '03
Pros: I don't think they are affiliated with the mob. The website isn't bad. Cons: They have learned much from the mob...loan sharks in particular. Poor customer service.
We actually have good credit, but had a balance on another credit card. We received their "offer" at 0% and despite my best efforts, I missed that the offer is only for purchases (easy to miss with shysters). The balance transfer was 8.75%...still okay.
We made our payments regularly, then missed one in March. They jacked up the rate to 23%. Since I had long "closed" the account out of protest for the 8.75% fiasco, they said they have no recourse. Well, hello...who won't let them? They make the rules. They have clearly decided the customer is not important. Imagine taking this action after one late payment. It proves everyones worst fear about credit card companies.
Shame on you Providian. We are sending in a payment in full, and we will be through with you!
providian...low intro rates by edexter ,Feb 24 '06
Pros: rates lower than margin rates Cons: 3% fee's bring the intro rates close to prime
Providian is a very good card for people who do have good credit. They have very good rates plus they are the only company I know of that will give you points for using the intro rates. I also managed to get an ebay card with a perminate rate of less than 6% (now titled washington mutual since the merger). I had called about my balence and mentioned I was being harrased about my finances and they gave me an extra 500 points even though it isn't thier fault in any way.
Now owned by Washington Mutual a sleazy lender by glenrast ,Oct 15 '06
Pros: don't even consider them Cons: Now owned by Washington Mutual a sleazy bank
Providian is now owned by Washington Mutual one of the worst lending companies in the nation. There are hundreds of lawsuits and complaints against WASMU. They left my Providian card alone while I had no balance but as soon as I used it ($700) they bumped the interest up to a mafia like 28%. I have since cancelled the card despite their offer of 15% and then 9%. It sounds good but they make no promises on how long these rates would apply. Most likely as long as it takes me to charge a large amount. Expect problems to increase as Washington Mutual applies their questionable banking practices to Providian. Keep an eye on your credit reports. WASMU has a habit of attacking your credit if you dare to stand up against them.
The worst credit card company by ajb12 ,Aug 10 '04
Pros: Good introductory APR for longer terms Cons: Arrogant, sneering customer service
Basically, I have at least one credit card from each major company: AMEX, Bank One / Capital One, Citi, Discover, Fleet, USAA, Providian, etc.
All of these companies are professional, courteous, and respectful on the phone except one: Providian. Providian customer service is condescending at best. It's like talking to a police officer. This is not the way a company should be, and, thankfully, there are plenty of better options.
Tip: Providian customer service likes to hide behind the computer. You'll hear, "I'm sorry, but the computer isn't allowing your request." "I'm sorry, but the system is preventing me from _______." It's just a tactic. Threaten to cancel the card, and, miraculously, "the computer" changes its mind!
HORRIBLE CUSTOMER SERVICE by mwestjohnson ,Jun 01 '04
Pros: none Cons: very good at pretending to be a reputable company
We have been using web billpay to send Providian our payments, and they have been accepting them for 6 months, then one day I look in the mail and find one returned. After calling, they said it was because our account number was not on the check. "But you accepted all of our other payments", I noted. Didn't matter, no one with any brain mass could talk with me. They charged us $45 for a 'missed payment' and another $15 finance charge. They stated that our account number was on the previous checks while our bank tells us otherwise. With a husband in the military and four children, I don't have time to stay on the phone all day waiting to speak to someone with any type of intelligence at Providian. My advice, if you are banking with them now, cut up your card before they screw you. If you are not, look elsewhere.
Providian policies and customer service sucks by rajui67 ,Nov 20 '04
Pros: They have absolutely no Pros. zilch. Cons: Really bad policies towards customers. treat customers badly. Customer service is very unhelpful too.
Hi
I just canceled my credit card with them. I did not receive my credit card bill and they put a lock on my account because it was overdue.
No reminders. when I called they said this was company policy and did not know what the industry standard in this regard was.
Very unhelpful customer service.
I have now been on the phone trying to get through to customer service to pay my bill for the past 45 minutes and keep getting the standard "Thank you for your patience...."
All in all, malevolent policies towards customers and sucky customer service.
Hope this saves some people the aggravation that I have had to go through with these guys
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