Visa Classic (Providian Bank)

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: helps establish credit, regular increases
Cons: high interest, too many late charges

I looked through Epinions and could not find a section for the Providian Visa Platinum, so that's why it is posted here.

We have had the card for a couple of years now. And it has been good for my boyfriend because at the time he...

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.

It also lied to me.

It did give me buying...

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.

I had my card for a while - a "Smartcard"...

Pros: None
Cons: Hidden Annual Fee!

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.

I was familiar with...

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...