These guys are Bad News.
Written: Jun 19 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: None
Cons: Poor service. Rude service. Inefficient system.
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| LaBruja's Full Review: Fleet Platinum Visa |
Several years ago I applied for a Mastercard (subsequently sold to Fleet) and transferred balances to take advantage of a 'zero interest introductory rate' to be followed by a low variable interest rate.
Every month I was billed with interest AND at a higher rate than I was supposed to get! Every month I spent 40-70 minutes on the phone attempting to get this resolved. I was assured that THIS time they really had the fix in, the past months had only been a fluke. After more than 5 months (and towards the end of the offer!) I actually received the 0% rate as well as a credit on the interest I'd been charged.
Following that long, ugly fiasco all went fine for the next couple of years. And then I received notice that my next statement would see an increase in the interest rate of over 10%! A call to Fleet was unproductive. It was clear that this issue bored the service rep. He made it plain he'd been getting lots of calls like mine and couldn't or wouldn't lift a finger.I'd never been late with a payment. My card balances had not recently increased. I had not received or requested any additional credit recently. I had not taken on new debt (card or otherwise). I wasn't remiss with any bills or obligations. My income hadn't changed. My only answer is I think they're just greedy.
Fortunately, I received an offer from another card I have for a low fixed rate on transferred balances and jumped for it. I waited until the payment cleared the Fleet bookkeeping system and my balance was a little more than $50.00 credit due me before calling Fleet to close the account. Yet another ugly surprise awaited me. The final bill reflected a credit due BUT showed I'd been charged over 26% interest! Now this seemed WAY BOGUS as it had been paid in full within the '25 day' grace period AND my interest rate should have remained approximately 13% even if interest charges were due.(The new higher rate was not to go into effect until the next statement. And then the interest charges were not 26%!)
The service rep I reached was rude and obtuse. He insisted closing the account kicked in a higher interest rate. I noted that at the point I closed the account there was a negative balance. It had been paid in full within the grace period. There was no balance to calculate interest on. (Note, a miniscule part of this was a cash withdrawal. There is no grace period on cash withdrawals, but the amount due at either rate would have been pennies). I was close to cursing when I convinced him to let me speak with his supervisor. This man was initially difficult (though polite). I asserted that the charges were almost certainly illegal and that it was this kind of fraudulent activity that has made Fleet the focus of a recent class action lawsuit. He agreed to send me a check for the interest charged and the negative balance due. Apparently you must request this, they don't automatically issue a refund even though the account has been closed! They must think the average consumer wants Fleet to simply keep the money!
Recommended:
No
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Epinions.com ID:
LaBruja
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Member: Jacinta
Reviews written: 43
Trusted by: 18 members
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