Providian Visa Woes - who to complain to?

[Robert Riley]

Hi, my father-in-law (who recently moved to this country) signed up a few
months back for a Providian Visa. He was unaware at the time that they
charged a standard monthly fee, whether or not you actually pay off the
entire balance. I checked out a bill of his one time and told him to
immediately cancel the card, which he did. Anyway, last month he sent in
his final payment, and surprise, surprise, Providian never received it! Now
they are charging us extra fees because of that, and indicated that if they
were to finally find the check, that they would charge us even more because
we went to our bank and already cancelled it. Doing a web search, I see
that Providian settled a class action lawsuit last year for these same
practices. What consumer/government agencies can we alert of these business
practices? I would like a little extra leverage in avoiding any of these
ridiculous charges.

Thanks

Bob
rsri...@hotmail.com

[Buddy]

I use to have a Providian Visa card too, but I canceled it when they kept
charging me for insurance and something to do with auto clubs which I never
authorized. At the time my balance before unauthorized charges were about
800.00. The added unauthorized charges pushed my account balance over my
limit. I complained and got no where.

I then wrote Providian one last time and informed them that they were in
breach of contract and my balance would no longer be paid. I refused to pay
another penny. They continued to bill me and then they passed my account to
a collection agency. I contacted a attorney friend who wrote them a very
nasty letter.

I never heard from them again, nor did I hear from any collection agency
concerning the balance.

At that point, I wrote every bank which I have a card with and informed them
that ALL charges MUST be authorized by me or the ENTIRE balance will NOT be
paid. I have yet to have any other problems with unauthorized charges.

Good luck!!!

"Robert Riley" <are-es-d...@cox.net> wrote in message
news:FLiq8.19662$dJ3.9...@news2.west.cox.net...

[J V H]

The Comptroller of the Currency

[Me]

"Robert Riley" <are-es-d...@cox.net> wrote in message
news:FLiq8.19662$dJ3.9...@news2.west.cox.net...

> What consumer/government agencies can we alert of these business
> practices? I would like a little extra leverage in avoiding any of these
> ridiculous charges.

Look in your local telephone directory in the government services section
or search your state's web site to find out which office in your community
handles such complaints.

[bat]

> we went to our bank and already cancelled it. Doing a web search, I see
> that Providian settled a class action lawsuit last year for these same
> practices. What consumer/government agencies can we alert of these business
> practices? I

besides what others said - contact the entity who initiated the last year lawsuit.

[Donna]

Bob said:
" Anyway, last month he sent in his final payment, and surprise,
surprise, Providian never received it! "

This happened to my daughter too - they had received the payment and
deposited it into an *unapplied payment* account.
At her insistence, with submission of money order receipt - Surprise!
they *found* it.

Providian is one of the worst-managed account receivable operations
for credit cards.

Best of luck to you in resolving your problem.

D.

[Thomas]

Looks like Providian hasn't changed a bit. I had their Visa for 3
weeks about 3 years ago before canceling. They are scam artists. I
remember a couple of years ago a local news channel did a
consumer-alert story on them for their unethical practices, of which
there are many. I think it even was discussed in a thread, maybe
~1999.

Seriously, I think they operate purely off new customers, because I
can't see why anyone would stay with them for long.

"Robert Riley" <are-es-d...@cox.net> wrote in message news:<FLiq8.19662$dJ3.9...@news2.west.cox.net>...