Chase

[RivasGlo]

Hello Everyone I didnt find a thread dedicated to Chase so I decided to make one so I could share my experiences with you...

If you have any good or bad experiences w/ Chase please post so everyone can learn and benefit from them

[RivasGlo]

I put this under a different post related to APR Increases. I just moved it here so its easier to find.

09/10/2008
I have been disputing the current APR on my Chase Freedom since 08/07/2008.

I was approved 03/2008, CL $5500 w/ 0% APR for 6 months ending 09/09/08 then Prime+3.99%, currently 8.99%.

They auto upgraded me to a Signature 07/2008 even though I told them not to. After numerous calls, on 08/04/08 they finally downgraded me.

A few days after when I logged online, my interest was no longer 0%, it was 14.99%!!!!! With the downgrade back to the regular Chase Freedom, my special APR offers cancelled out. They refuse to deny thats the reason, and tell me that I was only suppose to b on 0% for 4 months, WTF! And that I was never offered 8.99%...

I am currently disputing this and have proof that my APR is suppose to be 8.99%. I still have all the original papers when I received my card in March. The cardmember agreement shows exactly what I was offered. I also had sent Chase a message on 07/14/08 through their Message Center asking them specific details on my account. I received a reply from them on 07/15/08 which showed the end date for the promo and what my purchase/cash apr will b after.

I mailed them a dispute letter 08/09/08 specifically acknowledging my 2 documents of proof. I received a reply on 08/22/08 by mail telling me that my APR is correct and to send in proof! I called and told them that I already did and that I will remail. I remailed the documents 08/26/08 which they received already on 08/29/08 and im waiting on a reply which I should get by Monday 9/15. They are fairly quick with replying and obviously fairly quick in reviewing my information, they dont bother to look at page 2 and 3.

[RivasGlo]

Update on 09/10/08 (later that afternoon)
I just received the second reply letter today and guess what? Its the exact same letter I received the first time, just signed by a different name. I think they have monkeys opening their mail

-----------------------------------

I called them that evening and spoke w/ Marcus. All he could tell me was that they dont have the proof on file and to remail. I asked him if I could go into a branch and speak to anyone there to get it resolved. He said yes.... I told him that if it isnt resolved soon after this 3rd attemp, I was gonna pay off my two credit cards... Close them both and get rid of my checking account that I have w/ them. He apologized and assured me that it would. I got all my paperwork together but then I decided to approach the situation different.

I went to my Chase Online Message Center, clicked on the message that I received on 07/15/2008 that showed and I quote:

"We're pleased to confirm that your account carries the fixed introductory Annual Percentage Rate (APR) of 0.00% for purchases, balance transfers, and checks that access your account. These introductory APRs are effective untilthe due date of 09/09/08. Your APR for cash advances is your standard APR of the Prime Rate plus 15.99% currently 20.99%.

On the expiration of your introductory APR, your purchase APR will be the variable rate of the Prime Rate plus 3.99% currently 8.99%. A variable APR may change monthly according to changes in the Prime Rate."

I hit "Reply", and sent:

"Why is my APR currently reflecting 14.99% when I received a reply on 07/15/2008 from Melissa Gonzalez an E-mail CSR stating that upon expiration of my introductory APR of 0% on 09/09/08, my purchase APR will be the variable rate of the Prime Rate plus 3.99% currently 8.99%???? The message is attached."

[Rockin35]

Have you spoken with the Corporate Office at this point?

Rockin35

[RivasGlo]

Update on 09/11/2008
I received a reply. This is copy and pasted from the email.

"At this time, we want to assure you, we have received your inquiry regarding your credit card account and have forwarded the issue to the appropriate department for review. As always, it is important to provide you with a response in a timely manner. Please be advised you will receive a response to your e-mail within one day."

Update on 09/12/2008
I received the final reply.

"We sincerely apologize for the previous miscommunication that you received in error. Our records indicate that the Annual Percentage Rate (APR) reflected on the statement is correctly stated as a variable of 14.99% for purchases and a variable of 20.99% for cash advances.

However, as a gesture of commitment, we're pleased to confirm that your APR has been corrected to reflect the variable APR of 8.99%. Please be assured that this APR, along with a credit for any applicable finance charges andf ees, will be reflected in your next statement."

IDK, why she said that the 14.99% was correct when I called numerous times to double and triple check what the APR was gonna be after the Promo ended, I have notes from each call I made. Everyone including the automated system told me that it was gonna be Prime+3.99%! Even the cardmember agreement that I received in 03/2008 showed that. I think they didnt want to admit that they made an error.

I cannot believe that by just replying to the email everything was resolved.

My interest now shows 8.99% and they already credited me back the difference in finance charges.



Hope this helped/helps someone that ever goes through a similar situation.

[RivasGlo]

Have you spoken with the Corporate Office at this point?

Rockin35

I never dealt with Corporate but I sure was planning to!

[rsty99]

I dont know what is going on at Chase, but I have had a card with them for two years and bank accounts for the last 7 years, previous Bank One merger in 2004, I asked for a cli and was declined and then call the main number and was told they saw that I had a relationship with Chase, my bank accounts and csr told me I wasnt declined and they were talking with my banker?. I went to my branch the next day and told them what I was told from the credit card side and they had no idea what was going on. I also dont have a banker? They said that this was not the way cli are done and a decision was made right away and they would not share banking info with the credit card side of the business. I then got a letter from chase saying that "we have discontinued processing your application for credit being considered by chase, should you change your mind please enclose a copy of this letter and write to the address given within 30 days. Thank you for your interest in the credit card account issued by chase and we hope to hear from you in the future. What?! Either I am declined or not, I dont know whats going on.

[Rockin35]

RivasGlo,

I'm glad they fixed everything. They should give you a credit for hassle-time. And I do agree with you, it is hard for 'Big Credit" card companies to want to admit their own mistake.

Rockin35!

[RivasGlo]

rsty99: I have never had problems with my Checking (opened 03/2006) or Savings account through Chase. They were the first bank I ever dealt with and the Chase Flexible Rewards was my first credit card (opened 01/2007). My APR started at like 24% it now sits at 19.99%. The only problems I had was getting a CLI. I was approved at $500, my 2nd statement showed an auto CLI to $800 and 3 months later an auto CLI to $1300. Each time I would request one, I was declined... So I gave up on them... But 03/2008 I got an auto CLI to $1600.

Maybe in your case they needed extra info. Or the rep you spoke with didnt know squat.

Rockin35: Yes... They should! Right now im just happy the APR went back to the 8.99%.

[rsty99]

No I have never had any problems with the bank accounts infact excellent. It just the credit card side. I have found that I call only during the day now and not later at night when I get home off work, even though they are 24 hrs on the cc side. The nighttime folks dont seem to have the same authority or knowledge that the daytime crew has. I love the rewards card from them just am travelling a bit more and with fuel cost going up just wanted a little more for that.

[charonh]

I have 4 cards total and use them all about once a month to keep them alive.
At this point I have no favorite card.
I do need to add a store card for a better mix and I was thinking of trying for the Best Buy card but am not sure. Honestly.......... I don't want or need anymore cards I don't like to use credit but I know it's a neccessary evil.
I'm old school, I save up for what I want. Growing up my family went from being very wealthy to dirt poor and the habits I picked up (being poor) are very hard to give up.

I don't see anything wrong with the way you handle your finances, in fact I admire people like you, actually that's my goal for 2010. I like it that I have credit available, but I don't like how dependent I have become on it. I would like it much better if I were just my using credit cards for small purchases in order to keep them open rather than depending on them as a means of survival. Unfortunately those are the breaks, since I wasn't born with a silver spoon in my mouth and decided to go to college and not work at the same time. I say keep up the good work.

[ColoNative]

My brother just opened up a Chase cking account and they pulled a soft inquiry on him. They all love Experian because its the fastest at reporting.

Darn them.

[ColoNative]

Chase loves pulling hard inquiries on pretty much everything.

See, now, I don't hate Chase, but after the Bank One/First USA merger I feel that they have lost a little of their touch. Basically, First USA is still very much around running the credit cards under the Chase name.

When BofA and MBNA merged I feel that BofA's service improved a ton.

[Meya]

They are because when I applied (this or last year) I saw that inq o my Cr. I had it disputed because I was unaware of the bank. They took it off, but when I found out it was Chase, I was like, "Duuhhh"

[hjm331]

They probably took the amount of the deferred payment and your amount of debt into consideration. They probably felt that you wouldn't be able to pay for the charges you make on the account.