Complaint Review: Advanta Corp. Advanta

This credit card company Advanta, I am reporting due their fraudulent behavior and mistreating of their customers. Our APR jumped from 12.99% for purchases to 30.49% for NO reason what so ever. The next month in went to 30.39%, then to 30.08%, and finally to 31.31%!! This is totally unacceptable and we had NO clue to this being a part of their unfair practice. I have all of my statements clearly showing no reason to have lifted it this high. We were paying monthly, even weekly to get it paid off quicker. I believe perhaps this is the reason they spiked it so high...to keep us from paying this off. We indeed transferred our balance to our other CC, which is only 14.99% and we've had it for YEARS. We have never experienced treatment like this.
We had heard on the news some CC companies were doing this "because they can"...and this is one of those companies. I have all the proof I need to verify my complaint. If you need to see my past statements, please let me know.
We asked this Advanta to lower it, and they told us no...so we paid them off and closed the account. Their website told me we had a $3.99 fee (after paying them off). That was for a recent auto-transaction that we know of. So the max to allow pay off on their website was $4.11. However, their Rep told me (due to the 8 day delay from Oct. 21st cut off date to the 29th of Oct which is when we payed the balance due, there were finance charges that totalled 26.49, plus the 3.99 due, total due of 30.48. I entered in 30.48 in the amount to pay, and it would not allow me to go over $4.11. I could do it over the phone per the Rep., but that would cost me $12!!
I spoke with a manager by the name of Bella, she said to mail in the remaining balance due of 30.48 and the account would be closed and nothing due. This additional $26.49 I was told by Bella would also cover the time for my check to get there in the mail (10 days per Bella).
This check is going in the mail on the 3rd of November. I spoke with and closed our account on 10-31-08. This will allow plenty of time for my payment to get from IL to PA.
I did inform this company that their fraudulent practices would be reported to the FTC, BBB, and anyone else that would listen! They said that would be fine.
This company needs to be investigated before they're allowed to "rape" any more victims.

Jeanne
Beecher, Illinois
U.S.A.