Capital One Visa & Master Card Providian Rearranged my entire system of beliefs ripoff to consumers San Francisco California, Falls Church Virginia
Your form is a real pain...
A little over a year ago, in anticipation of surgery on both hands, I called all 3 of my credit card companies and told them I wanted to activate the credit protection I had been paying for as I was expecting time off work at only 60% (short term disablility). I discussed the requirements with the reps, took names and ids, had paperwork sent.
The documentation requirements were all very similar - for my insurance company, my job, and the credit protection, so, it wasn't that difficult to assemble a file for each. They were large files, mailed in large doc mailers, but I had a feeling I should mail them Cert mail just incase. It cost me $48 to mail 4 files. I received return receipts for all. After my surgery I got letters from Capital One Visa, MasterCard, and Providian Visa. They all said late, added late fees, and had reported to the credit companies.
With hands covered in bandages - and still very painfull - I had to hold the phone and make the calls to "hold hell". Anyway, I resent to Capital One, then I realized; "what are the chances of ALL THREE not getting cert mail that indicates they did? (calulates in 6 figures - the add a total of 3 times sent to each company (proof all) and recalculate)
I practically had to have therapy to overcome my disbelief and realize what was really happening - then I filed claims with the Oregon Department of Justice. Even with DOJ on the case, it took 6 months to straighten out and kept me from getting a home loan (and other). When the brass was confronted with the evidence I turned in to DOJ (Jan02)my phone started ringing - charges were removed, etc. (I had a perfect payment history for 2 years by this time). I finally dropped the DOJ cases because they don't recover anything for you, but need tons of documentation (still have 10lbs for each card).
Still, DOJ called me several months later to find out how the Cap One thing turned out - I told her I had sued them and asked, "Why, are you still working on Cap One?" She said there had been a lot more claims.. There really is a lot more to this story, because, as the investigation progressed, more & more rocks were turned and more & more stuff slithered out.
Long story short - this event changed my life forever. I found my nitch, my calling; I've taken on the Big Three, Ford, Kaiser Permanente, and I'm winning...then I'm writing the book.
jenny
salem, Oregon