Complaint Review: EMERGE MASTERCARD

I originally had an Aspire card in 1999. I chose this card for what they marketed to their consumers- online payments, easy account access, modest interest rate etc. I was fine with that card and it's agreements. After a few months they sold it out to EMERGE. It has been a battle ever since, no online payment, customer service reps that never answer the phone or when they do and transfer you to a manger they always dissconnect. My origiannly interest rate when it was Aspire was 14.9%. We used the card to pay a painter on our home before it sold. When Emerge took it over they raised it to 29%. Yes 29%!!!!!!!! In October of 2003, my card expired. They have not reissued another one, then I recieved a strange letter requesting me to pay a certain high amount down on my balance and that they would take a little extra off (this was weird to me like they were going under and wanted to get as much money from costumers as possible). November of 2003, I started recieving 10+ phone calls a day from "PRIVATE" everytime I'd answer the phone, it would click-hangup. Finally after a week of this one morning, the Saturday after Thanksgiving...I answered the "private" call and someone was actually there an EMERGE collection agent. Collections for what???? He stated they needed a SEPTEMBER PAYMENT?????? My bills come out from bank one automatically every month...He checked the records and showed they reversed a late fee in September...he thought that was strange, but proceeded to say I would be charged a late fee this month from September???? I asked him if all the previous months payments had been posted and recieved. He said all (October, November and the month prior ...just Septmeber was missing???? I gave him a payment over the phone and hung up confused and frustrated.

I could really use some advice regarding this comapany and how to handle them! My other cards besides department stores have a 12.9% interest. I want Aspire to close the card and lower the interest rate!!!! They said there would be a fee to close the card...the card expired and they haven't issured another one...how can there be a fee???? If anyone has any knowledge on what to do please help. Your welcome to contace me Mztiffany@hotmail.com

Tiffani
greenwood, Indiana
U.S.A.