Complaint Review: Emerge - Providian

First of all Providian sold or transferred my account to Emerge, my interest rate jumped to almost 30% and the fees went through the roof. Twice now I have received letters from them to sign up for the Pay Assist program wherein my interest rate will drop to 0% for 6 months (enabling me to pay down my balance without all the fees) and that the late fees will stop.

The first time I tried to sign up they took my payment and the very next bill had all the fees. I called to complain and after three attempts to get someone who spoke English without a thick accent I just gave up after asking that someone call me back to explain the program and help me sign up.

Then in October I get another one. I call again and am told (in a heavily Spanish accented English) that I can make the "qualifying" payment over the phone at a fee of $9.95 and after I make 3 consecutive on-time payments they'll put me in the program. The letter says nothing at all about that and I tried to explain that to the person. She puts me on hold for 10 minutes after which the phone goes to a busy signal and I'm disconnected.

I call back and get yet another person whose English is horrible and she says the same thing. That I have to pay it over the phone for a fee of $9.95 and after three payments they'll put me in the program. Again, nothing in the letter says that at all. That's deceptive and a misleading practice for their receivables to go up.

I suppose I'm stuck with waiting to see if it happens.

Dee
Middletown, Ohio
U.S.A.