Complaint Review: Gateway

Just want to add my opinion concerning the dishonorable tactics used by reputed gateway to rip off honest, trusting folk. What I perfectly understood in September 23, 2003 to be a 2-year, $1894.97/2000.00 credit plan has now progressed into a 21/2 year debt-prison sentence of 2800 and historically rising charges. However, accordingly to the representative with whom I just got off the phone, it is to my advantage!

In September, I purchased 2 computers and a printer after falling for the "$498.00 Gateway computer "giveaway campaign" that dominated the airwaves in 2003. Because I understood it at the time to be the most qualitative home computer a person could buy, I fell for the telephone sales pitch, hook, line and sinker (2 computers and a printer). Of course I later found out that their tech support was a joke after I replaced a damaged modem at my own cost and 10 hours of over the phone baloney.

I have always paid on time, never paid a late fee and pay $5 to $60 more than required every month. Still, instead of being debt free by November 2005, it will be April 2006, according to my basic math calculations, before I get out of prison.

All I know is:
I started out with a CREDIT LIMIT of $2000.00

I purchased about $1894.97 that included other charges. I have been informed that the original account statement may not be available to me because "it was so long ago."

I addition, I have been told that an itemized statement is virtually non-existent via the paper trail or on-line.

My monthly statements indicate that I have already paid at least $522 in finance charges since October 2003.

As a courtesy, because of my "good payment status," My CREDIT LIMIT is now called a CREDIT LINE that has risen to $2800.00. I now have $2013 worth of credit available to me; and my new Balance is $786.00.

Perhaps to someone more credit friendly than I, this a good debt-ridden situation to be in-- especially in a capitalist driven society such as ours. But I was carefully instructed 0n September 23, 2003 that by November, 2005 @ $80.00 per month that all purchases and finance charges would be settled and my 2-year sentence satisfied. Now

Good business partnership for Citibank US and Gateway or whoever it is I owe. No one wants to stand by their products or product purchase policy. Everything changes with a new term: Gateway Credit Card Plan (2003) Gateway Easy Payment Plan (2004) Citi Mastercard (2005).

Am I being ripped off or is this the reward for being a good sap? You be the judge.

Georgia
jeffersonville, Indiana
U.S.A.