Complaint Review: Providian - Getsmart - Emerge Credit Card

Boy am I glad I found this site. Ive had a miserable experience with Providian aka getsmartvisa aka emerge. First I got the card to try and improve my credit, and paid through the nose just to get it, paid my bills and not just the minimum payments, I usually paid at least $50. to $100. a month, for a $250. credit limit.

It didn't help my credit, as they cancelled the account and sold it to the Emerge Co., for no reason. At the same time they dissabled the website so I could not access my account and make payments. God am I stupid! Should have seen it coming!

I got 1 phone call, 3 months later, from Emerge, demanding a phone payment, with an additional charge of $15.00 for the phone payment. Thats when I went ballistic! I told the customer service rep.(what a contradiction that is), to send me a statment and I would mail the payment.

That was 6 or 7 months ago. Yesterday I got a letter from a collection agency wanting payment, $318.84, the original balance was $90.00, and the new twist here is, get ready, its a different Credit Card Company, Compucredit, who I've never heard of, and I'll bet they are owned by Providian, go figure.

Well now my life is different, as I'm disabled and on Social Security. If they think I'm going to pay this, they are crazy.

I am going to dispute this bill and refuse payment, and then Im going to write the FTC, the California Attorney General, and all of the credit reporting companies to dispute this debt.

I still have 2 other cards from different banks and I make more than the monthly minimum payments and yes, sometimes I make a late payment, but they don't harrass me at all, so it's alright, and I always get them caught up. Capital One is the best! And First Nation Bank of Marin comes in second for me.

Once again, I wish I had known about this site much earlier, would have saved alot of headaches!

Bruce
Lake Hughes, California
U.S.A.