Complaint Review: The Associates Visa (CitiBank)

I sent in a payment by phone before Thanksgiving for $100.00. I was charged $10.00 for the "service" but it never was credited to my credit account. I'm fairly certain it went through my bank account, but I am going to have to contact the bank because I don't keep my statements.

I was sent a statement December 18 stating that my account was overdue. I tried numeours times to call the number on my card and on my statement that said 24-hour service, but I was always told the center was closed and there was no announcement of when it was open. I could not find another number to call. The number I tried to call was 1-972-653-4200

Today I went out on the web and noticed that Associates Visa had been bought by Citibank. I called the Citibank number and asked them how to contact Associates. They gave me a totally new number 1-800-547-3673.

When I called this number the phone went dead twice. Once when I gave my mother's maiden name, the second when I started to give my bank information.

The third time I called back, I was pretty upset and told them why as nicely as I could. By this time, I had pretty much decided I no longer wanted the card. The lady on the other end was very nice and gave me the website to pay so I wouldn't have the $10. charge for using the phone.

I tried payment by the website (www.accountcenteronline.com) and found out the information I submitted was incorrect. So I called the number on the web site and found out my card was not
set up for online payment. At this point I was exasperated and just said, "you know I don't think this card will work for me anymore." They put me through to cancel the card. I had to be a bit firm but we got it canceled.

Then I was shuffled back to someone else to pay the minimum by phone. When I am through writing this letter, I am going to my bank and pulling enough money out of savings to pay the balance.
Then I am cutting the card up and sending it back to them with the balance payment.

These people also have been responsible for my no longer answering my phone in the evening. My family and I have had to resort to cell phones to communicate with each other and our friends. So,if it gives us our phone back, maybe it's a good this mess happened to propel me away from Associates. I'm sorry to be out $100. but sometimes you have to cut your losses and run.

I work for a small college. You can bet your boots I will make sure that the administration knows about this outfit because Associates does a lot of advertising to students. I will make sure those kids get wind of my experience before they apply.

Patricia
Springfield, Oregon
U.S.A.