Complaint Review: US Bank

I was given several US Bank Rewards Cards as a thank you for helping out at my job. I actually lost some shifts (and pay) and had to rearrange plans made long in advance. It seemed like a nice gesture, but this "rewards" program is a scam. Not sure if my employer knows how poorly it's run (and I don't really want to tell them, it seems ungrateful). I place the blame entirely on US Bank and their "rewards" program.

First, you have to create an account for each card and they cannot be linked. So if your employer gives you three $50 cards, you'll have to manage each one separately. Not a deal breaker, but sort of a PITA. 

Off to spend some money...first time, declined. Called customer service. There's a dollar gone (you have to pay a dollar to talk to a human). It was my mistake that time as I made a typo. It would have been nice to know that without paying a dollar, but lesson learned. Tried again. Declined. Turns out if you use it at a restaurant (yes, even fast food) you have to have at least the amount owed, plus 20%, to cover the tip. Fine, I'll use them elsewhere. 

So a month goes by and I decide to try to use it again. The balance on each card is now $5 less than it had been as I've been charged a monthly maintenance fee (twice on each card, less than 9 weeks after activation). Huh? The card states you'll be charged starting after the 13th month of issuance. So, once again off to spend a dollar. Got the recording stating "calls may be recorded" then the line was promptly disconnected. Yep, still got instantly charged the dollar. Called back. After 25 minutes I was told that the cards are charged starting 13 months after my company purchases the card. Not after activation. Not after it's issued to you. Nope. 13 months after it's purchased by the company. How do you know when it was purchased? Well, you don't. You have no way of knowing, other than apparently you'll start getting charge the monthly maintenance fee. Which is coincidentally one month after you acitivate the card. I was able to get the dollar for the disconnected card reversed and was told they would refund the $5 per card maintenance fee "for my toubles". Fine, I'll use them up as soon as I get the fees returned. 

I went to the webiste and read all the fine print. Turns out you get charged to check your balance over the phone too. Yes, even without a human. The automated system gives you 2 free calls, then it's 50 cents a call. You cannot talk to anyone without paying a dollar. You'll pay $2.50 a month for the privilege of having this fine card. You cannot use it to pay at the pump for gas. You cannot use it at a restaurant unless your balance is more than 20% of the purchase. Some reward. 

I emailed the company telling them what I thought about their "rewards". They could not find the rewards program I was referring to and needed some numbers off the cards. Oh, and they mentioned I could call the customer service number on the card (yep, for a dollar). I emailed back the requested information. Still they cannot find the program I'm referring to. I sent another email with all the information on the card (mind you this email is the only email provided in the "contact us" seciton on the account). They still cannot find the program I'm referring to and recommned calling the customer service number on the back of my card. Yes, the same number I keep telling them charges me another dollar every time I call. 

I'm still waiting for my credits. I'm still waiting for US Bank to find their own rewards program. What a rip off.