Charles
Phenix City,#2Consumer Comment
Sun, September 24, 2006
I am thankful I closed my account regardless if people had anything positive things to say about aspire visa! First they charged $150 $ make you pay $20 regardless if they give you credit line increases! I still closed it look @ how long you have to wait! I already had one card like this but they did not make me pay $20 to activate the card most credit card companies don't charge you $20 or any money to activate credit cards. I am glad I closed my account. If aspire is so great then why are they 200 complaints agaisnt them?
Michelle
Haltom City,#3Consumer Comment
Wed, September 13, 2006
My husband received an Aspire card last October. I do remember it being a week or two before we could use the card, but every since then we have had NO problems. We pay on time and have had no problems with thier services. My husband has even received 3 credit increases in the last 6 months.
Selene
Klamath Falls,#4Consumer Comment
Wed, September 06, 2006
I have been considering applying for an Aspire card online. Boy, am I glad I did my research first! After reading all of the complaints on this board, I can't help but think that it cannot be as one suggested, people not making payments on time or maxing out their cards. The state of New York certainly didn't think so. Consumeraffairs.com has a story about how they just paid out $11 million to consumers in New York for what it would seem are some of the business practices people are describing here. It was all a result of people repeatedly contacting their Attorney General's office. Maybe you all should do the same.
Rae
Small Town,#5Consumer Comment
Tue, August 15, 2006
I have had my Aspire Visa for four months now. I originally got the offer by mail and applied online on a whim thinking I would never be approved since I have terrible credit. Plus, I had just been declined by another "good" card, in the prior month or so. To my surprise, I was approved. I had read over all the terms, so I knew I was going to get the card already owing them money. Let's face it, that is the price I have to pay for ruining my credit in the past. Then I got online and did some research and read all the reviews and got scared, thinking "what have I done?". But, when I got the card, I went ahead and sent them a check for the $20 required to activate the account, because I really want to rebuild my credit. I called them five days later to check on the status. They had received the payment, and I was given a date (14 days later) when I would be able to use the card. I tried the card after waiting the given time, and it worked perfectly. I have mailed in my payments in the form of personal checks, and I have had NO PROBLEMS whatsoever with them posting to my account. For example, I received my August bill on the 5th. I mailed my $175 payment ($110 worth of charges for the month of July plus a portion of the original fees I'm still paying on) on the 7th. I was able to check online (by going to their payment site, you cannot view specific transactions but you CAN use it to check your balance and available credit) and the payment had posted to my account on the 10th. On the 12th, I was able to use my card, including credit freed up by that $175 payment. All in all, I think if you use this card as it is meant to be used, AS A TOOL TO REBUILD YOUR CREDIT, it will work well for you. Many of the negative reviews and comments I've read seem to be from people who go and charge the card up to the max and then seem to be shocked when they're charged over-limit fees, or people who miss "just one" payment and are outraged when they're charged a late payment fee, or people who failed to read the terms they agreed to when they applied for this card. This card is NOT to be used to go and charge anything and everything. Charge ONLY what you can afford to pay at the end of the month, and then pay it (leaving a small balance) AS SOON AS YOU GET THE BILL. NEVER get even remotely close to your limit. You should ALWAYS leave a buffer so that your monthly account maintenance fee or annual fee doesn't send you over the limit. Pay on time or early (my due date is the 20th, but my payments have always posted at least 10 days before that) and you will be fine. You will rebuild your credit and be able to get those better cards before you know it (at least that's what I'm hoping happens for me). Also, regarding not knowing when you opened the account that there were fees that would reduce the available amount of credit, I still have the original mailing I received from Aspire, and in it is a "Summary of Credit Terms" with the "Terms of Offer" on the back. It explains everything, including ALL fees. If you are serious about wanting to rebuild your credit, get a folder and keep EVERYTHING related to your credit card in it. Keep a running balance of what you have charged on the card so you will know when you need to stop. If you won't have the money to pay for something when the bill comes in, don't use your card! I have an envelope in my folder with all my receipts in it as well as any other transactions that I don't have receipts for (like internet stuff) written on it. I always know what my balance is and I STOP CHARGING when I get to the amount that I want to pay when my bill comes. I didn't always do it this way. I have a charged off card to prove it. :( I assure you that I am not employed by Aspire or affliated with them in any way besides being a satisfied customer. If something happens to change my status, I will be back to update.
Rae
Small Town,#6Consumer Comment
Tue, August 15, 2006
I have had my Aspire Visa for four months now. I originally got the offer by mail and applied online on a whim thinking I would never be approved since I have terrible credit. Plus, I had just been declined by another "good" card, in the prior month or so. To my surprise, I was approved. I had read over all the terms, so I knew I was going to get the card already owing them money. Let's face it, that is the price I have to pay for ruining my credit in the past. Then I got online and did some research and read all the reviews and got scared, thinking "what have I done?". But, when I got the card, I went ahead and sent them a check for the $20 required to activate the account, because I really want to rebuild my credit. I called them five days later to check on the status. They had received the payment, and I was given a date (14 days later) when I would be able to use the card. I tried the card after waiting the given time, and it worked perfectly. I have mailed in my payments in the form of personal checks, and I have had NO PROBLEMS whatsoever with them posting to my account. For example, I received my August bill on the 5th. I mailed my $175 payment ($110 worth of charges for the month of July plus a portion of the original fees I'm still paying on) on the 7th. I was able to check online (by going to their payment site, you cannot view specific transactions but you CAN use it to check your balance and available credit) and the payment had posted to my account on the 10th. On the 12th, I was able to use my card, including credit freed up by that $175 payment. All in all, I think if you use this card as it is meant to be used, AS A TOOL TO REBUILD YOUR CREDIT, it will work well for you. Many of the negative reviews and comments I've read seem to be from people who go and charge the card up to the max and then seem to be shocked when they're charged over-limit fees, or people who miss "just one" payment and are outraged when they're charged a late payment fee, or people who failed to read the terms they agreed to when they applied for this card. This card is NOT to be used to go and charge anything and everything. Charge ONLY what you can afford to pay at the end of the month, and then pay it (leaving a small balance) AS SOON AS YOU GET THE BILL. NEVER get even remotely close to your limit. You should ALWAYS leave a buffer so that your monthly account maintenance fee or annual fee doesn't send you over the limit. Pay on time or early (my due date is the 20th, but my payments have always posted at least 10 days before that) and you will be fine. You will rebuild your credit and be able to get those better cards before you know it (at least that's what I'm hoping happens for me). Also, regarding not knowing when you opened the account that there were fees that would reduce the available amount of credit, I still have the original mailing I received from Aspire, and in it is a "Summary of Credit Terms" with the "Terms of Offer" on the back. It explains everything, including ALL fees. If you are serious about wanting to rebuild your credit, get a folder and keep EVERYTHING related to your credit card in it. Keep a running balance of what you have charged on the card so you will know when you need to stop. If you won't have the money to pay for something when the bill comes in, don't use your card! I have an envelope in my folder with all my receipts in it as well as any other transactions that I don't have receipts for (like internet stuff) written on it. I always know what my balance is and I STOP CHARGING when I get to the amount that I want to pay when my bill comes. I didn't always do it this way. I have a charged off card to prove it. :( I assure you that I am not employed by Aspire or affliated with them in any way besides being a satisfied customer. If something happens to change my status, I will be back to update.
Rae
Small Town,#7Consumer Comment
Tue, August 15, 2006
I have had my Aspire Visa for four months now. I originally got the offer by mail and applied online on a whim thinking I would never be approved since I have terrible credit. Plus, I had just been declined by another "good" card, in the prior month or so. To my surprise, I was approved. I had read over all the terms, so I knew I was going to get the card already owing them money. Let's face it, that is the price I have to pay for ruining my credit in the past. Then I got online and did some research and read all the reviews and got scared, thinking "what have I done?". But, when I got the card, I went ahead and sent them a check for the $20 required to activate the account, because I really want to rebuild my credit. I called them five days later to check on the status. They had received the payment, and I was given a date (14 days later) when I would be able to use the card. I tried the card after waiting the given time, and it worked perfectly. I have mailed in my payments in the form of personal checks, and I have had NO PROBLEMS whatsoever with them posting to my account. For example, I received my August bill on the 5th. I mailed my $175 payment ($110 worth of charges for the month of July plus a portion of the original fees I'm still paying on) on the 7th. I was able to check online (by going to their payment site, you cannot view specific transactions but you CAN use it to check your balance and available credit) and the payment had posted to my account on the 10th. On the 12th, I was able to use my card, including credit freed up by that $175 payment. All in all, I think if you use this card as it is meant to be used, AS A TOOL TO REBUILD YOUR CREDIT, it will work well for you. Many of the negative reviews and comments I've read seem to be from people who go and charge the card up to the max and then seem to be shocked when they're charged over-limit fees, or people who miss "just one" payment and are outraged when they're charged a late payment fee, or people who failed to read the terms they agreed to when they applied for this card. This card is NOT to be used to go and charge anything and everything. Charge ONLY what you can afford to pay at the end of the month, and then pay it (leaving a small balance) AS SOON AS YOU GET THE BILL. NEVER get even remotely close to your limit. You should ALWAYS leave a buffer so that your monthly account maintenance fee or annual fee doesn't send you over the limit. Pay on time or early (my due date is the 20th, but my payments have always posted at least 10 days before that) and you will be fine. You will rebuild your credit and be able to get those better cards before you know it (at least that's what I'm hoping happens for me). Also, regarding not knowing when you opened the account that there were fees that would reduce the available amount of credit, I still have the original mailing I received from Aspire, and in it is a "Summary of Credit Terms" with the "Terms of Offer" on the back. It explains everything, including ALL fees. If you are serious about wanting to rebuild your credit, get a folder and keep EVERYTHING related to your credit card in it. Keep a running balance of what you have charged on the card so you will know when you need to stop. If you won't have the money to pay for something when the bill comes in, don't use your card! I have an envelope in my folder with all my receipts in it as well as any other transactions that I don't have receipts for (like internet stuff) written on it. I always know what my balance is and I STOP CHARGING when I get to the amount that I want to pay when my bill comes. I didn't always do it this way. I have a charged off card to prove it. :( I assure you that I am not employed by Aspire or affliated with them in any way besides being a satisfied customer. If something happens to change my status, I will be back to update.