Complaint Review: First Premier Bank Card - Sioux Falls South Dakota

I suppose my problem with First Premier Bank Card is rather different from majority posted here. I never applied for a credit card from First Premier and never had a desire for one. My credit reports from TransUnion and Experian show 156 "Accounts in Good Standing" and 1 "Potentially Negative Items." I have in all those 156 good acounts have every one maked paid on time and quite frankly I have never paid in 50+ years any bill be it house mortgage, car loan, credit cards, etc. none have ever been late.

So I suppose one would ask how did a person like me ever get mixed-up with First Premier who as I have investigated really lends to less than credit worth folks. Answer is someone applied in my name and at some point go ahold of my SSN etc. To my amazement First Premier Bank Card does not have a phone verification system in place. They send you the card even to a bogus address ready to use. They only way you find out is when First Premier Bank Card starts calling you saying you are overdue. Of course the bills etc are sent to the address the card was sent.

I found out that TransUnion made it know to First Premier Bank Card that the address this card was being sent was a new/never lived at address. Since I had be at the previous address for 21 years TransUnion shot a "red flag" up to First Premier. They paid no attention and they were quite frankly so tickled to get their clutches on person of such high credit standing they sent it out probably rubbing their hand together saying "Boy or Boy."

I am dealing with this case of identity theft and I can say that in five letters to First Premier including 2 to CEO (Myles Beacon) and their head of corporate communications (Ms Julie Gilson) not one yes NOT ONE of those letters has been answered. I have made at least 5 phone calls to them and have dealt with a very nice supervisor to rude and arrogant customer service clerks one of which hung up on me because she was cornered in having to say we are at fault.

I have researched First Premier Bank Card her at this website and I am appauled at the number of complaints and really scary horror stories told. I have researched the State of Ohio Attorney General's website and I found over 71 complaints on First Premier Bank Card from account posting to bill collection to heavy handed tactics on the phone.

My advice to those who are having problems to be proactive and aggressive in your dealing with First Premier. I have tactive investigations underway with the attorney generals of both South Dakota and Ohio, local police department where the card was mailed, county sheriff where card was mailed, South Dakota Division of Banking, BBB in South Dakota/Nebraska, three credit reporting agencies (TransUnion, Experian, Equifax), American Banking Association, my US Congressman, and have written to the chairs of the House and Senate Banking Committees dealing with financial institutions ethics.

First Premier is moving and maybe a bit faster than they would like to move because of the number and the levels of these investigative agencies. In one instance First Premier even refused me information on the dates and locations of the charges and within 24 hours they had a court order in their office to comply from the authorities.

Quite honestly now First Premier Bank Card is trying to come off to all the agencies as being active, aggressive, the hurt party, etc. but everyone knows the reputation of this outfit. They have more complaints as to banking ethics than any other bank in South Dakota.

I was told by an attorney did you ever wonder why banks would set up corporate headquarters in of all places---South Dakota. Its because the banking regulations and ethics in South Dakota are the less stringent of anywhere in the country. Again, I am writing legislators in South Dakota informing them of this not so nice reputation and its time to maybe not put places like First Premier out of business but its time they adhere to rules that the rest of the US banks follow.

So be proactive in all you do with First Premier and remember that customer service agent on the phone is a long way from what you can do to correct your problem and I really believe if you all made complaints to the agencies I have their would be such a downpour these agencies would take a real long and hard look at First Premier Bank Card and how they do business.

Robert

Huron, Ohio

U.S.A.

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