Complaint Review: First Premier Bank - Sioux Falls South Dakota

I had the same problem as you did a few years ago with this company. I paid the whole thing off every month and all was good for a first five or so months. Then I got a monthly statement saying I was late on a bill and that they charged me the late fee (mind you the billing due date was nearly a month ahead of the "late bill". So I called them and told them that they made a mistake on the bill right? They claimed that the prior month was late so I up their claim and told them that the bank does a transfer to them electronically and I can have the payment investigated and also reversed if need be. They quickly changed their story and dropped the late fee. Then two months later I had unauthorized charges on my account made to stuff I have no idea to this day what they were or for what. So I closed the account due to fraud and disputed the bill. They closed the account and reissued a new card. A few months later they agreed that the unauthorized charges were bogus and dropped them. Then they claimed that I was late again and that was it. I closed the account via the telephone request and a certified return receipt requested letter (note when you do this, you must put the tracking number on the letter before mailing it so its proof that you sent this letter and not another one). I cut the card in four pieces and taped it to the letter and copied it and mailed it all off. Three days later I received the receipt back saying that they accepted the letter so per the law they have been notified of my intent and must close the account as requested right? Wow was I wrong. For two months they claimed there was charges that they were still receiving so they couldn't just "close the account". I explained that I have a legal document saying that you received the intent letter to close the account and that any "new" charges after that day are illegal and will not be paid. They cried and whined so I just said fine what is the "grand total" to close this account NOW and was told the amount and sent them a postal money order for that exact amount which was overnighted to them with receipt requested. Well that should have been the end but again like you no it wasn't. I was told that "old charges" were coming in and I said oh well the account was paid in full and I have the proof in my hand. They continued to send me a bill now for late-fees also. That is when I got angry. I got the state financial affairs division of the attorney generals office (Wisconsin) that handles both collection agencies and credit card companies that do business in the state for help. I filed the complaint online and explained what happened. The state a week later asked for "copies" of all the letters and receipts to be sent to them for further assistance. The state then went to First Premier with all the letters and receipts and demanded why this account was still open after my request, why charges are still be "allowed on the account" after closing the account and why when the bill was paid in full, that the account wasn't closed. First Premier claimed that they did close the account but upon further review found outstanding charges still pending. The state didn't play ball with them and told them that any charges that they "claim to have found" is their problem and ordered them to "immediately" close this account and bring the account to zero and furnish them a copy of said action. Which they did. End right? NOPE. Two months later I got a "new" bill for $3 and some change. I forwarded the bill to the state and the state fired off a letter demanding why they violated the law and attempting to collect on a closed account that First Premier said was closed. First Premier said it was a mistake and corrected it and sent a new statement showing the account was closed with a zero balance. So that is where I am today. (Well atleast that I know of). I am always expecting to see that $3 so bill to come back to life now in the thousands years from now (grew from late fees, etc) and when it does they will be talking to the state again - not me. SAVE ALL DOCUMENTATION FOREVER AND EVER. Since this will come back to life in the future and when it does you have all the documentation and the state investigation number saving the state time trying to find that old case file in the basement somewhere. SOOOOOO My suggestion is to stop sending money to these folks, do not talk to them on the phone nor reply to them via the mail except to say to cease and disest immediately via certified, return receipt requested and keep a copy of that letter. Then look online for the state agency that handles the affairs of credit card agencies and contact them for help. This is the only way this will stop. Do not do anything else. Contact your state for assistance and be prepared to furnish (COPIES) of all letters, canceled checks or bank statements, invoices, etc to provide what you have done. If they call tell them that they are no longer allowed to speak to you on the phone, in person nor in writing and if they wish they may contact (insert the state agency that handles the credit card companies in your state) and then hang-up. DONT allow them to say a single word. They will attempt to talk over you so just keep talking till you said that sentence and then say good-bye and hang-up. Need more help post and we will try to help you as much as we can.