Complaint Review: Household Bank - Salinas California

You will be getting your statement for the month shortly. In the meantime, DO NOT USE THIS CARD AT ALL!!! The statement will arrive with the membership fee and the other charges. Look at the balance due. Subtract the amount of the membership fee and that is how much you owe. When you get the statement, read the back of it. There will be a section where it says something similar to "You can get out of paying the membership fee if you request in writing the account be closed within 30 days of receipt of the statement where the fee appears." Photocopy the front and back of the statement three times. Next, Write a letter to the company stating that you will not be paying the fee and the account is to be closed IMMEDIATELY at CONSUMER REQUEST! Print three copies. Enclose a copy of the front and back of the statement with the letter. Highlight the part about avoiding the fee. Send the letter certified AND regular mail. This way you will have proof they received it. Also, even if they do decline the certified you know they checked the mailbox. Mail yourself via regular mail the same stuff you mailed to the credit company. When you receive it do not open it, but store it and keep record of it. There will be a postmark in the corner as to when the mail was processed and received by the post office. The fact that you have received it proves the post office is operating. They should be getting the letter the same day or the day after. Two days after you receive your own letter back call them and make sure they have reversed the fee and will be closing the account. Keep a record of the time you called, the person or persons you spoke with, their extensions, and some notes about what each had to say. Save this log. Send letters to Equifax, Experian, and Trans Union that the account has been closed at CONSUMER REQUEST. Also, since you are just starting out with credit cards I will offer some further advice: Search through junk mail you have and search online for the best card offer that you will be eligible that suits your needs. However, realize that you may have, for example, a $500 limit on a card it is not $500 to spend but to BORROW. Remember this always. Always read the terms and conditions before applying. There is a chart on all credit card applications/solicitations that gives the Purchase APR, Cash Advance APR, Balance Transfer APR, Balance Transfer Fee, Cash Advance Fee, whether or not there are annual, monthly, or no fees. Charge only a few minor things at first to get the hang of things and discipline yourself not to spend too much. My suggestion is to use the card for gas and nothing else until you get used to using credit. ALWAYS PAY THE AMOUNT IN FULL TO AVOID FINANCE CHARGES. NEVER TAKE OUT A CASH ADVANCE! It costs twice as much as the money you get. Things to look for in a credit card: No Annual Fee/No Monthly Maintenance fees Grace Period (period where no interest will accrue as long as the balance is paid in full) Low APR (but if you always pay in full it will not really matter) 18% is a decent rate if you are establishing credit. Rebates Before you even apply for you next card please search WWW.RIPOFFREPORT.COM to see how a company handles their customers.