FIA Card Services

One of the things that added to my depression and frustrating week last week was FIA Card Services.  And it wasn't until I got pissed that I was able to deal with it.

I opened my credit card with them 5 years ago...just before Ladybug came home.  I have stupidly loyally stayed with them.  They made my life easier.  As they raised my interest rate.  I don't remember what it started at but it is currently 27.74%.  No, you read that right.  And every year I pay off my balance when I get my tax return.  And then slowly I building up the balance.  With an interest rate like that they make a fair amount of money off of me.  This year I have had a balance on my card of between $4,000-$6,000.  That is a lot of interest. 

So last week, on Ladybug's birthday, I discovered that my card had been cut off.  I have a really high limit so I knew I had not hit that.  There is no reason that I have such a large limit.  Other than they want me to carry a large balance so they can make money off of me. 

I sat anxiously with this knowledge for a couple of days.  I needed to know what was going on but I couldn't face one more piece of depressing news.  Finally on Saturday night I called.

FIA:  We have placed a temporary hold on your account.
Me: Why?
FIA: Because your payment is late.
Me:  (True).  Um.  Yes.  By 4 days.
FIA:  No.
Me:  Yes.  My payment was due on December 5th and you shut off my card on December 9th.
FIA: True.
Me: I have had this account for over 5 years.  I have never heard of a credit card company shutting off a card because my payment is 4 days late.
FIA:  Well we also didn't receive a payment in November.
Me:  That is not true.  As a matter of fact I paid more then the required minimum payment (working on the goal to live debt free.).
FIA:  We do not have a payment recorded for you for November.
Me:  Well I have a canceled check for you in November (a little lie since I don't actually get canceled checks but I could and I know I paid).
FIA:  The last payment we have recorded for you was on November 17th.
Me:  And that would be the "November" payment.  (Am I the only one saying DUH at this point?)
FIA: No we don't have have a November payment for your account.
Me: (crickets...very loud)
FIA:  What would you like to do about your account at this point?
Me:  I would like to never have anything to do with your company again.  I have been a loyal customer.  You have made a lot of money off me.  And I can not believe I am being treated like this.  I can get a better deal almost anywhere else.
FIA:  What are you going to do about it?
Me: I will immediately look into transferring my balance to another account.

I hung up.  Do they need my money?  No.  Will they feel my threat?  No.  Will I follow through?  Already done.  I immediately called my credit union upon hanging up with FIA Card Services.  Even on a Saturday night I managed to open up a credit card account in less than 15 minutes.  With an interest rate of 10.7%.  I have to wait for the paperwork to arrive before I can transfer the balance.  But I will do it.  As soon as possible.

I encourage all of you (all 2 of my loyal readers) to drop FIA Card Services if you have an account with them.  Encourage all your friends and relatives to drop them.  They will not feel me.  But why would you support any company that treats their loyal customers like that?

Mean Mama