Credit Tips: First USA Credit Card Complaint
Posted On: May 1, 2005
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Post subject: llegal credit card finance charges
Gail Bodnar
Date: 2/14/2001 11:32 am CDT
I just want everyone to know the truth about First USA, Bank One. They are singularly the most, vicious and dishonest of all. The web’s best, NOT. If you use them,BEWARE. If they make a mistake on your balance. They will not fix. They already have a lawsuit against them for illegal finance charges in the southern district of Illinois filed by Richard Mangone on behalf of himself and others. I myself am seeking legal counsel and federal help for a balance transfer that was sent to GE select which they bought then left on card I transfered from in a very, large amount. I am a cancer patient and have tried to get this matter resolved for 18 months. In the mean time they have called me repeatedly (dunning) despite letters and requests for straigthening this matter out. They are nasty, sneaky and abusive. They have even gone so far as to call my mother whom I don’t live with is elderly and undergoing chemo treatment for advanced bone cancer. When I have called or written repeatedly pleading to leave her alone. They continue. They have recently called threatening to tell my husband to which I have none, my neighbors and my employment. The bank of comptorllers sides with the bank despite written documentation to contrary. I had been on medical disability recovering from surgery and radiation treatment and only started back to work. Now I need a better job and they are making that impossible. How can I pay what I do owe with out a good job. If you can offer any help. I would appreciate it. Thank you, G R Bodnar
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Linda in VA
Date: 2/14/2001 11:21 pm CDT
Gail,
What a horrible thing to have to go through! I take care of my Mom who is also a cancer patient - I know you are already going through *****, without something like this to deal with.
If I understand you correctly, you transferred a balance, but now it is on two cards - is that right? If you have the documentation, I would think someone would listen to you. Does your state have a banking reulatory authority or a consumer affairs bureau? Perhaps they could be of assistance. Otherwise, take your documentation to a good lawyer and see if he’she would take your case on a contingency basis. With the situation you described, I would think they could sue for damages and pain and suffering.
Let us know how it’s going. Maybe someone else on here has better suggestions.
Sincerely,
Linda
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Darrell
Date: 2/15/2001 5:02 pm CDT
I am sorry to hear of your cancer battle and that of your mother. I once had a dispute with First USA. After being dissed by CSRs and others, I went straight to the top. They moved quickly to help me.
I wrote a certified letter to:
Office of The President
First USA Bank, N.A.
201 North Walnut Street
Wilmington, DE 19801
Very soon after receipt of this letter, First USA straightened out a mess they created.
State your case clearly, factually and concisely. Send documentary evidence if you have it. They will react if they smell a lawsuit or bad publicity.
Good luck.
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Gail Bodnar
Date: 2/17/2001 12:47 am CDT
Dear Darrell,
Thank you so much for your concern and response. I already had done as you suggested. First USA did nothing but cause further harassment. I have already contacted a lawyer. I have had enough. This bank needs to be investigated for illegal business practices. I found another web page under bad guys that this company has 12 mailing addresses. If they are legit then why is this so? I want to get messages and responses on the web so IRS can be called upon for an audit. This bank must be held accountable. Not just for me but for others. No bank should feel above the law. The fact that banks are allowed to use are money at low interest rates that charge sky high interest rates to the point of families losing there homes is an atrocity to are constitution and its about time people stopped being so apathetic to this. Because yes it can happen to you. Unemployment, serious illness, medical bills that can wipe you out and no help but loans what so ever. Banks use this and don’t care and they do it with peoples savings. Why is this allowed. They must be regulations established in this country for a balance. All banks should be held accountable for their actions. And it is up to the people to not let it slide. We the people started this country and we still have the power to fight for what is right legally. If we all would do it together.
I’m going to do my part in a court of law. I found other lawsuits against them as well. They picked on the wrong person. I feel stronger now and I am not going to let this slide. I have got nothing to lose and my dignity back to gain. I would rather go down fighting.
Thank you,
Gail
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Gail B
Date: 2/17/2001 12:59 am CDT
Dear Laura,
Thank you so for your kindness and concern. I have done as you suggested. Sent documentation to bank of comprollers. They are supposed to monitor the banks. They agree with first usa. The didn’t understand and I had to send a rebutal. In the mean time I finally have found legal counsel. I will go down fighting. See letter to Darrel I posted. Some else who cares. I guess I just want people to know what an unscrupulous business operation First USA is and to get enough people aware to protect them and get the government involved. They are one of the biggest Visas now and seem to feel that they can do anything. Its up to individuals to stand up and so NO. You must obey the law and function accordingly. *****, I survived cancer. I sure as ***** won’t bow down to them. The bigger they are, the harder they fall. Even supposedly legal loan sharks.
God Bless,
Gail B
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Credit Tips: First USA Credit Card Complaint
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Post subject: First USA credit Card
paul mead
Date: 2/11/2001 11:54 pm CDT
I need your advise, please.
On July 3, 2000, a charge to my closed credit card account titled “Adjustment” was made in the amount of $300.00.
I contacted the credit card company, by phone, on July 10th,
requesting an explanation of the “adjustment” and requesting
that the charge be reversed. I was advise that they would
investigate and respond in writing. I did keep a record of the phone conversation.
Having received no responce, I again contacted them on December 9, 2000. They acknowledged my first call, with an
appology, and then advised that they would “dispute” this item and respond to me in writing. I again kept a record
of the phone conversation.
I have received no response to either inquiry, and it is now
February 11, with interest still being charged on the “adjustment”.
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Eugene
Date: 2/12/2001 5:04 am CDT
I am going to take a wild guess here: First USA?
Anyway, write to the issuer, preferably by certified mail with return receit requested. Say that this letter is a followup to several telephone conversations with customer service (give details), but the charge has still not been investigated. Say that you want the charge and the interest accumulated on it credited back to your account.
Legally, your rights are preserved only if you write to the issuer, calling is not enough. You are past the time frame when they have to investigate a charge (60 days after the statement date), and I do not think it is different if you are disputing the bank’s (not a merchant’s) charge. Give it a shot, anyways.
Next time, you can call first, but then always follow up with a letter within 60 days if the charge has not been credited.
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Board Monitor - CS
Date: 2/13/2001 4:06 am CDT
It will take you fighting, fighting, and fighting some more to get this charge removed. You’ll probably have to go through a ton of hassle and get such authorities as the OCC involved. Supervisors won’t help. Letters you send will only get forwarded so many times that they eventually get “lost” (i.e. the shredder eats them). I’ve heard of this very same situation happening before, and First USA just expects its cardmembers to pay the bogus charge and go on with their lives (I suspect many companies do this to an extent, but First USA does it with mob like efficiency). Stand tough and remain focused.
What I’ve done to get bogus charges removed:
1 - Threaten to start an anti-”insert company name here” website, and pay to have it listed on looksmart and yahoo (I’d rather a search engine portal have my money than them). This has worked 100% of the time, most recently with an old bank who refused to close my “free” account and started charging me tons of overdraft charges until they “discovered” the letter I wrote months earlier to close the account.
2 - Threaten to file a complaint with the BBB … less effective, but has still worked.
Keep Eugene’s excellent advice in mind and stand tough. If you need any further assistance, I’m eager to help one on one.
Take Care,
Casey Smith
cardrevolt.com
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Eugene
Date: 2/13/2001 6:25 am CDT
First USA just expects its cardmembers to pay the bogus charge
Casey, great post. Your advice is certainly universal, but Paul was not necessarily talking about FUSA. It just looked a lot like FUSA’s description to me. I take it we have the same opinion of FUSA, judging by how harsh you recommended to be on them.
Threaten to start an anti-”insert company name here” website
In case of FUSA, it will be at least the second one.
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Eugene
Date: 2/14/2001 4:29 am CDT
I wrote:
Paul was not necessarily talking about FUSA
Wait a second! I just saw the subject of this thread now, after 4 days! I cannot believe how stupid it is of me.
I also wrote:
I am going to take a wild guess here: First USA?
Well, DUH!!!
Excuse me, if you need me, I’ll be beating that wall with my head.
Eugene.
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Board Monitor - CS
Date: 2/14/2001 6:07 am CDT
LOL… Thats all that needs to be said =)
Take Care,
Casey L. Smith
cardrevolt.com
CardRatings.com is the most comprehensive source for comparing credit card offers. Please visit CardRatings.com to view the best rated credit cards!
Ira Stoller
Date: 2/13/2001 11:46 pm CDT
Let me add my response to the others. As Eugene said ALWAYS WRITE LETTERS. It is your only way to preserve your rights. One bit of advise is to write to every agency you can think of to complain about the shady practices of the card issuer. Write to the Federal Trade Commission, write to the
Attorneys General of your home state and the state in which the bank is headquartered. Write to the Better Business Bureau of both states. If your city and/or state has a department of consumer affairs, complain to them. Don’t forget the Postmaster, and don’t forget to say that this is an incident of possible mail fraud. The commissioner of banking in both states is another good one.
The idea is not to pick one or two of these agencies - you send letters to ALL of them at the same time. Here’s why: Each of these agencies will send you an acknowledgement and each will “investigate” the case. The investigation will seldom amount to more than a letter to the bank asking for their side of the story and (watch this one carefully, please!) giving them a set time in which to respond. Putting a time limit on the matter is something you and I cannot do. SCore one for writing letters!
Please note that nobody will accuse the bank of any wrong doing, but they don’t like being hasseled. The implications are too far reaching for them. You’ll get satisfaction much quicker this way, but notice I didn’t say quick. It may take months for all these letters to shake themselves out.
Let us know what happens.
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