Providian/washington mutual anyone?

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-19-2003
Providian/washington mutual anyone?
6
Mon, 01-30-2006 - 10:08pm
Does anyone here have a Providian card (recently merged with washington mutual)? I have one that I have had for around 7 years, and they have to be the most frustrating, irritating people I have ever had to deal with. I pay over the minimum every month (for the last 5 months, I had a few lates before then), and no matter what I do, I can't get ahead. Their customer service people are rude, and most of them have such heavy accents I can barely understand them. My interest rate on this card is 30.49%! Balance is right at $3000. At one point I paid $1000 on my balance to get it down, and they promptly lowered my limit by $1000 so they could still have me by the neck. It makes me want to scream! Has anyone else had any dealings with them?
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Mon, 01-30-2006 - 10:15pm

Our home loan is with Washington Mutual and I have a Providian credit card. I haven't had any trouble with the Washington Mutual customer service when I've called. I've never dealt with the Providian customer service. I do MyPoints and they switched their CC provider to them so I switched as well but thanks for the heads up-I don't carry a balance on that card and it sounds like I should make sure I never do!

Taleyna

Avatar for cl_phocid
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Tue, 01-31-2006 - 10:19am

Wow - that's terrible!


Do you bank with a credit union?

All my best,
Danni

Avatar for endomagazine
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-09-2004
Tue, 01-31-2006 - 10:21am

Hello,

I have a Providian card, but have never needed to call customer service. My card has a 0% APR for a year deal. My regular APR is about 14%, it goes up and down. I haven't dealt with Washington Mutual.

Regarding your interest rate, even though you've had some frustrating experiences with their customer service, I would suggest calling *again* and asking that they lower your interest rate. How did it get that high?

I currently carry a balance on the card, but my credit limit has not gone down since paying off 1000 of the original balance transferred.

I would also suggest transferring your balance to another credit card if you can. Discover offers several promotional rates, including one with no balance transfer fees and 0% APR for a year. If you qualify, I would suggest moving as much of your balance there as possible.

I had a bad experience with MBNA, but haven't had any customer service issues with Providian. MBNA made it *very* difficult to cancel an account that was paid off. I spent 45 minutes arguing with a "saves rep" that tried everything in the book to keep my account open. Eventually, I had to start repeating myself. Ma'am, I'm not willing to discuss this any further. Please cancel my account. I had to sound like a broken record for 2-3 minutes, responding to everyhthing she said with those two phrases. Eventually she got the message. Hopefully, I won't have that same problem with Providian when I eventually close the account I have with them. Credit card "saves reps" just don't accept the idea of "I want to cancel my account so I can't spend on the card I just paid off".

Sincerely,
Lindsey Schocke

Sincerely,
Lindsey Schocke

Geeks on Tap: Mission Accomplished

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-19-2003
Tue, 01-31-2006 - 5:51pm
I doubt I would be able to get another card to transer the balance to, and I don't bank with a credit union. I guess I will just have to refocus every extra penny to this balance, instead of the other target I had been focusing on. They are without a doubt the rudest, most irritating people I have ever dealt with. The customer service people have the 'this is how it is, and deal with it' kind of attitude. Late payment fees are $39, overlimit fee is $35. It just makes it impossible to get anywhere. They make me want to scream. I have been working really hard to get my debt paid down, and I'm actually making good progress (if I ever get my W2 so I can do my taxes, that will help, too). It's just frustrating when people are so rude and just flat out mean about things. Some people should not work with the public, be it in person or on the phone.
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-14-2006
Tue, 01-31-2006 - 10:11pm

Hello:

I have a Washington Mutual Mortgage, and I have had some minor problems. Nothihg really bad like yours though.

Can you borrow any money from a 401k where you could pay these people off and not have such a high interest rate?

Best of luck.

Avatar for mymartes
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Wed, 02-01-2006 - 10:28am

I've never dealt with them. However, sounds like you need to transfer your balance to a better card.

Good luck. I could imagine how frustrating that is.

MYM