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To put it mildly, First USA Bank is not a consumer crusader. It's notorious for its high interest rates, ever-multiplying fees and not-so-nice customer service. And not too long ago, First USA coughed up $1.3 million to settle a deceptive practices case brought by 28 states. Seems the bank had provided its customers names and account numbers to telemarketers, who then sold (or said they sold) various goods and services to the bank's long-suffering account holders.
Besides all that, there are such tales as this ...
Mark of Mesa AZ (04/09/08)
In August of 2007, I refinanced my home through Countrywide. They offered a balance transfer VISA card at 0.00% for one year. I accepted and paid off two existing credit cards. At that time, I chose to go paperless on their cardmemberservices.com website and I gave my emai address for notice of payment, just like I do for other accounts. NO ALERTS or NOTICES!
My bill was late in December and now I find out that the rate is 29.24%. They say that, maybe in a year they will cut the rate! STILL, NO NOTICES!!!
Michael of N. Las Vegas NV (03/08/08)
Was solicited to sign up for their credit card through Countrywide to get dividends for use of card and have the amount doubled to use as credit against my mortgage balance.
I never received any bills or statements, the first time I happened to check the account online and paid the first month. I saw a charge on my bank statement for FUSA and never associated it with the Countrywide credit card, as I did not recognize the charge. I queried it and the Bank reversed the payment. I later checked my accounts and figured out who it was and called them. They charged a late fee and a return fee. The second month again no statement in the mail but I was two days late in checking the account and was again charged a late fee. I called customer service and again had to wait half an hour to speak to someone and they refused to reverse the latest charge as they claim they are not responsible for the delivery of the statements. I recall having the same problem with these people before and closed the account.
Had I been made aware I was actually dealing with First USA I would not have opened the account. Beware, do not use these people as I believe they are again trying to manipulate customers to obtain fraudulent late fees. I would like to find out if any other people have encountered the same problems with First USA.
Jeremy of Lebanon MO (02/21/08)
I went to buy a house, and my credit report says I have a delinquent account with First USA Bank. I don't even know what this is!
Marsha of Pickerington OH (10/23/07)
First USA Bank filed a complant with the Fairfield County Court regarding a civil action against me for their company that I do not know anything about. First USA Bank sent the court papers to my place of employment as if that is my address. They have used a collection agency, MRC Receivable in San Diego, and they call every day.
I have had the human resources department of my job notified that I am being sued, and that does not look good and can affect my pending promotion.
Laura Crow of Portage IN (12/09/06)
They doubled their interest rate in one month when I had been making my payments on time for many years. Then they are not available for me to call them when I am not working (on weekends) can only call them M-F. Also, even though I have sent them 3 letters asking them to set up some plan for me to pay via written communication, I have received no reply in written form at all.
Now my minimum charge is over $1,000 and I am really unable to pay. May have to go to collection agency (maybe they will communicate with me via written form) or DMP or bankruptcy just to get them to answer me.
Kathy of Carthage MO (1/30/03):
I had held a First USA credit card for years and had the balance paid in full. My son was moving to another state and needed financing for the move. I called First USA and asked them if they could issue him a card separate from mine with a $1,000 limit, and they said that would be possible. Within 3 months the balance had been ran up to $4000. Not excusing my son for going over the limit, however when First USA knew that the limit was 1,000, why didn't they deny any amount over that?
To make matters worse they never sent me a statement. Only when several payments had been missed did they call me and demand payment. I asked them if they expected me to pay it why didn't they send me a statement so I could see what I was paying for. They answered that the cardholder was in another state and they couldn't do that, I responded with "then why don't you contact the cardholder and demand payment from him?" They said it was my responsibility because it was under my card, again I told them that if it was my responsibility then why weren't they sending me statements, and again they replied that they couldn't do that, they could only send the statement to the cardholder.
To make a long story short, they turned it over to a collection agency, who agreed to get a statement for me with all the charges, when First USA denied them the request they informed me that they had never heard of anything so rediculous, and because of First USA's refusal to co-operate with them, they allowed me to pay off only what they would have received as their fee, which was half of the disputed sum. It wound up costing me $2,000 but it kept my credit record clean. My son claimed that they never sent him a statement. I have a credit card with Harris Bank, and recently learned that FirstUSA has taken it over, I am paying the balance off in full and returning the card (in pieces) to them. Will never do business with them again.
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