
Marc of Huntington Beach, CA on Sept. 28, 2009
I'd like to share my experience with you, hopefully, it will help some people. Unfortuanlty, I think we all found about this site a little to late and that's the reason we are here, but for those who currently have trouble with Premier Bank or who are thinking about getting credit from them, please read:
I have had a Premier Bank card for some time now, and really have had no problems with payments or customer service.
I've experienced some financial trouble in the past few months, and have fell behind on payments. My card balance is currently $140 over the limit, due to fees and what not, becuase I haven't been able to pay in a few months.
They called me up and offered a settlement. They asked me to pay 50% of the balance, which I felt was a good deal and accepted.
I spoke to a lady named Chris, who told me the terms of the agreement. I told her that I wanted the settlement. I asked her to mail a confirmation of the agreement, and she agreed. I told her that I would call back on Monday and arrange a payment either then or for Tuesday, figuring that I would receive the by then.
Eleven days later, I have not received any letter. I called up and spoke to a lady named Cathy, who by some strange coincidence, has answered the phone every time that I've called them in the past few months. Is this a four person company/office? I know she is not a secretary.
Anyway, she informed me that they DO NOT mail a letter, and CAN NOT FAX a letter, or even send an email confirmation. The only way that they could send me a letter is that if I arranged a payment. Come on now! I've settled with credit card companies before, and it has NEVER been a problem to get things in writing before making a payment.
She said that this offer was only good until the 30th, which I was aware of, and if no payment was received by then that this account would be charged off. She continued that it would be impossible to get a letter to me by the 30th, but if I arranged a payment right now, they would mail one, but they needed a payment to process. So, basically the wanted me to TRUST them and give them money and leave me to hope they hold up their end of the deal. I refused.
I've done too much homework and research with this kind of thing, and I know that rule one is to get everything in writing BEFORE any form of payment is made.
Cathy got real rude and accused me of going in circles. When I kept turning down offers for automated payments, Western Unions, and whatever else, and kept stating that I needed a letter physically in my hands before any payment will be made. She got frustrated and threatened to hang up on me, then I asked for her supervisor.
The supervisor named Amy was calmer, but she didn't offer anything different. Just that I could either Western Union them the money, or set up an automatic payment from my account. They both acted surprised when I said that if I pay I will pay by overnighting a money order or cashiers check.
Bottom line is that now I have two days to pay them, and have no proof that they will hold up their end of the deal.
They've made something that shouldn't be complicated into a big issue, and I have lost any trust and faith in this "bank" or "company"(not that I had much in the first place).
I will not make a payment to them, and will let this $600 issue go to collections. Maybe there I will deal with someone reasonable.
Here are some things I've learned through my financial troubles.
1.Do not give them electronic access to you checking account. This will lead to unauthorized withdrawals, bank fees, and etc. If you have to pay, pay by cashiers checks, or money orders.
2.Get EVERYTHING in writing, because an issue surrounding this debt WILL come up. Maybe not real soon, but maybe years from now, so keep a record.
Thank you for reading this.