Complain about a product or service

First Premier Bank

The offer looks pretty good. "Your Gold MasterCard is Pre-Approved! 9.9% APR Fixed" the envelope shouts. Inside is an effusive offering that rattles on about the "premium benefits" and the attractive 9.9% fixed rate. For those with shaky credit, it sounds good -- no security deposit or savings account required.

Ah but wait -- what are all these fees on the disclosure statement?

• Account set-up fee: $29 (one-time fee)
• Program fee: $95 (one-time fee)
• Annual fee: $48
• Participation fee: $72 annually
• Additional card fee: $20 (if applicable)
• Transaction fee for cash advances: Greater of $5 or 3% of the cash advance

Oh but wait, there's more. There's ...

• Credit limit increase fee: $25
• Return item charge: $25
• Auto draft charge: $5/$9 per draft
• Express delivery fee: $25 for cards sent Express Mail
• Copying fee: $3 per item
• Internet access fee: $3.95

This almost looks like a satire -- as though someone sat down and dreamed up as many fees as possible for comic effect. Program fee? Participation fee? Account set-up fee? Since when are these normal credit card charges?

Just to prove it's all heart, First Premier doesn't charge the whole $72 participation fee upfront, it parcels it out at $6 per month. Even so, as we add it up the start-up fees would be a minimum of $178 and possibly more if the mysterious copying fee, Internet access fee, etc. were added on.

The kicker to this ludicrous scenario is that the letter gives no hint what credit limit the consumer has been "pre-approved" for. Those we've heard from have had limits of as little as $300. With a few hundred dollars worth of upfront fees, that doesn't leave much room for error. Naturally, if the account is delinquent for two consecutive billing cycles two times in any six-month period, the 9.9% interest rate suddenly becomes 23.9%.

Here's what Premier's customers say:

John of Sayreville, NJ August 13, 2009

I used my credit card to rent a car. I paid the security on the card then paid the actual rental in cash. When I returned the car to the rental compnay they returned 9.25 more than was originally ran on the credit card. I called approx 4 days later to see if the credit had been applied to the account the recorded message said the account had been suspended. I finally got a hold of someone in customer service they told me that my account had been flagged for fraud and was suspended until the car rental company sent them the receipts that I actually paid the amount that was returned to my card.

I never received a call, nor letter stating there is a problem with my account and had I not called to find out about the credit, I wouldn't have had any idea until I tried to use my card. They have received the required fax and now tell me that it has to go through their theft department in order to reactivate my card. The woman I talked to even told me that it's because I would likely have a friend working at that company and repeated charges would eventually add up to a lot of money. This was one return.

Reginald of Phenix City , AL August 13, 2009

This bank offered me a credit card. I accepted the credit card and I also provided them with my checking account information and they took 300 out of my account and charged me for spending my own money. This company has ripped me off and has also reported to my credit report that I owe them 474.00 for spending about an 100.00 that they took from my checkings account. I dont think that their policies and business procedures is fair to consumers. This company has taken hard earned money away from my family and I. They have charged me for money that I have earned and then caused a negative affect on my credit report. If someone can please contact me and offer me a solution to my problem I would greatly appreicate it.

Lois of Kansas City, KS August 11, 2009

As one of many persons living in the United States today, I had to file for bankruptcy. In trying to re-establish my credit and my life, I applied for and received a Platinum First Premier Bank credit card with a limit of 450.00 Fair enough I thought until I was assessed fees for paying over the phone, increasing my credit limit, Internet usage, etc.

Since when does a credit card company charge you to increase your credit limit and look up account balances on the net.

kirk of baltimore , MD August 9, 2009

Please accept this letter as my formal protest of fees and notice to close the account: Under no circumstances would I agree nor did I agree to the escalation of fees applied to this account. Prompted by receiving the card and my review of the generalized account balance information, I have researched and found that First Premier's deceptive tactics are well documented.

I will make every effort to contact a First Premier Bank representative in order to seek remedy. I demand that First Premier Bank reverse all fees and close this account immediately. At 9:00 AM on August 10, 2009, I will submit a formal complaint to Maryland's Attorney General, Consumer Protection Division. I will also copy the FDIC, office of consumer complaints and/or other agencies that regulate First Premier Bank's practices in Maryland.

Furthermore, in an effort to advocate for other consumers, I will take all legal measures possible to inform as many consumers as possible in order to thwart further deceptive practices. I WILL NOT STOP

Bill of Los Angeles, CA August 8, 2009

I had good credit like 850, then I was defrauded and "owned houses with mortages in default". I looked for a "low cost" card to reestablish credit. I paid the 179. and used the card a bit.

Got no statement and I am "suspended", which I do not care about in public, but do care about in reporting agencies. I am bring suite against First Premiere next week. Customer service is non-existent, you cannot even get a real person!

dan of reading, PA August 7, 2009

i got this card about a year ago, and decided to do it because my credit was bad, and it was a good way to get back into a good standing. got it paid the entire balance right away. last month i was sick for a week and off work with no pay because i dont have sick time yet. anyway i got backed up and the card went late. they have been calling me and harrasing me at least 10 times a day, including multiple times at work! it isnt even over the limit but they insist i need to pay it in full. why! it isnt over, it was late but i have full intentions to pay it this month. they wanted me to prodate a check to pay for it and then charge me 12 to do it over the phone. this company is rediculous. i am paying it off and cancelling it.

Nichole of Evanston, IL August 6, 2009

This is the absolute worst credit card to have and customer service reps to deal with. I payed my bill in its entirety each month and on time, making me a good customer. I was contacted by a company offering me a 100 gift card for being such a great customer and all I needed to do was enroll in an auto rewards program. I repeated many times I was not interested as I do not have a car nor do I drive. Still they insisted. Of course the paperwork arrived, the gift card was a scam and I had to cancel the program immediately. I was still charged amounts varying from 14.99 to 19.99 for several months after. I disputed the charges and when a customer service rep left me a message about needed additional info to look into the matter, she did not supply me with her last name or an extension number making it "impossible" as the new customer service rep said to know who I was supposed to talk to. In the end I cancelled my card altogether but not before literally being yelled at by the woman that was aiding me in the cancellation process. She seemed to think that they were doing me a favor by granting me a credit card. I was a dream customer and all I got out of it was a scam, inconvenience, stress and verbal abuse.

Deb of South Pasadena, CA July 31, 2009

I do not have a credit card with this bank, yet I continue to get harassing calls from them. After the first call I thought I had corrected their screw-up. They had someone else's name and my phone number. I was assured it was corrected and yet I am still getting calls to call back immediately to 866 949 5200. What can I do to stop these idiots from harassing?

Terri of Fleming Island, FL July 29, 2009

Yesterday in the mail, my 21 year old son received an offer for a Platinum MasterCard from First Premier Bank. The offer was a credit limit of 700.00 of which they immediatly charge an annual fee of 175.00 leaving available credit of 525. The percentage rate is 23.9% with a list of fees they will add at the drop of a hat. The most interesting fee was a Credit Limit Increase Fee in the amount of 50% of the amount of the credit limit increase.

Not wanting anything to do with this company, I called their toll free opt out number which was automated. The very first thing I was to enter was my social security number! I hung up and called their 800 customer service number, had to talk to 2 people who both wanted my social security number. They tried to make me believe, the only way they could pull up my sons information on the computer was with my social security number!

Eventually with a confirmation number printed on the offer, they said they took me off their mailing list. Stay away from this company!

Caleb of Colorado Springs, CO July 29, 2009

I received an unsolicited credit card in the mail from First Premier Bank. I read their ridiculous terms and cut their card up. Later I discovered that they had kept the account open even though I never requested this account and had called them to decline their invitation to accept their card. The account is now in collections and I refuse to pay it. I don't care what happens to my credit report regarding this company.

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