Complain about a product or service

Providian

Providian • Advance Fees • Credit Repair • Destinations Unlimited • Disputed Charges • Interest Rates • Late Posting • Late Refunds • Late Statements • Promotional Rates • Credit Protection • Unauthorized Balance Transfers --- News • WaMu Buys Providian • $300 Million Providian Settlement • Providian Chairman Out, Stock Tanks • Providian Settles Class-Action Suits

Providian made its money the good old-fashioned way -- on the backs of the working poor. It built its business on what is called the "subpar" segment of the market, customers whose credit records have a few blemishes.

Only problem is, the losses outran the sky-high fees and soaring interest rates and the house of cards came tumbling down in October 2001 and by mid-2005, Providian had been acquired by the nation's largest savings and loan, Washington Mutual.

But from what customers tell us, things haven't changed much at Providian, as the complaints in this section demonstrate. Here are a few of the more recent beefs ...

Anthony of Britton, SD November 5, 2009

Back in Dec. 2004, I made a settlement arrangment with Providian Credit Card. The total anount owed was about 2800. They said they would settle for 2500. When my bank was ready to send payment to them, they confirmed with them the amount and mailed check the same day. After 3 years with no other response from Providian, a colleection company contacted me, I then turn this matter over to my attorney, who sent a letter to them to get this matter settled, since it was payed for in a settlement agreement. I did not hear anything else until just afew weeks ago from another collection company on this same bill. They have been really helpful and understanding and told me to conatct the credit card company and agreed that all I need from them is a settlement letter from Providian, but unable to locate the web site for them or an email address for them. Could Anyone please give me some assistance with this matter, so I can get this cleared up.

Stephanie of Seal Beach, CA November 4, 2009

On 10/29/09 I was handed a certified letter from the IRS regarding unreported income. I have 2 prestigeous CPA firm in 2 states who have covered my estimated taxes and returns. The tax form stated I had a debt forgiven by Portfolio Recovery. One CPA and I called from his office and was told it was a Providian Visa card debt. Port. Rec. say I paid half but owed penalties. I have searched all day for a way to get assistance and a legal dept. number without success. I am disabled and need some assistance to contact Providian, since they do not post any contact phone numbers that I have seen. I closed Providian account many years ago due to misrepresentation of yearly fees. Can you help please?

Liliya of Atco, NJ October 30, 2009

In the end of 1997 they offered to help me build my credit if I open a debit card with them and make payments and pay interested on the money I put in, and they told me that it will be like having a credit card and it will build my credit. I put in 300.00, they told me to spend it and start paying on it. I did. At the end of 1998 I paid the card off because I had to go on a trip overseas. I came back a year later and found out they sold my case to a collection agency, saying that I owe them the money. I want Providian to pay to the collection agency the money they say I owe, because it's a fraud.

William of Cincinnati, OH October 12, 2009

Hi I was a customer of Providian and I have problems with the company around the time of the lawsuit I just didn't know that they were being sued and I just found this out, so now what?

valli of roseville, CA September 24, 2009

I received a call from Debra from Providian Bank indicating she is calling about a credit card and this call is an attempt to collect a debt. I advised her that she reached a line that is work related only and for customers to call for emergency (Such as services being down) and she can not call me on this number. I then provided her my personal number and advised her I can call her there after I get off work. She indicated she will be at work until 530pm. After I got home, it was a little over 5pm so I called Deb and was advised she was already OFF. The next morning she called me again on the same 800 number that I had asked her NOT to use. She then stated she will remove the number but she wanted to know why I did not call her last night. I advised her I did but I was told she was off and she needs to remove the 800 she used to call me from her contact list because that is considered harassment.

Clementina of Brooklyn, NY September 23, 2009

About 13yrs ago I had a credit card with Providian Bank. I closed the account with a savings that equal out my balance due on the account. They kept it all. Now, I am getting phones calls from collection agency asking for 2700.00 that I owe. They told me it was interest that caused the money to be this much but I can pay 600.00 to clear the account. I am not working at this time nor do I owe Providian any money. How can I prove this after all these years.

connie of mogadore, OH August 21, 2009

my credit card decided to pull my credit and charge me 33% interest and when i called i get told that they are doing it to many people it does not matter what your credit rating is.I also make large payments to them and no matter when i mail them they are always cashed a day or so later just so they are intentionally late,which has now caused proplems with a couple of my other cards,this is totally unfair I worked very hard to get my credit rating up,just to have some big bully pull this crap on innocent people who do not have the money to just hand right to them if i did i would ve never had to borrow in the first place!unreal,what in the world is gonna happen to everyone!

connie of mogadore, OH August 21, 2009

my credit card decided to pull my credit and charge me 33% interest and when i called i get told that they are doing it to many people it does not matter what your credit rating is.I also make large payments to them and no matter when i mail them they are always cashed a day or so later just so they are intentionally late,which has now caused proplems with a couple of my other cards,this is totally unfair I worked very hard to get my credit rating up.

Carla of Riverdale, GA August 20, 2009

In May of 2000, I was a single mother of three children and was forced to make a decision with my job, at the time, to work hours that would have kept me away from my children. My job informed me that if I did not work the schedule that they wanted me to work that I would have to consider another job. I was very concerned. I could not work 2nd shift because I had an infant and 2 children who were in elementary school. I had to leave my job because I would not have seen my own children between the time that they got out of school until after 11pm.

I informed a representative from providian that I wanted to take advantage of the credit protection that they charged me for when I was solicited by phone. I was told that I would need to provide a seperation notice or proof of unemployment. I told them that I was actively seeking employment and that the company would not provide me with a seperation notice because, technically, they did not let me go. They had hired a new supervisor and it was the new supervisors choice that I adhere to her schedule or she would find someone else who would.

I chose to leave because I am a mother first. My account limit was only 300.00. Each month, they continued to bill me and when I would contact the company they would give me the run around and phones would not be answered.

As time went on, I continued to be billed. I was out of work for a while and finally obtained a position at a hospital in between August and October of 2000. After 4 years or so, my wages were garnished (2/25/2005). I was provided by my payroll dept. with the cort order of a garnishment listing me as the defendant with an address that was not and never had been mine.

Providian and their Unifund CCR Partners set out to garnish my wages in the total amount of 2,548.05. They were deducting 225.00 every two weeks from my payroll. I could no longer afford to maintain my bills (rent, electric, etc.), not to mention, the needs for my three children at the time. I eventually had to leave my job at the hospital because I needed to be home with my children who were going into their teen-age years and I had worked night shift at the hospital for almost 5 years and my roommate at the time moved out.

In 2009, I was receiving child support for 2 of my children and had my child support direct deposited into a bank account that I shared with my father (who lived in NC). No later than 2 months of my child support going to the bank account, providian garnished our bank account and deducted my child support deposit.

Kathryn of Shawnee, OK August 13, 2009

In 2001, my wallet -including secured credit cards from Providian & Direct Merchants Bank- was stolen. I reported the theft immediately (same day) and provided the agencies with information on the police report. Luckily, I did recover my wallet, but it was only the beginning of the problem.

The original credit account was secured with a 500 limit. At the time of the theft, the balance was approximately 136, well under the balance fo the "securing" savings account.

In 2003, I began receiving mail from a collection agency. They claimed Providian had "charged off" my account and I now owed over 1000. I sent the collection agency the information on the theft. I did not hear anything from them again. Unfortunately, I assumed that would be the end of the matter.

In 2004, I received a collection notice from another agency. Again, I provided all of the information on the theft. Because the San Diego PD purges their files after two years, and on the advice of customer service people at Experian, etc, I filed another police report. I sent all of the information to the collection agency. (SDPD also informed me that more than my credit was stolen, and a missing person report had been filed for someone who was claiming my identity!)

Again, I thought the problem was solved. I did not hear from anyone regarding this account until this week (8/2009). I have had two telephone calls this week from a new collection agency, Accounts Receiving Management. I made it clear that I am not responsible for this debt, but would consider a settlement just so I could end it. I am just that tired of fighting it. I have done everything in my power to make sure that first, Providian was informed immediately of the theft and the card was cancelled, and, second, that credit reporting agencies and collection agencies have been informed and given copies of all of the information.

A collector "supervisor", Scott B, told me that I would have to pay over 500 to settle the account or hire an attorney because they intend to sue me. When I explained that I lost my job in December and would have to make payments, he told me that I would have to pay the full balance (over 1400!) in 3 installments. When I said I could not afford payments that high, he told me they would be seeing me in court.

In my opinion, having read other reports about Providian, I suspect that Providian jacked the charges up after I reported the card stolen. They are licensed thieves! I intentionally got a "secured" credit card with a limited balance to build solid credit. When I reported the card stolen and closed the account, I should have been due a refund of money from the "secure savings" because the credit card balance was far less than the limit. Instead, I now find myself facing a lawsuit for three times the account limit!

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