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 ...

Jacqueline of Alexandria, LA June 9, 2008

Jacqueline of Alexandria LA (06/09/08)
In January 2001 I requested a card from Providian. I recevied 2 cards due to have good credit standing. As I charged on the card I paid the monthly amounts, I never once stopped to look at the amount of charges that was accruing on the card. One day as I went to pay for the next month, I said let me actually look at this bill instead of just paying and not knowing what I was paying because the bill seemed larger than usual. As I looked at the bill I found late fee, insurance fees, over limit fees, charges for things I did not authorize.

So I phoned the company and made a compliant and I was told by the Representative that I agreed to all of the fees when I signed the application, as I explained that I did a over the phone application & that I did not sign for any of those fees, I would like to have them removed. I was ignored and hung up on. I phoned back and was treated as rudely then as the first time. I continued to make some of the monthly payments until the charges were crazily outrageous and I phoned again. I made a complete payment in July 2002 on both accounts and requested them to be closed. The accounts were closed and I found out later on within 2002 that the accounts had been turned into the Credit Bureaus as unpaid-bad debt.

I was furious and contacted Providian, in which I was told that the account was sold and that they no longer had to discuss it with me and that I needed to contact the lender who purchased the account. I did just that and was again rudely mistreated and called a person that don't like to take responsibility for their accounts. I was told that until I was ready to pay the account in full, they would mark the account as refuse to pay and hung up on.

It is humiliating to have someone to ignore, mistreat, call you names, and hang up on you. This company lied to me. I only regret that I agreed to take this card and paid for it in advance for the application fee, the 100's of dollars for having the card prior to making any charges, and all of the other fees that accrued on this Providian card. I made complete payment of all the charges that I consumed while having these cards with my personal check stating on the back of the check upon cashing this check Providian agree to full payment on this account with the erasing of bad debt/unpaid account off of my credit report.

I sent this information to the 3 credit bureaus on many different occasion, yet still Providian shows on all 3 credit reports of mine and have ruined my credit scores. It is getting close to the time frame of the reporting to be removed from my credit record, yet it still does not show that I paid them in full and on time which I would like corrected.

The economic damage is that my credit score is ruined based on the untruth of Providian. My physical damage is that being hurt emotional and mentally by abuse that I received from Providian supposely customer service reps and the lenders that purchased all of Providians accounts. There were times that when my Son answered the phone he was mistreated and told that your Mommy told you to answer the phone so that she doesn't have to explain why she don't pay her bills.

Teresa of Bauxite, AR June 3, 2008

Teresa of Bauxite AR (06/03/08)
6/2/08 Contacted by Debt Mgmt Inc for a Providian credit card I never had. Lots of threats of sending to IRS and freezing our checking account. According to Arkansas law the statute of limitations is 3 years from the last payment. So even if I did have the card, it is too late. They say payments stopped Oct 2001, which apparently was when they had alot of trouble.

According to info I've received they are trying to scare me into paying for a debt that is not mine to beat a seven year deadline to file with the IRS. They acknowledged they cannot sue me in court due to statute of limitations.

Stephanie of Villa Rica, GA May 15, 2008

Stephanie of Villa Rica GA (05/15/08)
A credit card was was issued to someone else and now I am being held responsible for this credit card in the amount of over 6000.00. They are trying to garnish my wages. I never went to court the judge made a ruling in their favor without my knowledge. I contact the Bank the collection agencey and never received a response until the attorney contact me. I am going to see if I can find attorney to help me with this case.

I greed to pay money our for something I did not use plus I am having to use other money to obtain an attorney which I dont have money for that.

Conrado of Spring Valley, CA May 14, 2008

Conrado of Spring Valley CA (05/14/08)
I consolidated all my credit cards of which providian was one of them. The credit consolidation company was making the payments since 2006,then 2 mos ago Palisades took over providian and asked a full payment which was 1700more than the original debt. Where did all thosepayments go?

I had to borrow money from a friend of course w/ intrest and I could not sleep and concentrate on my job.

Micaiah of Willingboro, NJ May 9, 2008

Micaiah of Willingboro NJ (05/09/08)
I was presented with a garnishment of wages for a debt that belonged to my son.We have the same name but I don't have a middle initial.I told all those involved that this wasn't my debt and after not hearing from them,assumed that the matter was over.

I was told by my personnel department that a garnishment of wages was placed and that monies would be taken from my check.The matter was satisfied when the debt was paid in full.This is on my credit report,along with other dedts of my son.My wife and I have lived at the same address for the past 23 years,but on the credit report,it shows several addressws,all belonging to our son.We realize that our son has not been responsible in money matters,but it seems that hia creditors are coming after me,though I have not made these debts.Thank you,in advance,for any help you can give me.

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