Providian credit card rip off - advise desperately needed!

SwissLe

jipp05 wrote: »

You people are a disgustingly smug lot. why bother replying to her if you had nothing constructive to say? she is obviously in a state over the whole thing and doesn't need you critisising her. you should be ashamed of yourselves

Surely you are just encouraging people to flame you posting messages like this; which also do not help the OP.

fraggle-111

SwissLe wrote: »

Even though it's made up of charges, they still are charges within the terms of your account. It's unfortunate that these little mistakes cost us sometimes but the way I see it all you can do is write a letter of complaint stating your case. I wouldn't think a company like Provident will pay much attention.

I would also look at alternative sources of credit if you are unable to pay the balance off in full. Have you checked your credit report recently? Do you think you would have a good chance of getting a balance transfer such as Virgin? If not, would your bank be willing to give a more favourable rate loan or overdraft?

I've already looked into that and just cannot take any more credit on at the moment. I'm building back my credit now and will have no other debts except my mortgage by end of 2009. I'm worried about damaging my credit history further by applying for another credit card, does this not affect it?

As you say, they prob don't give 2 hoots, but i'll try contacting them again and see if they will put my credit limit up so i won't get the overlimit charge each month...

SwissLe

This card needs to take priority over any lower interest debts you may have. How many recent credit searches (applications) have you made in the last 6months? If this is your first or second then it's unlikely that another search will have any effect at all on your credit file. Alarm bells only start ringing when people start applying for many products within a few weeks, which means they are desperate for credit for some reason or they want as much credit as possible before ditching the country!

If you really don't think you stand a chance with the promotional cards, then try your bank to see if they will use 'goodwill' to offer you a better rate card or loan.

fraggle-111

SwissLe wrote: »

This card needs to take priority over any lower interest debts you may have. How many recent credit searches (applications) have you made in the last 6months? If this is your first or second then it's unlikely that another search will have any effect at all on your credit file. Alarm bells only start ringing when people start applying for many products within a few weeks, which means they are desperate for credit for some reason or they want as much credit as possible before ditching the country!

If you really don't think you stand a chance with the promotional cards, then try your bank to see if they will use 'goodwill' to offer you a better rate card or loan.

I'm in the middle of claiming £800 worth of bank charges from my bank at the moment under financial hardship so i don't think my bank would welcome the application! The only 'credit' application i have made was the opening of my back up bank account in case my present bank started being difficult on the reclaiming. Its probably too early to apply for a card with my back up bank..

Although the repayments are low on the credit card and don't inconvenience me at the moment, what you are saying is true.. in the long run i am paying through the nose in interest and it does need sorting now, otherwise i will be still paying it when i'm 80 :eek:

I am going to look at alternative options over the weekend and see what i can come up with.

Thanks for all your sensible advice!

tracy24582_2

why didn't you just have your mail redirected, it doesn't cost much, and then you could have checked you statements
this is not a dig but i dont get how people can complain when they dont check what there balance is and whats being taken out.
what do people expect to happen when they just ignore these things
gosh i check all my accounts every single day!!

tummy6

I'm still trying to understand how someone has a card from a company that hasn't been around for 7 years.

SwissLe

tummy6 wrote: »

I'm still trying to understand how someone has a card from a company that hasn't been around for 7 years.

eh? http://www.providentpersonalcredit.com

tummy6

Unsure what the eh is for, two completely separate companies with provident doing door to door lending with the card as a the way the loan is handed out. They do own Vanquis...

Providian was bought by Barclay's in 2002 and has been sold to Compucredit (not call credit as some quote) as Monument