Penalized for Capital One's Mistake

I just wanted to post a follow-up to this.

First of all yes, I didn't get the intial rep's ID - it didn't occur
to me to do so. I hadn't had any problems in the past. My bad on that,
and I'll be sure to get all information as I talk to any CSRs in the
future.

Anyway, after the second phone call fiasco, I waited. Waited for them
to send me a letter explaining - something, anything. Nothing. Almost
a month went by and then I get a phone call. They're telling me that
there are MORE fees that have been added and that this call was so
that I could set up a payment of the $130+ dollars the account was now
over.

I just wanted to explode. I was SO angry. So, basically the second
call did nothing either. I tell this girl an extremely short version
of the story. She tells me she'll transfer me to someone who can help.
(and I rolled my eyes at that)

I finally am tranferred to Account Supervisor Jermaine who asks how he
can help, and asked me for my account number. I said YOU CALLED ME.
And then I just had had enough. I explained the whole situation,
whereupon he said that I just needed to get my account into good
standing and then they would merge it with my other account.

I said that I will not pay ANY fees that accrued after 1/2/07. I told
him to give me the balance from 1/2/07 and that's what I would pay,
and I would do it via online banking so that I had an actual record of
the payment. There was no way I was going to pay any fee. I was angry
that they thought I would.

Today I checked the account. The fees have all been removed and the
account has the 1/207 balance. I submitted payment today, and
screen-captured EVERYTHING. Tomorrow, once the payment has gone
through I am closing the account.

The day after I am paying the balance on the second account, and the
day after that I'm closing that one. I don't need Capital One, and
don't want to give them any more money. I have other cards with other
companies that have provided much better service and better credit
limits.

Capital One is being investigated by the attorneys general for
multiple states for fraudulent/misleading advertising as well as
violating the terms of its agreements with cardholders.

Simply based on what I've read about them in the "consumer" area of
the news, I'd not do business with this company. It's not like there
isn't a ton of competition from which to choose.

I spent some time looking at complaints with Capital One and, for
comparison, complaints with Chase (my credit card issuer).

It appears that Capital One offers cards with low credit limits and
annual fees. I suppose people whose credit history has a few
blemishes on it resort to cards such as this in order to have a credit
card.

I found many complaints with the way Capital One assesses fees for the
privilege of having one of these cards. Failure to close accounts
(and subsequently accruing late fees and membership fees) seems to be
a common problem.

I will admit I saw some complaints with Chase, but nothing like this.
My advice would be to find another card if you can. Maybe your
situation makes it difficult to obtain a card, but I wouldn't stand
for this type of treatment.

The only thing I found missing when I read this (besides the original
rep's id, which I asume you did not get - you probably became more
careful once you realized they made a mistake - I always forget to ask
for id's) was that evidently you were near the limit on your original
card.

Well written letter overall. It surprised me that you have a yearly
fee on your card. I haven't had one of those (fee) since 1989. Can
you get a card without a fee? I have several cards, all with no fees.
It sounds like you carry a balance, so they get both interest and a
user fee. Yuck. That sucks big time. What's in MY wallet? Not Cap
1! No wonder they can afford all those ads.

It is strange they would not accept proof you called them. I guess
you would have trouble proving what was discussed on 1/2/07, even if
you could prove you called the 800 #. You are in a tough spot. I
would give these people the boot. It takes so long to resolve
problems like this (since they won't just believe you - greedy so and
so's). By the time you find out what they decide you may have a bunch
more interest built up. I wish you luck.

Well written letter. I'm sure if I were charged a fee I felt unjust,
I'd also complain.

I question what seems to be missing information. As I would have
done also, the ID numbers of both the CSR and supervisor are supplied.
However, there is no mention of the ID number of the employee who
completed what was supposedly the initial transaction on 1/2/07. He
is only referred to as 'the rep.' Is there some reason for this
omission?

I used to have 3 cards with Capital One, and I was never so happy as
when I was able to close them out. They are BY FAR the worst and most
annoying credit card company to deal with, and I have been through a
few...
Always get a rep's name and identifying info when they promise you
something, it's amazing how much leverage that gives you.
"What's in your wallet?" Not Capital One, thank GOD!!!

I was expecting a whole lot of things when I clicked on this letter.
None of them was a clear explanation of how the mistake in question
was Capital One's.

And yet there it is.

Congratulations. I hope that they take the fee off your bill.