Complain about a product or service

Advanta

Felix of Killeen TX (02/26/08)
I got the Advanta credit card bill 2 days after the due date. We've had some crazy mail delivery problem in this city. Immediately I went online and made payment, then called their rep and explained that mail just arrived. She said she would take care of it; unfortunately, I will have to wait and call back during next billing cycle. When I received the next bill, there was a huge late fee and finance charge, I was reminded to call again. And with another rep, he refused to remove the late/finance charges. Do you think Advanta is scamming by providing promotional rate, then send out late statement to collect on fees?

I've had bills arrive late before and others were nice enough to forgive, but not Advanta. The 3.9% promo rate was great deal for consolidating, but it turned out to be over 500 in late/finance charges due to late mail arrival. The Advanta rep also lied to me that they had automatic payment system. I always paid their bills online, and I know for fact they didn't have automatic payment feature. If they did, I would have used it. I've had Advanta MC for near 7 years, and I used it occasionally on promo rates to consolidate. And I can't remember being late on a payment once. If I ever had been late, it could have been years ago when I was traveling overseas.

Since the Advanta's rep declined a waiver, I've emailed, faxed, and snail mailed a written request for a waiver.

Warren of Bonita, CA November 23, 2007

Warren of Bonita CA (11/23/07)
They say they did not receive my payment - that the check was lost. I have never had a late pay or a lost check in over 10 years.  Several months later they bumped the interest rate to 15.99% and when I called they woul not take off the late charge. They charged me twice and I got them to take that one off but no luck on the other. They would not lower my interest rate and the next month they raised the rate to 29% because I bothered them. I had a high line of credit with no late pays and I paid them almost all of balance and intended to get them to send me a bill every month for a 1.00 balance. Don't ever apply for a card from this company. They offer one reasonable rate and raise it if your balance is high.  I am lucky I could pay mine off, but am sorry for those who are stuck.   They cost me about 500 in bogus charges.

Ron of Liberty, MO November 22, 2007

Ron of Liberty MO (11/22/07)
Advanta Business Cards has begun sending me credit card offers to my business to a person that I do not know. The person's name is Helen Crosby. I am in the registry of persons that do not want unsolicitated credit card applications but businesses are exempt. I have called and requested information on how this person because attached to my business (which has been open for 11 years at this address). Advanta stated that they could (would?) be able to determine that as they use multiple data bases to generate solicitation letters. I have asked to have this person removed from my account and to also stop sending solications to me. To date they continue to come. I am concerned that if a Helen Crosby has used my business name with Advanta, they should tell me. I am not able to get anyone to acknolwede that this is even a problem.

Chris of Blairstown, NJ July 2, 2007

Chris of Blairstown NJ (07/02/07)
I have a an Advanta Business Credit Card when traveling I took 2 750 Cash Advances one on 5/22 and on 5/23. I pay my bill in full everymonth and wanted to make sure I did not accrue interest so on 5/31 I over paid them a total of 13,019.19 which is Max Amount the let me Pay them. Its over by 3% so at that moment I did not owe them anything. They decided that they would credit one of the Cash Advances but hold a Cash Advance to the next month.

I called them at the end of the billing cycle to make sure that the cash advance was paid off. They said during the closing between the due date and cycle end they cant look into the acount you have to call back after the billing cycle to make sure it was taken care off.

I called back after the cycle to find out they will not credit the Cash Advance for another month because there were charges between the closing and the opening of the cycle so even though I did not owe them anything they are still accruing the interest for another month. In trying to figure out how to pay the cash advance off I feel that Advanta is taking advantage of its customers but making it almost impossible to pay the advance off.

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