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PrintThe Best and Worst Credit Card Companies
Credit September 2nd, 2008Browsing an old issue of Consumer Reports yesterday, I came across ratings of the best and worst credit companies based upon average interest rates, how often customers had problems with cards (such as unexpected interest rate hikes or other issues), and how quickly and easily those problems were resolved.
The ratings included store credit card accounts (which I won’t include here because I think it’s best to avoid them altogether) and also local credit union credit cards, which came out at the top of the pack. Of the major national credit card issues, the rankings were:
Granted, rating credit card customer service is a bit like rating wireless provider customer service—I don’t think there are any “winners”, but some do a “less terrible” job than others.
That said, in my experience, I would put Discover, then AMEX, slightly above the other cards I’ve had—at least in terms of low rates and fair problem resolution. My only complaint with AMEX has been a long wait to get anybody on the phone. Citi, on the other hand, picks right up but also tries to screw me at every turn. I guess they all do, Citi’s just been a bit more blunt about it.
Have you noticed any credit card companies to be slightly better than par when it comes to fair play and customer service?
October 24th, 2008 at 7:51 pm
Aspire SUCKS ! ! I had applied for and received this card 10 years ago to help reestablist me credit after my divorce. Yes, I knew I was being charged high interest rates but what to do after your ex destroys your credit. Now after 10 years I receive a post card telling me that my charging privileges are hereby revoked and that I can no longer use my card. After I called the toll free number on the notice to find out why this was happening I was told that I was late on my Oct payment (payment was made a week before the due date) I was told that they have changed their policy and that payments must be made with in 5 days before due date. I then asked them does that include weekends and holidays the supervisor that I spoke to would not even give me an answer. When I had asked when did this policy change occured she said yesterday (10/23/08) I told her that I had not been informed of these changes I was told that I would be receiving notice sometime in the mail. I wanted to know if they were in the habit of changing their policy an acting on them before they even notified their customers but I never received a response to that question. I then asked if she could restore my charging privileges I was told that I was not eligible for that (why the hell not) I have ran up and paid off that card several times over the last 10 years. And this is how they repay a loyal customer ?
What is wrong with these credit companies. The people who pay their bills are treated as if they are a bunch of dead beats. I have never walked away from my financial responsablities. But I guess that does not matter to them. And it is no wonder that there are not jobs in the country since the companies in America out sources their billing jobs to other counties. It’s no wonder why the economy is in such bad shape. Companies like them are what is going to make the United States a 3rd world country.