Okay... normally I am SO not one to rant off and spew but THIS MORNING... OMFREAKING GOD! I AM SO ANGRY RIGHT NOW I COULD LITERALLY SMACK SOMEONE!
I've had my credit card with Citibank for 5 years now...it was LOCKED IN at 7.9% - never late...have paid it off many times over - just now went to pay it online and I look - and what do I see?!! OMFLIPPING GOD - MY RATE is now 14.99%!! I got on the phone IMMEDIATELY and wanted to know WTH caused it to DOUBLE!
I'm told and I quote "due to the financial situation our country and banking industry is in, we changed the rates."
Me: WHAT?! EXCUSE ME?! When did I get notification of this "change in rate"?
REP: "Uhm......I think it was December."
Me: "Really?! I have 6 months worth of STATEMENTS in front of me...NONE OF THEM have a WORD about change in rates. Dont you think I would have CALLED BEFORE NOW had I been notified of this sudden "change in rate"?"
REP: "Uhm... well...maybe we mailed out separate letters then."
Me: "Yeah RIGHT Dude...I dont think so. So.let me get this straight..we - the tax payers - just payed out the BUTT to bail YOUR BANK and EVERY OTHER BANK and GOD and COUNTRY out of the mess YOUR CEO'S got yourselves into - and you have the cahonas to raise our rates just because you "feel like it?!" Are you freaking nuts?!!"
REP: "I can change it back but I'll have to close your account."
Me: "Hmm..okay..so let me see now...I've been a faithful customer, NEVER LATE - ALWAYS PAID OVER THE MINIMUM - have a limit thats disgustingly high but never go there...paid this card off several times, had a fixed rate that isnt offered and cant be found anywhere on the planet any longer...that YOU DECIDED TO CHANGE SUDDENLY and you want to CLOSE MY ACCOUNT to give me the same rate I HAD LAST MONTH? Is this correct??"
REP "Yes ma'am. Its the best I can do...sorry it costs more to lend money now given the financial crises we are in. All the banks are doing this - every one."
ME: RAGING AT THIS POINT ...... *speechless to what he just said to me....for a moment...* "Really? REALLY?! It "costs more" to lend money? Oh buddy dont even get me started on the banking industries practices.... Close this account - you just lost a customer. I refuse to pay 15% interest - thats RAPE - because I pay my bills on time and I get screwed? No thank you....revert my interest rate BACK to 7.9% on the rest of what I owe and you bet your CEO will be getting letters from me along with my Congressmen, Senators and everyone else I know. Illegal and immoral practices is what got you people into this predicament to begin with - and yet...WE THE TAXPAYERS bail you out - yet we still get screwed in the end."
CLICK.
So...if you have a credit card - doesnt matter if its a store card or a regular one - CHECK AND SEE if your rates went up....
ARGH!
I've had my credit card with Citibank for 5 years now...it was LOCKED IN at 7.9% - never late...have paid it off many times over - just now went to pay it online and I look - and what do I see?!! OMFLIPPING GOD - MY RATE is now 14.99%!! I got on the phone IMMEDIATELY and wanted to know WTH caused it to DOUBLE!
I'm told and I quote "due to the financial situation our country and banking industry is in, we changed the rates."

REP: "Uhm......I think it was December."
Me: "Really?! I have 6 months worth of STATEMENTS in front of me...NONE OF THEM have a WORD about change in rates. Dont you think I would have CALLED BEFORE NOW had I been notified of this sudden "change in rate"?"
REP: "Uhm... well...maybe we mailed out separate letters then."
Me: "Yeah RIGHT Dude...I dont think so. So.let me get this straight..we - the tax payers - just payed out the BUTT to bail YOUR BANK and EVERY OTHER BANK and GOD and COUNTRY out of the mess YOUR CEO'S got yourselves into - and you have the cahonas to raise our rates just because you "feel like it?!" Are you freaking nuts?!!"
REP: "I can change it back but I'll have to close your account."
Me: "Hmm..okay..so let me see now...I've been a faithful customer, NEVER LATE - ALWAYS PAID OVER THE MINIMUM - have a limit thats disgustingly high but never go there...paid this card off several times, had a fixed rate that isnt offered and cant be found anywhere on the planet any longer...that YOU DECIDED TO CHANGE SUDDENLY and you want to CLOSE MY ACCOUNT to give me the same rate I HAD LAST MONTH? Is this correct??"
REP "Yes ma'am. Its the best I can do...sorry it costs more to lend money now given the financial crises we are in. All the banks are doing this - every one."
ME: RAGING AT THIS POINT ...... *speechless to what he just said to me....for a moment...* "Really? REALLY?! It "costs more" to lend money? Oh buddy dont even get me started on the banking industries practices.... Close this account - you just lost a customer. I refuse to pay 15% interest - thats RAPE - because I pay my bills on time and I get screwed? No thank you....revert my interest rate BACK to 7.9% on the rest of what I owe and you bet your CEO will be getting letters from me along with my Congressmen, Senators and everyone else I know. Illegal and immoral practices is what got you people into this predicament to begin with - and yet...WE THE TAXPAYERS bail you out - yet we still get screwed in the end."
CLICK.

So...if you have a credit card - doesnt matter if its a store card or a regular one - CHECK AND SEE if your rates went up....
ARGH!