Comments:

I have learned over the years of the foibles (always to the consumer’s detriment) of the credit reporting system. I have also learned certain agencies are more inept than others Providian: I had a higher interest “starter” account with them in 1999 after a divorce and bankruptcy. I was charged so many initial fees that it left only about $75 available credit on the low limit card. I paid interest on all of their fees for the privelage of “re-establishing” my credit. I made a payment that didn’t post on the due date because it was over a holiday. Their system automatically charged me a late fee putting me over my limit by $5. Then I was charged an additional $35 for being over the limit. I refused to pay the two fees and began fighting them. I did get credited back some of the amount but not the finance charges. Finally, I asked to close the account and I made the request in writing. I did not get another bill and continues to pay the account down. Then I got a collection letter a few months later for an extra $488 in fees being over the limit, late, etc...I called again. I wrote letters. All to no avail. Then I got a notice from a collection attorney. I explained the entire situation he requested a written statement so we could settle. At that point, I just wanted it gone and off my credit report. I negotiated the extra fee payment and agreed to pay about $98. It was finally done almost a year after I had closed the account with Providian to begin with. Now it is still on my credit report and shows a balance high of $738. I could fight that but I have tried without success and it should hopefully drop off soon. Experian: I received a credit report that listed my mother’s information merged with mine. We have similar names but completely different birthdays. On MY report it listed my social and stated “this is not a valid number as issued by the Social Security information”. Funny, it’s the number listed on my social security card. I called Experian, only to be told I had to prove my identity, send in a copy of my driver’s license, social secutiry card, etc.. I had to fax them 4 times before they finally “found” the info and corrected our reports. At the same time, I found a medical bill listed that should have been paid by insurance. Experian refused to dispute it. Their investigation consisted of nothing. I was the one that found the original provider and discovered they had billed an incorrect insurance company...billing my company’s worker’s comp carrier in error. Not to mention, it is an act of God to talk to a live representative of Experian. The numbers are all either dead-ends or are only automated systems that do not offer the option to talk to a live representative to resolve your issue. Given the track record of the faxed data who wants to send them a letter? MBNA: My husband and I have an account with them. Suddenly, our interest rate went to some higher variable rate without notice. We kept trying to have the interest rate lowered. We had never missed a payment. We were late once but we discovered the error (a bill stuck into the diaper bag and lost) before they sent us a notice and we paid immediately by phone. We always pay over the amount due. Each time we tried to negotiate a lower rate we were denied. Then we received an offer for another product at a much lower rate...we applied and were denied. The rep told us my husband had too much debt to income. I asked if they had included my income...No,they said because he is the primary on all of the accounts. Uh..right...well Wisconsin is a common property state and marital debt is joint therefore joint income must be considered. They ran my application separately and said I did not have enough credit accounts in my name. So...my husband had too much debt and I had too little? We made a complaint to the Department of Financial Institutions in our state it was forwaded to the Fed. Comptroller and the rate adjuste