Orchard Bank tale of Woe

[Anonymous]

ok, so i have had my OB "gold" card for 16 months, started out witha 300cl, now 1800cl....i went to pay my act online, and noticed their new website offering cards with an APR as low as 8.9%...

i have had 4 CLI in 16 months, and PIF or carrya  small Bal..so i called to speak to a CSR about switching my "gold" card to the low APR card, higher CL, and NO AF card of their website...

me: i am calling to see if i can switch my "gold" card to the new 8.9 card advertised on the website.

CSR: i am sorry but we cant do that, you would have to apply online to get that.

mek, may i speak to an account specialst? i want to pay my account in full and CLOSE the account...

CSR: ia m sorry to hear that you want to close the account, Why?

ME:  well i do not want to pay the high apr,AF, and have a silly CL

CSR: Ok let me transfer you to a account specialist

AS:  i understand u want to close your account why?

ME:  same as above

AS:  well i can help you with that, if i give you a CLI increase would that help? I cannot do the APR AND CLI is $500 ok?

ME: sure but i noticed the new APR cards on the website for 8.9 this card is 14.9, can I do a product change?

AS: NO, but what you can do is apply for that online and we can combine the two cards CL and keep the history (16 mo) and the low AF...we use EQUIFAX....

ME: humm, (EQ is my highest score 698)  ok, give me the increase, hold off on closing the card, i will apply online....

so i apply online, "congratulations" you have been approved for 8.9 apr.  NO cl given....so I called to find out whats up

CSR:  well you are actually denied because you were recently approved for an account...

ME:  HUGH? do you mean the CLI they gave me today, or something else?

CSR:  well sir, your "gold" account is only 16 months old that is still considered a "new" account, you have to wait 18 months....

ME:  let me speak to a AS, please

CSR: why?

ME:  i want to close my account,

AS: i hear you want to close your account?

ME: yes, same as above.

AS:  yes, your account is ONLY 16 months, you have to wait 2 more months for that low APR product...but i can give you a CLI on this account.

I am so over this silly card, i wasted a CR hard pull, i wish AS would have told me that my "new" account would mature in 2 months...anyone with a similar situation with OB?

[LouMinotti]

A question: With the 4 CL increases, were they automatic or did you request them? I also have 2 OB cards for over 3 years and I've never received any auto increase, although I've never requested any either...in any case, I don't care for OB as last year I went over the limit on both cards on account of the AF's (didn't pay attention to these things at the time) and I lost my 9.9% APR and they punished me with 27.9%. I called to request a rate reduction a few months ago and was denied. How often can one call these CC's before they catagorize you in the PITA file, I wonder. . ?

[Anonymous]

Lou,

i call OB every 4 months and threaten to close the account, thats the only way i get a CLI, so yes i call it has never been automatic..

[thrasher865]

Huh, I wonder if you didn't call if you would have receieved that card in the mail, lol.

[Anonymous]

thrasher,

probably...i just am not sure how a 16 month account can be considered "new"...?

[Creditaddict]

wow $2300 on an orchard bank card. I have never heard of such a thing!!!

if your score is almost 700, why bother with household at all, you must qualify for prime stuff now.

Message Edited by Creditaddict on 07-17-2008 09:50 AM

[Anonymous]

creditaddict,

yeah i know, i am generally not bothering with the sub prime "starter" cards anymore, i want to close my hooters 24.9apr, credit one22.9apr, and Orchard 14.9 apr.  but i have the history i want to keep on these, so basically in sock drawer....but always trying to lower apr....Navy, Justice, BofA, Barcleys, are the ones i use..

just wanted to see if i could get the 8.9 apr from OB...but too much work