A friend of mine has a Providian Mastercard. She received a upgrade offer of $500.00 Credit line Increase for $99.00. Should she call Providian first about waiving the fee? Or just send it in and get the Credit Line Increase and then call Providian about the Line Increase Fee??
bah $99 fee? Screw that. If he/she's smart they'll get it for free. But if they are anxious to spend more on their car, they will get suckered into the fee
It's been said that you can call Providian customer service once you get the offer in the mail. Simply ask whether you can get a line increase. The computer says you're eligible, which is the reason you got the mail offer in the first place. If you don't mention the mail offer, but simply ask for an increase, you can get it without a fee. This is NOT based on my own experience, but on messages posted by other people. It could also be outdated if Providian has changed the policy.
I called Providian about waiving this fee. I was told it could not be waived (we'll see about that!!) and she asked if I wanted to activate it over the phone. I figured I would do it and then planetfeedback to have it removed. She read off of a script confirming that I am accepting this 49,00 charge. She said if I do not accept this upgrade I will be reconsidered next month for a free upgrade and if I do accept it my account will be reviewed in 4 months for a free upgrade. It sounds like if you don't accept it, the following month they will offer you an upgrade for free. Then 4 months later they will offer you a free upgrade. Sounds like they are only charging every other upgrade or something. Does this make sense?
This whole fee-for-LOC-increase business strikes me as being exceptionally exploitative. They obviously don't charge fees to high-income platinum customers; rather, these ripoff fees are "offered" to those people who've had trouble getting credit, some of whom may be dealing with financial issues across the board. Taking advantage of vulnerable people just doesn't strike me as being an honorable way of running a business. Does Providian stand alone in this ridiculous practice, or are their other sheister companies doing this as well?
