well.... I've had to call them again regarding the accounts I really am ready to close. Their abilities are still minimal... but I want to pass on that retention can still waive/ refund annual fees. So if you have a Providian or GetSmart product and want to keep the trade line for another year... at least you can do so free... They "upgraded" my classic to gold but with the same terms... I haven't really used it in a year... I guess they think I'm an idiot who will be totally impressed with a color change in card... anyway... Retention can't seem to add A grace period A line increase A better interest rate... but they can at least sympathize with you that their products suck... anyway... at least a free 12 mos more trade line is ok... I've got what I want/need from Cap1... so I'll let Providian age this one account again for another year and I won't use it and see if they offer anything... if not... adios Too bad they really haven't gotten competitive in their market... oh well.
Re: Providian Retention Capabilitie Frankly, given their financial picture, I wonder if they won't go the way of NextCard. Great info, Marie! Psych "Already Cancelled Providian" Doc
well...I ask for an account review and they actually reduced my CL...I said piss off and closed the account...looks like they are not too keen on helping people who had some problem with their credit...but I said screw them...
Re: Providian Retention Capabilitie Yep, I agree... but in the interim I think I'll take the extra months on my trade lines... I don't really use the cards anymore... nor do I care... but they're good for ratios... and I just hit 36 mos on one (yippeeee and I've got 24 mos on the other... so if I can get to 48 and 36 then when they close I get the most bang for the buck. I actually wish they'd get swallowed up by Citi and Citi would combine all my accounts into one for a nice 10k limit with decent terms... but it's Friday and I'm dreaming I love Cap1... just got another 2k for my account that hit 36 mos this month... yes... my No Hassle MC... so I run a lot of business through my Cap1s... I could never apply for another card again and just use my Cap1s and Amex and be happy... but I do hate to have all my credit eggs in mostly one basket... I'm working on my RNB Visa and it'll just take some time to get it up and useful... I do hate that at some point I know the Providian trade lines will be useless... well.. they're useless now but look good for fico... I'd love to keep the aging... but I don't like their practices thus I use them for gas several times a year to keep them active.. then I stick them in the file cabinet (the socks were complaining)... I looked over my statements and on one card (without a grace period) they've made a little under $3.00 from me over 2 years... (rebated annual fees every year)... so that's not bad... If I pay $1 per year for the trade line... that's a good investment
Marie - I think it does help to rattle their cage on occasion. The people in retention can't make changes to your account on certain things, but I think they make notes of your requests and are considered later by someone else. As I said in my other post, they couldn't do anything for me while on the phone but I did later get an increase.
I have dealt with Providians Retention department in the past when I had my first credit card. I called to close per the high interest rate and they offered me a lower a.p.r. and credit line increase.
I guess I should clarify.. I already have 16.9 interest rate on all cards (oh...yipee)...(Sarcastic tone there)... so they can't lower my rates without a product upgrade to Platinum. but if you have a higher interest rate than 16.9.. I think they can still lower it to the still unusable 16.9 ... wow... I can remember when I was grateful for 16.9... ahhh.. times change
I called and asked for the platinum upgrade because I too am stuck at 16.9%. The rep said it is by invitation only. Then I noticed a soft inquiry on Ex the same day from Providian. I guess either the rep pulled my report when I was on the phone and knew there was no way I could qualify for the plat immediately or else I should be getting an invitation soon. The optimist in me hopes for the latter, but I am also a realist....
Re: Providian Retention Capabilitie We haven't used our Aria/Get Smart card in about 8 months. About 6 months ago we asked for a better interest rate (23.99%) and a grace period. We got nothing. So we put it away and haven't used it for so much as a stick of gum since. We have a Providian also which is our 2nd oldest tradeline. We've used it occasionally because it does have a grace period, but have paid the balance in full each time. A couple of weeks ago, out of the blue we got a promotional piece from Get Smart asking us to use our card and giving us a 3.99 APR till February (a go to of 16.99), no annual fee, and a 25 day grace period. AMAZING! Looks like the other Providian card is set to sit idle for a while now also. If completely idle is what it takes, we can play that game too. DemPooches
Re: Providian Retention Capabilitie If Providian upgrades your card, do you keep your original account or do they close it and open a new one? I ask because I'm overdue for an upgrade but I want to make sure that my tradeline stays the same.
Re: Providian Retention Capabilitie When I was upgraded to gold, account number stayed the same. But be careful. I had the classic originally and tried to upgrade to the gold. When I called, they told me I already had the platinum, why did I want the gold? I said, "oh, ok." So I then asked them to send me info on the platinum benefits. I got the typical brochure in the mail explaining gold benefits. They are screwy. When I was suspicious I called again and got another rep. They said I had the classic and that I could not get the gold. About a week later I got 2 gold cards in the mail. I only wanted 1. Anyway, as many times as you call, you'll get a different answer.
Re: Providian Retention Capabilitie Marie, Thanks for the information as well as the clarification. That unusable 16.9% APR still looks pretty good to a maxed-out debtor like me.
Re: Providian Retention Capabilitie Dem Pooches, Congratulations on winning the waiting game with Providian. I especially enjoy the thought that hey may have felt some anxiety in the process. Like all bullies, the blood-sucking predators at Providian are also cowards. When their game doesn't seem to be working, they cave in fairly easily.
Re: Providian Retention Capabilitie Given their picture, do you think they will delete an account in exchange for payment in full? I am current on a closed account with them but have 2 60 day lates on it and closed by credit grantor. I am trying to come up with a stratagy to get a deletion in exchange for payment but they arn't doing much deleting these days so it seems.
