STUPID stupid Bank of America idiots…
So I discovered about a month ago that Bank of America had jacked my interest rate to 24.99% LAST NOVEMBER because I actually used the majority of the line of credit that had been extended to me.
I have been a cardholder for nine years with this card; when I called to inquire, I was told that if I paid off over half the debt, they would INVESTIGATE lowering my interest rate.
INVESTIGATE, not do so.
I’ve been investigating my alternatives, but today just took the cake.
Today, I received the following in an email:
We are inviting some of our most valued customers to join Bank of America’s Credit Card Online Advisory Panel.
This is an opportunity to provide your opinions and feedback on services and new products you might receive.
HA HA HA HA. Pay back is a bitch. 🙂
Honestly, while you continue to hold an account with them and put things on that card, you’re still shoveling them money.
My reaction would have been “bring my interest rate back to its previous level now or I switch banks”. Getting away from them immediately would incur balance-transfer interest from wherever you transferred it to, but opening up a new card and paying off but refusing to keep using the old one would be a simple way to handle it.
But giving them a piece of mind in a way that they’ll actually be likely to listen to is great, too.
Would LOVE to.
However, as it is my oldest card, it has the highest limit. It HAD the lowest interest rate, so going by snowball theory, it would have been the last to pay off — and the wedding (more the first than the second) certainly reset those efforts. It has too high a balance to easily transfer or pay off, and trying to cancel the card would kill my credit rating. Even personal loans have lower interest rates, so that’s actually the avenue I’m investigating at the moment.
Believe me, since I found out that card has been used once, accidentally. They’re making no money in fees off me, and as soon as I can, they’ll be making no money at all.
Update: I was asked to fill out a survey for a new Bank of America Credit Card option! I’ve answered honestly, including this bit on why I don’t like the offer:
Also, it’s from Bank of America, and after years of pleasure dealing with MBNA, I’m astonished at how customer service and retention has gone downhill. I’d rather never deal with Bank of America again, at least until they change the way they treat long standing customers.
I wonder how the survey will bubble THAT up.