AnonymousCoward said:I heard the Libertarians were going to have their own card, but then they decided that it would be better if each individual decided to get what card was best for themselves.
You can also get the Socialist Card. It guarantees excellent benefits for all members. Everyone has the same interest rate. Prime + 2%. No annual fee. No credit check.

Unfortunately, if you ever say anything bad about the Socialist Card you will be paid a visit by several men in black clothing. They will take you somewhere to help you understand that the Card is the best and better than all others.
If you still do not agree that the Socialist Card is the best, you will never be heard from again.....

The final point (or maybe not?) to my Providian journey unexpectedly (really) raises credibility issues. Here's why:

After carefully reviewing your appliation, we are sorry to advise you that we cannot open an account for you at this time.

and... WATCH THIS:


If you would like a statement or specific reasons why your application was denied, please call or write us within 60 days of the date of this letter. We will provide you with the statement of reasons within 30 days after receiving your request.
Hmmmmm... no reasons given ...

This was my "successful" application (see a previous post), because the TU pull is mentioned as well, although it breaks the "house rule", i.e. to automatically reject any new application within 60 days, without pulling credit reports.

I am trying to hear their position regarding this, and I am hoping not to get the usual BS. I am planning to send them the confirmation screen with a copy of this rejection letter, all in a registered mail, I am also thinking about notarizing the request.

Any suggestions?

Just received a 3.99 from wamu on a pre-approve app. I asked for $25k balance transfer and receive 28k. I am going to cancel the 25k BT if they don't give me a more competitive interest. I think they give me large line since I have a bank date back to 1990s and two mortgages with them.

Any one else got a high credit line from wamu?

lillazyfats81 said:i really want a Wamu Providian card...

Anyone know hot to apply for one, without getting an offer in the mail?
try the link OP provided.. I applied thro that link.. with 14800 BT request, only got 2.5K credit line with 2k BT.. I cancelled the BT right way after got turn down for CL increasing. well, free fico score is only benefit of that card to me..

Just an info point - when I did my BT on Providian card, the $75 BT fee that was charged is being treated as a purchase and is being charged finance charges every month. This is quite unlike any other company that I have BT-ed with. I called up the Providian CSR and complained, but with no luck. Granted it is only about $0.25 every month, still it's annoying.

maddybeagle said:Just an info point - when I did my BT on Providian card, the $75 BT fee that was charged is being treated as a purchase and is being charged finance charges every month. This is quite unlike any other company that I have BT-ed with. I called up the Providian CSR and complained, but with no luck. Granted it is only about $0.25 every month, still it's annoying. I thought the way around this was prepay the card down 75 bucks before the bt....Also, does anybody know if buysmart is completely gone or now just have to be targeted for it.....Good point - I've never thought of prepaying a BT card w/ a BT fee. However, none of my other cards considered BT fee as a purchase. I think that most of the time it will be added as a finance charge and will be placed into the intro BT apr category.

DaveHanson said:Providian cards are of interest in part because they offer the benefit of free monthly credit scores. But they don't advertise multiple brands of card to the general public. The only offer one card and promo on their website...a Platinum Visa card with a 12 months 0% BT for transfers made with the application only, and with a supposed $15K maxmium credit line.

My Prov card is nowhere near the 15K limit. I've only had it since January, at an initial 2K limit.

One thing they ARE good about, however, are auto no-hard CLIs. I went from $2000 to $4000 at the 6 month point, and I'm told that they happen every 6-9 months after that.

g10ny said:Edit: Dave, the financial difference between us two still holds Eh? Is this to me? If so, I'm sorry, it went right over my head

Got a Wamu/Providian Business card, 0% APR on purchases until 4/2008 if I transfer a balance at the time of application. I transfered the min ($100) and got a $1500 CL.

I may try giving them a call to increase the limit, my sole proprietorship needs more than $1500

They are least at times do give credit lines higher than $15,000 since my wife has one for $30,000.

I believe we requested a large balance transfer on application.

The big use of it was to pay taxes on year and get a long deferal period (large payment early) maximized the 0% benefit on purchases. They later sent another blance transfer promotion at a low rate which we are now using.

If you run the numbers, a 0% on purchases for a long period may be worth more than say a 1-2% rebate on other cards.

The credit score is nice although it is often old and not up to date (not a problem for most, but of concern if you take out several balance transfers and wonder how it affected you). One currently on line is dated August 1 (and it appearred a good while after August 1). They also throw in a little extra information such as the total balances (as a range like $50,000 to $59,9999)and number of inquries, and a grpah of the score over time.

One use for this service, (especially for those who are less active or do not pay for a credit moitoring service) would be watching for a sudden change one could not explain (new inquiries, cut in the score, increase in balances) which might tip you off to get a full credit report and be sure someone had not taken out a loan in your name, or the agency made a clerical error.Naturally, they advertise how to purchase full reports on that part of the site.

I assume as a sub-prime lender they figured they would either be getting this regularly anyhow, or that a side effect of offering the benefit to the customers was that they had it, and could take action earlier if customers looked like they were headed for trouble.

It is possible too that those customers who value knowing their scores are the type who try to keep them up by not defaulting (or does this just mean they get fewer later fees).