I have had my Providian card for quite some time, it started as a 0% for 12 months, no balance transfer fee. Once the 0% expired, I played the BT game and transferred the balance. Since then Ive had a 0 balance and pretty good CL. Then WAMU bought them some time ago.
Today I wanted to see if they had any retention deptartment offers, for a no fee BT or exended low APR for the life of the card. I called and said I was thinking about doing a BT but didnt want to pay a fee. The woman politely said no. I told her that there were many other CC companies that would waive the fee, but she still said no. I then asked to transfer me to have my account closed, she said ok. She paused for a minute then said my account was closed!!.....no retention offers...no pleading for my business, no nothing, I was shocked!
I then asked to be transferred to a manager which she did. I told him I was really surprised that they didnt offer me anything to keep me as a customer. He said that all of thier agents have the same ability and that ever since WAMU merged with Providian they no longer have a retention department. I dont know if I was 'Black Listed' as a 'BT customer' but they didnt offer me squat! I asked him if he could reopen my account (I didnt really want to have it closed ) but he said I would have to call back M-F as the opening dept was closed. said they can 'reactivate' it within 30 days. I would like to keep this card for my CL ratio. The guy was pretty nice but Im still shocked they just 'let me go' as a customer.
Just a heads up, not sure if this is well known...
To enter a coupon code in your post please enter the following info:
Coupon Code:
Coupon Offer:
Merchant:
Expires (optional):
Restrictions (optional):
saving...
Quick Summary is created and edited by users like you... Add FAQ's, Links and other Relevant Information by clicking the edit button in the lower right hand corner of this message.
this is why you always say "What is the procedure to close my account?"
NEVER say you outright want to close your account.
If they have a retention department, they will always ask why you want to close. If they don't ask why, call back a few more times, if you get the same response each time, they don't care about your business.
You are obviously a non-profitable customer for them, so why would they really want to let you milk them for a 2nd round of BTs ? (yeah, I know Citi, Chase, etc, can't get enough of the milking!) Can't really blame them for jumping on the first opportunity to close your account.[/
You should never ask for your account to be closed unless you actually are prepared to have it closed.
Some organizations are getting wise to the games we consumers play, milking them dry by constantly threatening to cancel.
I don't know if that is there policy, or that rep felt like shining you on, but it is pretty funny.
I think it is funny that you asked to have your account closed, then essentially told them you were not serious about it and were just doing it to try and get a better deal.
Seriously... why would you ask for an account to be closed unless you actually were prepared to have it closed. If they are smart they will have earmarked your file with "BWCW" aka Boy who cried wolf.
Unless the OP really needs the card for the credit limit, he should go on and let the account stay closed? Why, I hear you ask? Well, I'll tell you. Maybe they didn't want to retain you as a customer, but once you're not a customer, don't you think they'll want you as a new customer? I got an offer for my wife and myself for cards with 0% purchase rate until 10/01/08 so long as I transferred at least a $100 balance upon applying. My wife's card has CashBack, with more than 5% for gasoline purchases for the first 6 months (5.5 to 10, depending on total purchases), and my card has 1% worth of points, with 6000 bonus points on first purchase. You get access to your credit record and credit score too. The balance transfer is at 10% interest, but I paid the balance transfers right away and owed only 22 cents interest for each transfer. So now we have cards that will get us 0% on purchases for about 18 months! Depending on your circumstances, consider leaving the card closed, and just keep a lookout for what's in the mail. Washington Mutual is giving some good offers for new customers. If you're not special to them as a current customer, become special to them as a prospective customer!
This has been happening with me for about 6 years with AMEX Gold. I signup, cancel a month before the fee gets billed. Then I will get a "1 year free" offer about 4-5 months later. I asked them on the phone why they will never waive a fee for a 2nd year but have made me offers within months to come back for no free each time I quit because of the fee. They didn't have an answer. I happen to also have a linked BLUE card so I never lose any points during the close/reopens.
The OP got exactly what he deserved. Folks around here really want cc issuers to grovel for their business. It all stems from an illusory feeling of self-importance.
You asked to have the account closed, and it was closed. Sometimes in life you have to be careful what you wish for.............
The OP got exactly what he deserved. Folks around here really want cc issuers to grovel for their business. It all stems from an illusory feeling of self-importance.
You asked to have the account closed, and it was closed. Sometimes in life you have to be careful what you wish for.............
Actually LFTM, I think it is that he got what he didn't wish for. I called Am.Ex today to close a Hilton card I have never used, and I after 15 minutes of turning down offers of 10,000 20,000 and 30,000 bonus points to stay, I was priveleged to listen to a 30 minute speal about the 5pts I get on Wireless and 3 pts for every dollar spent and ......
I have a feeling that if I was actually seeking the bonus offers, they would have closed my card instantly....Next time we will just have to call with the opposite intent of what we really wish to have done.
newyork4me said:...Actually LFTM, I think it is that he got what he didn't wish for. I called Am.Ex today to close a Hilton card I have never used, and I after 15 minutes of turning down offers of 10,000 20,000 and 30,000 bonus points to stay, I was priveleged to listen to a 30 minute speal about the 5pts I get on Wireless and 3 pts for every dollar spent and .... If I were you, I would have accepted the 30K bonus retention offer. Hilton AMEX is a free card and there's nothing to lose. You could have use those points for some hotel stays.
I agree with other posters. Be careful how you voice your account closure request. Or you could end up with a closed account.
newyork4me said: .....I called Am.Ex today to close a Hilton card I have never used, and I after 15 minutes of turning down offers of 10,000 20,000 and 30,000 bonus points to stay, I was priveleged to listen to a 30 minute speal about the 5pts I get on Wireless and 3 pts for every dollar spent and ......
I have a feeling that if I was actually seeking the bonus offers, they would have closed my card instantly....Next time we will just have to call with the opposite intent of what we really wish to have done.
Yes, same here! I have closed a quite a few cards before I realized that it wasnt optimal for your credit score. I have closed 2 Macys cards, 2 Chase (1 BankOne) and a few bank accounts. EACH time I had to listen to multiple sales pitches and the pleading for my business.
I had no idea that a CC company would just let me go like WAMU did. Either I wasnt a 'profitable' customer or they dont really focus on customer loyalty....
And to those laughing at my situation, I dont really give a flying F*** I was prepared to have my account closed, I just didnt think they would do it so fast! Good customer service I guess!
ProBanker said:I would like to keep this card for my CL ratio.
I'd think you might also want to keep it for reallocation purposes. Instead of the retention game, don't most folks just sign up for a new card (with a 0% BT offer) and reallocate the credit?
I've never seen any info about CLIs with WaMu. I've been stuck at $1K for nearly a year with my WaMu card. Has anyone had any luck requesting a CLI without a credit pull?
Disclaimer: By providing links to other sites, FatWallet.com does not guarantee, approve or endorse the information or products available at these sites, nor does a link indicate any association with or endorsement by the linked site to FatWallet.com.
) but he said I would have to call back M-F as the opening dept was closed. said they can 'reactivate' it within 30 days. I would like to keep this card for my CL ratio. The guy was pretty nice but Im still shocked they just 'let me go' as a customer. 
....
. 
