Aspire Visa / Columbus Bank & Trust - unhappy with customer service

Complaints.com received the following consumer message on August 5, 2002:

From:

RE: Aspire Visa / Columbus Bank & Trust - unhappy with customer service I have had my Aspire Visa for around three years, and I will admit there were a couple of months the late fee I was issued was entirely my fault. But the majority of them have come as a result of Aspire's policy of mailing statements and late notices on the SAME DAY! After two months of this, they called me to inform me I was late--again.

When I told the representative on the phone what had been happening with my statements, she implied it was my fault and told me there was nothing I could do. It has taken me many months of electronic bill pay through my bank, but I finally paid the card off--or so I thought. The last payment I sent in (the final forty-two dollars on the card) showed up as late. I sent it at the exact same time I had in previous months, but somehow, this one was late. So, I called their "customer service" number. After the recorded voice told me my balance, and my remaining credit (which was zero--they had gradually lowered my limit without informing me), I was directed to two menu options. The first was for reporting lost or stolen cards, the second for all other complaints. I chose the second menu option and was stunned to find out that the option didn't actually exist. I was told to write to them about any disputes. To drag the process out longer. All I wanted to do when I called was pay off my remaining balance with my check card. I wanted the card cancelled and out of my life forever. What credit card company can't accept payments over the phone, or even handle basic customer service? Is the company being run out of the back of somebody's van?

And more importantly, is there legal action that be taken against them and their strategies of roadblocking the payment process?