Bank One / Chase

Bank One / Chase

October 3, 2005

Bank One/Chase:

Cardmember Service

P.O. Box 1548

Wilmington, DE 19886-5548

M.R.S. Associates, Inc.:

3 Executive Campus, Suite 400

Cherry Hill, NJ 08002

To Whom This May Concern:

This matter concerns the unscrupulous actions of the above-named credit card, Bank One/Chase and their hired collection agency. In mid-August 2004, I used a special balance transfer promo check (0% for 6 mths.) that was sent with an unsolited, upgraded credit card. I've done business with Bank One since about 1992. Upon receiving the billing statement, I was being charged at the rate of 13.9%. When I called on this, I was vehemently told that I had to use said check by Aug. 1, 2004. The front of the check lists the check as "void after 10-01-04". Despite repeated requests, no one would provide me with a legitimate copy of the promo material, stating the check had to be used by Aug. 1, 2004. I've only received correspondence written by hand stating such date. I have a copy of the check used, front and back, along with the original promo material. They denied my numerous requests to honor the promo rate. Three months later and after making a $2,000.00 payment, my account was closed, due to, they said, a recent bankruptcy filing. I have done no such thing. They told me that any further payments received would be considered "voluntary" and that no further communication from them would be received by me. I thanked them for relieving me of the $2,000.00 balance and hung up. Just to see if they had actually closed my account, I tried to use the card the day after Thanksgiving. Sure enough, it wouldn't go through. It was closed.

I received nothing concerning this (closed) account until March 2005. Chase had taken over Bank One. I received notice of a "seriously past due" account. I immediately called and was met with the same resistance as demonstrated by Bank One. No one would let me speak uninterrupted. I told them that I would be happy to resume payments on one condition: my account be reopened and restored to "pays on time, never late", reaffirm the zero percent promo rate and promise to not close my account upon final payment. They refused. Only after that call did I start receiving a monthly statement. I'm not going to pay on account I was told four months earlier, was closed and any further payments were strictly voluntary.

A few months later, I start receiving calls from what turned out to be M.R.S. Associates. While speaking with one of their representatives, she was not happy with what I had to say and hung up on me. A male representative called me back and accused me of hanging up on them. I did no such thing. After attempting to explain the entire situation to him, he stated that his records only indicate that the account was closed due to non-payment in Nov. 2004. When I informed him of the $2,000.00 payment that posted to my account in mid-Nov., he yelled out that I was a liar. I hung up. He called back and I didn't answer. He proceeded to call the home of my parents. He yelled at my mother and demanded she call me, tell me to call him back and that he expected an apology. Pretty nervy! That was a violation in that he knew of my whereabouts as he'd just spoken with me. Anyhow, I accepted no more calls from them. Shortly thereafter, I received a letter from them. I contacted the FTC and explained the situation to them. I did what they advised. I wrote to the collection agency with an explanation of why I disputed the charges. I also wrote a letter to Bank One/Chase, explaining why I disputed the charges, as well as what would have to occur for me to resume payments. I've not heard from either one of them. The letters were sent via certified mail so I know they received them. You can't go after someone that you've discharged the debt through a (supposed) recent bankruptcy. They're trying to have it both ways. All because Bank One didn't want to honor their own unsolited, promotional rate.

Since then, I have filed a complaint with Consumer Affairs both by phone and then via an online complaint form, after learning that my FICO score, which was quite high last year, has taken a dive. I'm in the middle of a refinance and because of it, I cannot get a better rate. I'm sure I'm not the only one this has happened to. How many others out there have taken advantage of special promotional rates, only to have the company pull a bait & switch after you've used it. They're only supposed to change the rate if you pay late or fail to make the payment. Within three months, I had repaid more than half the debt. They have engaged in deceptive business practices. I smell a (possibly) class-action lawsuit. What do you think?

D.

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