Other posters advised you to pay the balance in full every month. This is a great idea but you still have to watch the companies very closely as they will shift due dates, mis-state amounts owed by a few pennies, and pull all sorts of other tricks to assure that you either are late with a payment (woohoo – late fees) or carry a balance into the next cycle (woohoo – interest).

My advice: get one card (preferably one of the big three), never switch to paperless billing (it is too easy for them to pull tricks on you when you go paperless), and watch the due dates and amounts very closely. Even if you do this, you will still probably have to deal with inadequately informed customer service representatives on an occasional basis. When you do, treat them with sugar and things will usually get sorted out in your favor.

Captial One is the worst credit card company in the world. I will never do business with them again.

Between the idiots at Capital one, in the stock market and financial industries- all of which who have ran our American economy into the ground- I am being forced to appear in court over- get this- $1300.00 total chump change to any credit card company.

I’ve been layed off three times in the past 4 years, once due to idiots at these corporation who outsourced jobs to the Phillippines. And twice more to fools who cannot budget to keep a department staffed properly.

Charges were made on a Capital One card in the amount of $700 for one month’s rent- so that I would not be homeless. In turn, this company pulled off their ‘rip off’ tactic that were noted in another web article- overlimit fees and late fees… jacking the total up to well over $1300.00. Years ago such charges were illegal by law. I am not sure what government official ever changed that law- to where 700 becomes 1300 within a year- but I can bet it was someone that was in kahootz with the financial industry.

Capital One is the most relentless and abusive credit card company. What’s in my wallet? A debit card, that’s all I need.

So now, after they’ve hosed the housing market with their loans, they’re coming after credit card holders that are unemployed, barely scraping by to make ends meet on food stamps and unemployment insurance… over their own doing sending jobs overseas. And for what? $1300? Then hit me with the additional court costs as well? No other credit card company has pushed to such extremes, just these jerks with their India call center who can’t even speak english.

Its a shame, Capital One and its lawyers, stealing from the poor and giving to the rich. I really wonder how they sleep at night doing this to other people, they will have to answer on Judgment Day for it so I figure, all of it – its bad karma on their part.

Screw the credit card companies and the financial lenders who are more posessed about putting money in their wallets and driving some fancy car- by sending jobs overseas and screwing the middle class into being poor.

Honestly I really wonder what would happen if this were to make it to the local news here and around the world. It really is a shame these companies are so greedy. To me its just like the napster incident, suing the poor girl who had kids- and couldnt afoord music, so she downloaded it. The case was dropped.

Stay away from Capital One, they are the worst.

-Anonymous

I have called to complain to them about this, I have written to the fair credit bureau, I’ve even written my state politician. Citibank says that it’s merely a coincidence that my payment will be due on Columbus day in October, then Veterans day in November – both are banking holidays. Pay on the due date they request, you are late.

The last time this happened, the fuckers tried to increase my rate to 18.9% from my fixed rate of 4.9% right after I made a large purchase because they said my online payment posted a day late because my due date was ON Columbus day, so it was collected the next business day, they tacked on a $39 late fee, and they said I forfeited my fixed rate of 4.9% for an APR of 18.9%, etc. etc.

I now write my due dates on a calendar in front of my desk as to what day I need to pay my cards, and I always check to make sure the DUE DATE doesn’t fall on a banking holiday. These fuckers will try to screw you over every single time!

And to people who say “don’t use credit cards if you don’t like it”, for many of us, if we didn’t have credit cards we couldn’t pay for college tuition each semester, automobile repairs when they suddenly come up, urgent medical care when we get hurt, and other vital necessities each month without them!

-angry in Kansas

Be wise, unlike me.