HELP! Problem with online 0% offer

rtanner · #1 (**permalink**) 12-05-2006, 11:28 PM

In July 2006, I found an online offer from MBNA, offering a 0% promotional APR on PURCHASES with their "Stockback" card. I applied, got it, and have been using it almost DAILY since, paying the minimum balance.

A couple of weeks ago, I decided to check when the promotional rate was up, and was told it was good until October 2007, which suprised me, as I'd remembered it being for only 6 months.

Perhaps you can guess the rest... today, I discovered, that Bank of America (which took over MBNA) has NO RECORD of this promotional offer, and has been charging me 13.99% on all my purchases for months!

TOTALLY my fault for not paying more careful attention to their statements (the first time I've ever been guilty of that, it figures) -- the way their (new) statements are laid out, my eye immediately went to the column that said "Finance Charges $0.00" each month, not realizing that was only for BALANCE TRANSFER finance charges!

My second mistake was not PRINTING OUT the offer when it appeared online. Again, mea culpa.

Nonetheless, this is totally fraudulent, in my book. Equally infuriating, I wasted over 3 HOURS today being put on hold and transferred from rep to rep, to absolutely no avail.

Is there ANYTHING I can do??

amolyneaux · #2 (**permalink**) 12-17-2006, 11:43 PM

Unfortunately if you've kept no record of the offer made then you probably have no recourse. You might call customer service and request items from your masterfile though ie: a copy of your aplication and the original terms and conditions. If you can get them to send you a complete masterfile that would probably be the most helpful in getting back interest paid. another thing you might want to do is go over old statements (if you don't have them MBNA/BOA will have them) which would keep an excellent record of the interest rate. In the meantime you'd be well off to shop around for a new card with a lower interest rate and do a balance transfer 13.99% is not terrible (not good either) but with a new account you're quite likely to get a much lower promotional rate probably between 0% apr - 5.9% apr for 6 -12 months depending on approval.

Visa Mom · #3 (**permalink**) 03-25-2007, 10:01 AM

I wouldn't let this go. I would write a letter to the TOP man and have it certified delivery. I smell a class action suit coming on this. Mark my words.

Tcm9669 · #4 (**permalink**) 03-25-2007, 11:26 AM

ME neither, I would not let this one go. These things are 'fraud' I would complain about this thing and show my 'eagerness' and a determination that this will not stop here.

superbobu2 · #5 (**permalink**) 05-08-2007, 10:49 AM

You know I have run into the same thing. You read one thing online and then when you get the card there is this fee or the length of time or conditions have changed. Of course you question yourself wondering if you just forgot but after its happened a few times I tend to believe its more of a bait switch tactic. Once they have you you're done unless you want to ruin your credit. Its BS. Having a major issue right now, which you can read in my thread and I am about to have a meltdown on someone about it. Total BS!