Last month, I did something I have been wanting to do for awhile: I took a serious step to improving my credit score. Why? Because a bad credit score will ruin you.

I applied for the Introductory Rate 0% Interest Capital One Platinum credit card.  Now, I haven’t had a credit card for over two years.  The reason? I’m a spender.  Well, the girl I dated while I had a credit card was a spender, and I’ll just leave it at that.  I was pretty excited to sign up for this card, because I know that having a high limit and paying it off quickly greatly improves your credit score after about a year of consistent payments.  However, I wasn’t prepared to get completely owned by Capital One (I don’t even mind calling them out on this because they already admitted their mistake, and I’m still pretty mad about it).

Here is the timeline of events:

Early September: Apply for the card, received an acceptance letter within a week.

Mid September: Get a letter in the mail saying “Congratulations on become a card holder!  Attached is your card.  Please pay the $39 (or whatever it is) yearly membership fee within 2 weeks.”

Only problem: There was no card. I thought “OK, people make mistakes.  I’m not going to make a huge deal out of it because I don’t want some kid who’s job it is to stuff the envelopes with credit cards get yelled at, he’s probably having a crappy day getting a ton of papercuts anyways”.

So what did I do?

I called Capital One.  Not only did they not believe that I didn’t get the card, but they didn’t even have my address information on file.

“How am I getting mail from you when you don’t even have my credit card information on file?”

and they reply

“It must be an error with the system, sir“.

Ahh..the system’s got you down my good friend Akmir?  I feel you on that brother.  Let’s work through this.

“Just send me the card and I’ll pay the membership fee.”  “Absolutely Mr. Zah-keer-ay Oh-leeb-us, it will be there within a week“.

Gotta love outsourcing.

By the beginning of October, I still don’t have my card, so I…

Check back soon for part 2 of The Credit Card Companies Are Never Wrong

Check out the “reality” of Credit Cards v. Debit Cards from CollegeCandy.com

View Zack's Profile      Subscribe via RSS