Beginning October: I STILL don’t have my card yet, so I call, and yet again, Capital One still doesn’t have my address information on file.  I repeat exactly what I did the last time, and am not getting frustrated yet.  “Sorry sir, within 7-14 days you will have your card.”  Thanks Akmir #2, I’ll be waiting (again)!

For Part 1 of this series, click here.

Mid-October: You guessed it, no card.  On top of that, I keep getting stuff IN THE MAIL about how I owe the membership fee, and if i don’t pay it immediately, I will get charged a late fee.  Now, any normal credit-card fearing person would pay this off immediately.  But, because I am a very stubborn human being (although I still think that my logic was rational in this case) I refuse to pay a membership fee for a card that I don’t even have yet, and my hopes are looking dimmer and dimmer each day I check the mailbox that I’ll actually become a member of this prestigious Capital One Member Club.

So, I call customer service.  This time, I spoke with Jan, although I’m convinced it was Sarah Palin.  At first, I tried to be rational:

“Ma’am, I’m hoping you can help me out here…I applied for my card, and twice I’ve called your company because I haven’t received it yet.  Once I actually receive the card, I will have no problem paying the membership fee.  Do you agree that it’s kinda dumb to pay a membership fee for something you don’t even belong to?”

Jan’s response: “Well, Mr. Oliva, I think it’s “kinda dumb” to expect it to be okay to not pay your credit card fees, and the membership fee is a credit card fee for the credit card that you signed up for.”

Ahh, my dear Jan.  You are a more upstanding citizen than I am.

“Well, Jan, you have twice erred in sending me the card, so why don’t you just let me pay it IF I actually get the card?”

“I’m sorry Mr. Oliva, but because you signed up for the card, you’ll have to pay the membership fee.”

You can see where this circular logic was getting me.  So, I caved.  I agreed to pay the membership fee, but snuck in a “when I get the card” under my breath, and hung up.

Mid-October (the next day): Card comes in the mail. Touche` Jan, Touche`.  I don’t know how she got the card to me so quick, but I know she had a hand in it.  I make a purchase on the card, and await my first statement.

Beginning November: Statement comes in the mail.  Not only am I charged a late fee for the membership, but am also charged a late fee on the MINIMUM MONTHLY PAYMENT for a card I just got.  Because of these late fees, my 0% Introductory APR has gone up to 16.5%.  I’m pretty mad now.  If only I read this article.

Because I believe that the world isn’t entirely against me, and people in general are good natured, I take another stab at Capital One’s “great” customer service.

“Sir, (insert all the facts of my case here), can you see how you guys screwed up?”

Mike: “Definitely.  I just waived your late fee AND your membership fee, and I’ll put you on the phone with my supervisor right now.”

Mike’s supervisor in background while I’m waiting: “Wow, that’s a big mess-up.” CLICK.

Seriously, Capital One?

Check back to see what happens!

For Part 1, click here.

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