I would advise the people of America who want to apply for a credit card for any reason not to apply for an Aspire Visa card.
Aspire Visa sent me a credit card with a $1750.00 credit limit and all I had to do was activate it over the phone in the fall of 2001. At first I waited 2 months to activate it, when it became nessesary to use it much to my regret. This first bill came late and the bill was intirely in spanish and I called and told them I could not read spanish and they continued to send me the bill each month in spanish for 8 months.
I cannot read spanish nor the due date or any of the information on it except the dollar amount figures. I paid the first payment late of course. Therefore after that 35.00 late fees were billed the next month along with periodic finance charges. I never when over my limit.
My actual charges were $1725.24. Once the fees were added to it bills came stating that I was over the limit and now over the limit fees of $35.00 each month were added to my bill along with a fluxutating periodic monthy finance charge which would be either under $50.00 or over $50.00 a month. So even if my bill was paid on time I would still be charged every month a $35.00 over the limit fee a periodice finance charge every month and if my payment did not get their on the due date a late fee was charged.
So now after looking at my bill in October of 2003 and adding why I have paid to them I have been charged $98.68 per month in extra fees ect. over a period of 22 months which would in really be $3896.00, owing in actual charges that I made of $1725.26 and the difference would be $2171.00 in charges, to their profit to have used the Aspire Visa card and I anticipate more fees in the future.
I believe in free enterprise and making a profit or you can't stay in business. But ripping off the consumer, the very person you are in business, for is not right.
I will never again use a credit card. I deserve to be punished with this bill because I was stupid enough to use the card. I will let them report me to the credit bureau. Write me off as a bad debt and eventually pay off what is owed. I would rather deal with a loan shark at least you know where you stand up front with a loan shark.
Asprie Visa is not the way to go. Find another way. Ask yourself these questions. Do I really need a credit card? Can I make it without one? What can I do to lower my standard of living to pay cash for what I need or do without? Do I really need this kind of treatment?
Really think about it folks don't make the mistake that I did. Leave Aspire Visa alone don't do it.
Sue
new caney, Texas