First Premier Bank Bogus fees charged unwittingly through electronic signature, how could this be? Did I really just throw away $179.00? Sioux Falls South Dakota

Did they send you a letter or did you apply online? In both instances, their fees are clearly disclosed.

I work in the Collections department at Premier Bankcard. FPB has a 30 day satisfaction guarantee. If you haven't made any charges on the account, cut the card in half and send it back to us. You can also call Customer Service at 1-800-987-5521 and they will close the account for you. As long as there were no purchases, all start up fees will be refunded.

I would also recommend carefully reading the terms and conditions that were enclosed with card mailer. All the fees were explained prior to the account being opened, so if you were paying attention, as any responsible consumer should, then you knew about them before receiving the card.

This is a FEE BASED PRODUCT!!! If your credit isn't great and you need one of our cards, you aren't going to get it for free.

Theres nothing clear about it...the offer I read stated that the availeable credit on the new card would be 151.00. When I got the card, the availeable credit was 71.00. Also, as to the gentleman who works in collections for First Premier bank, I was willing to be open minded about this.After reading your remarks, I am going to cancel the card.

You:

Your credit sucks, bottom line.

You wanted a credit card to either further ruin yourself, or to try to spend smart and repair your damaged credit.

You spent hours on line looking for a company who would approve your for a card with your terrible credit history.

First Premier Bank stepped out of the shadows and offered you a solution, you took their hand and First Premier Bank lead you to the water for $29.00 you were able to file an application to drink.

Wham, bam thank you ma'am, three weeks later your card arrived, with the card came a little white pamphlet that told you all of the rates and fees, and also told you exactly what your opening balance was. You threw that away, and went to use your $300 as soon as you got it, a pack of smoke sealed your contract and then embarrassingly you were declined at the register while trying to buy a pair of shoes.

You called, complained and they told you all about what you agreed to as soon as you bought those Newports (Smoking is a Mother F^cker ain't it) and then they refer you to that little white pamphlet you tossed in the trash.

Now your pissed off that in your haste you signed up for something that cost your already strapped for cash wallet another $200 when all you really wanted was some Jordans.

Me, on the other hand:

My credit sucks.

I found out what I owed to who. (Spend $40 on freecreditreport.com and do a little leg work after that.)

I paid them all off.

I applied for a few credit cards, apparently my credit still sucks.

I did some research, Secured CC vs. Unsecured CC, Unsecured was a little better in the long run, except that I was going to have to pay some fees.

Did some more research, found First Premier Bank, applied and approved.

Bought a pack of gum to activate the card and went online to pay the bill in full the next week.

The point is you aren't happy with your choice, you made a rash decision that hurt you further, then you realized that after you spent $6.47 you fully committed your self to all of those fees, when they reminded you of that you got pissed off, Googled First Premier Bank and found that other people publicly complained, surely those other 13 people have similar problems, so you vented and complained here.

If you would have done the right thing, researched what you were doing, called them and asked questions about what you should expect. Looked up their cheers and jeers you would actually be a satisfied customer. I did and I am.

With bad credit your options are almost nothing, so what options you do have are going to cost you. Suck it up, you spent $200 you wont get back, make the most of it, spend wisely. Pay off you debts and 18 months later apply for a new card, one with out all of the fees and cancel the FPB card with a ZERO BALANCE. Take it for what it is, a learning opportunity.