Nothing against the actual Fry's Electronic Stores, but the credit company they use for their In Store Credit cards.

I've had a Fry's Credit Card for 4 years. Made payments through mail-in methods. After 2 years I began to be late in payments because they became the only one I needed to mail in stead of online payments. So due to that, my account became delinquent and I was NOT notified that I was unable to use my card (even though I did have an available balance of $100-$200).

Found out only at the store where I tried to purchase a new camera. Phoned in to the customer service and spent 30min going from person to person trying to find out what happened and to get my card unblocked ending with the customer service representative hanging up several times on us.

That happened last year. Since then we had paid out the full balance of the card (including late charges). So wondering if I was able to use my card (because experiences with other credit card companies allows you to resume usage of the card once its paid off) called the customer service number and talked to a woman named Jennette. I gave her my card and personal information and told her my card had been deactivated because of late payments and since then I had paid it all off and wondered if I was still able to use my Fry's credit card at the store. She assured me TWICE that I was able to use the card. I asked again, 'Am I able to go down to the store, right now and use the card and it won't get declined.' She said she'll double check again and came back saying yes, I can use the card and by available balance was $300.

Pleased (since we needed to buy some computer parts) I took my family to Fry's to select some part. With a $300+ tab I decided to use my Fry's card to pay for part of the tab. The person at the register swiped the card and told me that its saying its declined! WHAT!?!

Not even 2 hours earlier someone told me several times that I could go and use the card! I was shocked, standing at the checkout with my 2 kids who want to go home. The worker suggested I call the card company and try to work it out.

After being on hold for about 10 min. I'm finally able to talk to someone who then says that my card is blocked and CANCELED and the only possible way to re-activate the card is to sign up again for the card but since it was blocked I wouldn't get approved.

Needless to say, after being fed up for 30 min. at the register we used our debit card to pay for the whole amount and continued to talk to customer service asking questions on why this came to be and that we were never notified about it. My statements show that I do have available balance and had no indication that my card is inactive.

It was about an hour spent on the phone trying to work out why customer service was so bad. In the end, the First Electronic Bank representative said nothing can be done and when my husband threated to report them she said go ahead and she didn't really care even laughing and giggling every once in a while, while talking to my husband.

According to the BBB First Electronic Bank has an 'unsatisfactory record' due to customer complaints.
http://utah.bbb.org /WWWRoot/Report.aspx?site=139&bbb=1166&firm=22013489

Edie
Anaheim, California
U.S.A.

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