Continental Finance Company, LLC. Billed for a Credit Card that Isn't Active Newark Delaware

I applied for a credit card with Continental Finance Company, as I was informed that this service would help re-establish my credit. When I completed a pre-approval form on the website with this company, I was expecting to proceed to a next step. This was not the case. The website said that my new card would be sent to me within 10 days. I was not expecting to get approved due to my bad credit, and seeing how I was only filling out the pre-approval form.

When I received the card, it needed to be activated, as with all credit cards. When I dialed the number to activate, I was asked to enter the account number. I couldn't even input the account number due to their automatic system terminating the call. The system acted as if it was stuck, and repeated itself in rapid succession, and disconnected me. I called back, and had to do this twice more in order to at least proceed with step one.

Once my account information was entered, a recording rapidly presented information about my account, too quick for me to write down or understand what was being said. It then indicated that it was transferring me to a customer representative to process and complete activation. After hearing "please hold for the next available agent" in very rapid succession for 5 minutes, I ended the call. I was under the assumption, since I selected no options, heard nothing stating my account was activated, and did not speak with an agent, that my account wasn't activated.

I attempted to see if it was active, and I tried to register the card on PayPal (which would add the card if it was active, or decline if it was inactive). It declined my card saying it was inactive, advising me to contact my financial institution, which in this case would be Continental Finance Corporation. The same day I attempted to register to see if the card was active or not, I checked the mail, and I received an account statement with a new balance of $225. There was a $27 charge listed as 'ANNUAL FEE', a $99 charge listed as 'ACCOUNT PROCESSING FEE', a $89 charge listed as 'PROGRAM PARTICIPATION FEE', and a $10 charge listed as 'ACCOUNT MAINTENANCE FEE'. This brought my balance up to $225, of which $50 was the minimum payment due on October 1. Keep in mind, I did not activate my card yet, and can't talk to a live person.

I attempted to call the number for customer service inquiries on the statement, and after entering my information and selecting proper options, the system hung up on me. I attempted to call the number to activate my card, and it disconnected me as well without saying anything. I can't get a hold of the company to activate my card, and any attempts to communicate with them fail. I did not activate my card, I did not expect to receive a card since I was only filling out a PRE-approval form, and my attempts to communicate with the company are effortless. I cannot get in touch with anyone to discuss my account, activate my card, dispute the charges, or anything else, during posted business hours or not.

Chuck
New Kensington, Pennsylvania
U.S.A.