Emerge - First National Bank Of Omaha ripoff! sold my account without my consent or knowledeg put me on hold every time I tried to get answers. Columbus Georgia

Recently, my account of many years with FNB of Omaha was sold without my knowledge or consent to Emerge Mastercard.

I tried four times to find out what this was all about by calling the Emerge customer service number. What a joke! I was put on hold for way too long each time with rude, barely intelligible (due to heavy Middle Eastern accents) responses.

Twice I've asked two women "representatives" (with accents I could just barely make out) to explain to me the situation. They told me a letter was on the way explaining what was going on.

Well, that was in early February, 2005, and then again in early March. Here it is nearly April, and I still have not received a letter.

I find these business practices to be unethical (to say the least) and costly to the customer. I paid my monthly bill to FNBO since I hadn't received any bill from my "new" credit card company. When I finally received a statement from Emerge, the very first thing I spotted was a "late charge fee" of $39.00! I paid my bill well in advance to FNBO. That is very unfair.

However, I'm afraid to send a substantial pay off amount to this sketchy company. I'm unsure if they will credit the payment or further their unethical practices.

Also, my interest rate with FNBO was at 17%. Now, with Emerge (which I never would have agreed to) is 24%! That's outrageous.

This whole scheme is outrageous. I regret ever having been a loyal consumer to FNBO for having underhandedly "sold" me to such a sleezy company.

Cynthia
Woodbury, Connecticut
U.S.A.