Emerge ripoff usury interest, excessive phone calls to settle this bill, $2800.00 original paid over $5000.00 Columbus Georgia

I received a Providian Visa in 1999. When I used the card to pay for court fees I noticed that the credit limit had went up $1300.00 without notice. The balance on the card was $1900.00. The next year we had financial difficulties and had missed a few payments. 2001 we started making some payments.

Not long after we resumed payments I received notice that the account had went to Emerge. The balance Jan. 2002 was $1717.13. In 2002 we had made payments of $1580.00. Dec 13, 2002 shows a balance of $2116.13. I have not used this card since 2000 and yet I am still paying. I have had to take this debt and my wife's Providian Visa to a debt counseling service because before all of our payments were going for late fees and interest.

I have gotten 10-15 phone calls today about this emerge card. I have called them back 3 times to see why they were calling. Office is closed, no one available, call back during normal business hours, were the messeges I got.

At 9:20pm a woman called me from emerge. She said "I was calling to see when I was going to make the next payment. I told her I didn't know when the debt service would take the next payment, but I assume it would be there on the 29th like the rest of the payments. Then she said the $59.00 payment has to be made. I told her I have been paying $97.00 a month on this account for 6 months and could she explain why have paid over $5000.00 on an account with a $1900.00 limit for 5 years and still have a $1600.00 balance. She hung up somewhere in mid stream. I would appreciate any help on this matter. Thank You.

Ron
Aurora, Colorado
U.S.A.