Providian/Emerge ripoff- interest rates Atlanta Georgia

I had an account with Providian and I wanted to close it so that I could pay it off. I had an interest rate of 18%. A month or so later I received a bill from Emerge. Didn't know who they were had never had an account with emerge. I called Providian and asked them who was Emerge and they told me that they had sold my account to Emerge and that I was to make my payments to them from now on. When I closed the account to pay it off they never informed me that it would be sold to another company if they had I would have inquired about alternatives to closing my account. My interest rate then jumped from 18% to 23.90%. This is wrong.

There must be something we can do about this. I don't mind paying my bills it's my responsibility but come on give the little guy a break.

Lisa
san luis obispo, California
U.S.A.