Capital One gouge your credit card interest rate also?

Question

Within the last six months, Capital One has raised hundreds of thousands of people's interest rates on their cards--some by 50% or more--without their knowledge. I only found out that mine had gone up after I had carefully read my statement 3 months after the fact. Because they didn't notify me, the "opt-out" period expired and I am stuck with the ridiculous rate.
Has this happened to you? Tell me about it. And please go here https://capitalone.questus.com/CAP140/ru/cap140_s/index.asp
to tell Capital One that you will never be a customer again. Let's be heard!
Capital One is ripping off each and every one of you who has a card!
What have you done to avoid or deal with your rate increase? (Most people have, like me, never paid late or been over the limit.)
CAPITAL ONE SUCKS! Let's unite to stop this juggernaut!

From now on when you see/hear a Capital One ad, think: "WHO's in your wallet?"

Answer 1

I dont currently have a credit card with capital one but work in the credit card industry and just thought I would tell you at least why I think that this is happening although I dont think capital one would ever say this.
Capital one is the biggest credit card issure in the US when you are comparing by the number of cards that they have (not by the amount of money they make) The problem is they became the biggest because they lent money to people they considered to be sub prime ( people with bad credit) or they offered rates to good customers at rates they could not afford so instead of growing their business responsbily they grew to quickly and did not plan long term. Now they are in really big trouble because they can not afford the rates they promissed and alot of their other cards are ending up in collections which they are forced to settel for pennies on the dollar. So they are now trying to fix all the bad decisions they have made for years, how do they do that? they have to raise intrest rartes. Credit card companies should make about 60% of their income from intrest paid by customes and because of their bad decisions it is now hurting customers who do have great credit my advice get out! Your rates will most likley continue to go up. They have no choice if they want to continue to be in business.
When you get a credit card that has an interest rate below prine it is usually and intro rate to get you to sign up. Its a short term rate. They hope to keep you by giving you rewards for using your card and build brand loyalty. If there intro rarte is too good like capital one their long time customers suffer.

Answer 2

Just this month, I got a brochure from Capital One with "an important message concerning your account". I thought "great... more checks I won't use". Lo and behold, I discover the interest rate on my credit card is about to be raised FIFTY FREAKIN' PERCENT!!

Understand, please, that I have been a Capital One cardholder since 1999. Since then, I have acquired another of their cards, had the credit limits increased four times, each, applied for a personal loan (which I paid back six months early), applied for a car loan (which I paid back over a year early), and opened two bank accounts with them.

During these eight plus years, I have raised my credit score from under 450 to over 700 and even was able to secure a mortgage (from another lender) at an incredible rate. I have never once, in over a hundred months, missed or have been late on a payment, nor have ever gone over a credit limit.

So, how does Capital One reward me for being an excellent customer? By ramming their "we're poor and need more money" spiel up my ***.

I will be calling them on Monday, and telling them, in no uncertain terms, that I get a half dozen credit card offers a week --- all of them at less than Capital One's new 20% interest rate! --- and will be tearing up my credit cards, closing my bank accounts, and taking my credit cards, car loan, and mortgage refinancing to a real lender.

Great business strategy you have, Capital One! Drive away your best customers, so you can go back to being "the lender who only deals with the scum of the earth".

And, BTW, that link brings you to a survey that doesn't allow you to leave comments.

Answer 3

You may have the option of avoiding the increase by notifying the credit card company that you do not wish to continue using the card. Check your fine print for the exact wording. You will have to stop using the card - permanently. Once you use the card after the increase date, your interest on the outstanding balance will be recalculated from April 17, 2009 which can add a significant amount to your balance. Who's next? Everyone. Credit card debt is UNSECURED debt. That is, there's no collateral that the company can take from you to cover your debt should you default. So, all credit card holders have to ante up to make up for the losses created by the deadbeats.

Answer 4

First, it is rather normal for a credit card company to increase interest rates. Many others are also increasing interest rates.

Secondly, they sent you a change of agreement notice but you probably threw it out thinking it was just another one of their preapproved card offers -- I get at least 2 or 3 a week just from them.

If you really want to spite them, pay the card off and don't carry any more balances. Only charge what you can afford to pay in full at the end of the month. Won't make any difference what the interest rate is then.

Answer 5

Only 20% ? Lucky you! Most tend to go above that here in NY.

I have one card that I pay off monthly except for major emergency purchases. A new CD coming out is NOT a major emergency, either!

Answer 6

yes and no they try i canceled