Capital One Consumer Reviews - Page 4

TEXAS -- In November of 09 I received a blank check from Capital One Auto Financing. I wanted to have the financing done before going to the dealership. They advertise for the blank check program as cutting the red tape and hassle dealing with car dealers by having your financing up front. After completing the paper work needed to leave the lot and signing the Capital One check for the new car I drove home.

I find out later they applied for a bank loan on my behalf for $20,000 with Wachovia. No application, never mentioned the word Wachovia and when my attorney asked the dealer what happened to the check he say I can't talk with you now.. Later the manager said to my attorney I came on their car lot needing financing. They receive a commission from the bank for making that bank loan, not the case with a Capital One Blank Check. Much higher interest rate for the Wachovia loan.

The point is very careful using this kind of financing. The dealer will just destroy the check and apply for a loan on your behalf not telling you. They have enough information on you after filling out license and registration and warranty and disclosure on your trade in that the bank thinks it's you on the computer. Why the bank gives dealer the right to apply for a loan on your behalf is crazy. I don't trust any car dealer or finance manager.

This occurred a week before Wachovia was taken over by Well's Fargo so I don't know how lax they were at the bank handing out car loans but it must have been easy not to know who I am. Now I try to get a loan today and not a chance. This dealer and finance manager have ruined my credit. As for Capital One, they are self destructing. Stay away from dealership and their employees.

DAN.

I have been a long time customer of Capital One banking and credit cards without a problem. I started the online bill pay several months ago and was excited to have a new easy ability to pay bills. I downloaded the iPhone app for Capital One to pay some bills. I paid them through my phone and it did not look like it went through the next day. So, I made them again.

Once I got back from vacation, I got to a computer to check and there was double payments for everything. However, it was not showing up that way on my phone app. I immediately sent an email requesting that they void the double transactions and never heard back. So, I called the next day and they told me they phone app does not work correctly. I asked them to void and the representative wanted to charge me $35 a check. What? It was your app that was not working correctly.

I cooled down for a couple of days and called back a second time. This time things seemed to be more understanding and I was told that the stop payments would be put in place at no charge to me. I wake up this morning to see my account overdrawn. I call bill pay and was told the representative from before told did not leave good notes and there was nothing about covering the stop payments.

Then I went on to explain what happened. I was told it would be her word versus mine and they do not place things in writing. Then the representative told me that even though the app was acting up (even though I did not know) I should have called before making double payments and it was my fault. I was like, "so since you app does not work and you failed to let people now, it is my fault because I did not call you?" Yes, that is correct. Unbelievable that a company cannot recognize a system's issue and correct it for their clients. This is poor judgment of the bill pay side of the bank.

As many noted, Capital One's Fraud & Identity Theft support leaves much to be desired (my experience, noted elsewhere, is that I was unable to find a representative who knew how, nevermind would, take my report of what appeared to be phishing focused on Capital One customers; over a week ago their on-line response said they'd investigate--but so far they've not asked for any details, making the assurance impossible to follow-through...in other words, this appears to be a lying form letter/e-mail!!!). Here's how to complain:

NOTIFY the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) via their website, specifically citing Capital One's failure to comply with the RED FLAGS RULE. Capital One is subject to Subpart J of this law.

Use "Red Flags Rule" +FTC or +Treasury to find a lot of background info. Basically, under this law, the enforcement of which just began in early 2011 (even though it was passed in 2007) mandates that banks have policies and procedures that:

I. Idenfity relevant "Red Flags" (defined by the statute to mean a pattern, practice, or specific activity that indicates the possible existence of identity theft);
ii. Detect Red Flags;
iii. Respond appropriately to any Red Flags that are detected;
iv. Ensure the [compliance] Program is updated periodically as risks change.

Part of the mandatory provisions (Section 571.90, Subpart J, subparagraph (e)(3)) mandates a staff training program to "effectively implement" the Program.

Most people, it seems, that have a fraud issue involving any Capital One account (savings, credit card, etc. etc.) seem to encounter substantially more extreme difficulties, and do so much more often, relative to other banks, etc.

Clearly [it would seem], Capital One's implementation of the Red Flags Law has been egregiously deficient .... one might even have the impression that since the FTC has postponed implementation for so many years Capital One decided along the way to disregard the law entirely.

Now they MUST comply & seem [to me] unprepared to do so. Thus, complaints to the FTC will generate a pattern that WILL be investigated. Prompting, hopefully, improved performance--which will help all of us. Every confirmed violation carries a fine, by the way.

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH -- I received an offer from Capital One for convenience checks with a very low promotional rate as long as checks posted by a certain date. So I wrote two checks a couple weeks before that date. The first posted to Capital One within a few days and I received the promotional rate on it. The second posted to the Capital One card - on the last date the special rate applied. When I received my statement though, I did not get the promotional rate even though the mailing clearly stated in multiple places the offer was good through that date. Thankfully I kept all the paperwork.

So Capital One is INCORRECTLY charging the wrong interest rate on this transaction, one almost four times higher than the promotional rate. I phoned Capital One and was on the phone for 30 minutes with a representative stationed God-knows-where who could not help.

The supervisor he transferred me to was better; she is sending this over to another department to review. Just in case that is not enough to get this corrected, I just wrote their Disputes department, and am sending copies of all the paperwork I saved, including the initial offer which clearly states "must post by x/xx." And my caveat to you reader is to save paperwork and check your statements carefully, especially when dealing with Capital One.

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA -- Months ago I needed to send some money to my mother who lives in Brazil. She doesn't speak English, has never been or has any intention of ever coming to the US and of course, doesn't have a social security number either. Luckily for her, she never had the unfortunate experience of ever being contacted by those credit ** "Capital One".
I used Western Union (bad, bad idea!) to send the money. Even though I called Western Union and specifically told the representative that I didn't want to share my personal information or have the info on the money transfer sold to other companies, Western Union sold it to one of the biggest junk mail senders in the World, Capital One.

Didn't take long and my mail box has been flooded with unsolicited credit card offers from capital One. I called them and gave all the info to the representatives who in more than one occasion have promised me that the harassment was going to stop. It doesn't. All these letters come in my mother's name with the same misspelling that the Western Union had. It's pathetic and I'm really hopeless. When I see or hear the word "Capital One", the first thing that comes to my mind is a dusty basement office in some condemned building, in a God's forgotten little town in Oklahoma with some crook trying to steal people's credit information using a rotary phone. I hate this company!

Today I called again after receiving another letter in the mail. I spoke to Laida ID# ** and just like every other time I called, she told me that my mother's name was removed. They keep on saying it but I keep on getting the junk mail. She claims that it should stop by 11/12/10. I doubt. They lie to you all the time! Stay away from Capital One! If you're not a customer and get all this aggravation, can you imagine the hell you will get if you actually sign up to do business with them? No way!

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA -- My wife got behind on a credit card bill with Capital One, but agreed to pay it through a collection agency (United Recovery Systems). We have been paying this bill for the past seven months now and all of a sudden, I receive a bill from Capital One requesting payment also.

After speaking with a supervisor for Capital One, she stated that due to President Obama, they are required to send a quarterly statement and that is what it was, a quarterly statement and not a bill. The problem with her statement is that, a quarterly statement would not come with a detachable payment sheet, payment instructions, and an envelope to mail this mythical statement (payment) in with. On top of that, it is the first one that I received in the past seven months of making payments. They were also charging me interest, which United Recovery Systems stated at the beginning that they would forgo once I started making payments to them on behalf of Capital One.

Now I am told that they (United Recovery Systems) forgot, missed, or just plain didn't do it, but United Recovery Systems stated that they would stop the interest as of right now and try to backdate it with no guarantee that they could, even though that was our original agreement in the beginning.

I contacted the Kentucky Attorney Generals office of Consumer Protection and informed them of this and was told to send a complaint with all documentation attached. An employee of that office informed my husband that they are very interested in this because others in the same situation may mistakenly send in payments and therefore be making double payments. She also told him that once a collections agency gets involved, that it is illegal and a company cannot bill a customer period.

I feel that this is something that needs to be told to the general public, so that no one is duped into making a duplicate payment. I attempted to get an email from Capital One to send a copy of this, but they refused to give one and stated that they only do correspondence through mail or fax, so I sent this to their abuse department. After all I guess you could call this abuse to the nth degree.

I was late on my Capital One card payment and received a phone call in March 2009 from a woman by the name of Phyllis representing Capital One and their claims department. She asked me if I wanted to enroll in a program that would get me back down to my original balance (3,500) so I wouldn't be charged additional fees.

We came to an agreement that I would pay 293.34 for months April, May and June. This would then bring my total from the 4,200+ down to 3,500 (my credit limit) I was told that everything was included, late fees, overdraft fees, finance charges etc. But the finance charges were not included. I was really upset because at the end of the 3 months my balance still was above 3,500 like almost 3,800. That means my next payment had to be well over 300 just to get it to the 3,500 and thus the program I enrolled in was a fraud.

I tried to call Phyllis back at least 3 times and no one would let me speak to her. I tried call different numbers at Capital One and no one was willing to help me. It was a tough luck and I had been duped. My payment for the month of July should have been a little of 100.00. Mind the fact that I really sacrificed a lot to pay this bill down. I worked as an AmeriCorps making on 627.51 per paycheck. My rent was $812 and I was paying Capital One 293.34. This isn't just right that I was duped like this. I want to know why would Capital One enroll me into a program to get back on track and update to get me back to my original balance and this is not what happened.

I fulfilled my part back paying the 293.34 for three months and was going to start paying the on the original balance starting in July, but how could if I had to make another payment of over $300 and I had already made plans to visit home so there was no way I was going to have the money to pay $300+ and then I would end up late, over the limit and additional fees. This is really terrible that I was duped into this.

FLOWER MOUND, TEXAS -- I went in to the Flower Mound Branch of Capital One to deposit a pair of checks, one of which was for my mentally and physically disabled father in law for whom I am Attorney In Fact (I have durable power of attorney). Despite the account being used for this purpose for almost a year with many checks including ones just like this, (Treasury Dept.), I was informed this wasn't sufficient any longer and I needed to re-open the account correctly. I have no idea how the account was opened incorrectly, but **, the Assistant Branch manager said it was wrong and therefore we could not deposit the check.

This was after her asking me to sit in her office for over twenty minutes waiting on something that usually takes minutes and we handle through the drive through. I then stood up to leave, and she took the check from her desk, and despite me asking her for it, since she wasn't going to do anything with it anyway, she refused and I reached over and took it from her hand, since after all it was my property and she refused to give it to me. She then very dramatically claimed I assaulted her, and called the police.

The police have already informed her and me that no assault took place, especially since it was my property in question, nor was there any bodily harm on her part. However, the branch manager took it upon herself to freeze all my accounts, including the business account for the company for which I work, which is also the account payroll and benefits are drawn against. No notification was given as required by law, and they refuse to speak to me, despite the fact they have to in order to close the accounts, which they claim they want to do.

So, in the end, nothing criminal is happening, despite employee's best efforts to the contrary. My accounts are frozen, including my employer's account which isn't even under my social security number, and they won't speak to me to resolve the issue or even let me close the account. This is a violation of Federal and state laws governing banking and availability of funds, as well as a breach of contract between my company, myself, and the Capital One.

BESSEMER, ALABAMA -- I was informed that I had written my check for one dollar less than the payment and I will be charged a $39 late fee and my account will be delinquent if this isn't paid!!! My husband died in Feb. 2009. I have no income... no insurance and no job. I made a mistake of $1! This account has always been in good standing I wish they would call me when I send them more than the payment due. I really don't need a slap to my credit at this time. But to charge $39 for a mistake in writing my check. I will most likely file for bankruptcy in the future and it will be because of the underhanded business practices of such companies.

They can cause so much damage for the best of paying customers. I just can't believe they would go to such an extreme for $1. They are one of the lucky accounts on my list, because most of them didn't get payments at all. I too have been with them for several years. I am tired also of not being able to talk to someone that has knowledge of the English language. All of my family complain about this company, and I have never had a problem, but that $1 mistake will ruin my credit. They act as though I did that for fun! I am grieving for my dead husband and writing checks was so hard to do, but I took care of our business.

Now these idiots have control over my credit history for the low low price of $1. I'm sure when they get through with me, I won't have anything in my wallet. I'm afraid, very afraid! But you can't win. The bankruptcy courts must be full this time of year. At least I will have something to talk about. Or I could write a book."HOW ONE DOLLAR BROUGHT DOWN THE CAPITAL ONE" written by the lady who while under stress couldn't see through her tear stained eyes to write that extra dollar on her check to save the company.

Now she lives out her days writing dollar signs on cancelled checks and drinking cheap wine with old fired Capital One employees. DRINK UP MY FRIENDS, THAT DOLLAR IS HERE SOMEWHERE! It could be a bailout for Capital One! No. That will never be in my wallet. Even if they decide to drop the late fee. They can go to **. I'm sure they have some associates there.

I am still in shock after receiving my first Capital One billing statement. We took advantage of their 0% interest rate on balance transfers. The amount transferred was substantial, and on a 4.99% offer good until September of 2009. Obviously, 0% until February of 2010 was enticing, but it was only supposed to go up to 10.99 after the initial year. My previous creditor would skyrocket to 28.99, that cinched it for me.

Well, this morning I received a statement indicating that my balance transfer rate was 16.99!!! Not one to panic, I called to report the mistake. I was told by two different representatives that there had indeed been a mistake. The first told me there was nothing to be done, regardless of the mistake "it was irreversible." The second, after "investigating" indicated that it was a mistake, but I would need to hold for a manager to correct it. The manager, whom according to her, was the end of the line as far as being able to speak to anyone (Sherry) indicated that neither of the representatives knew what they were talking about and I must have been confused.

Confused enough to transfer over $5,000 from a card at 4.99%, to a card at 16.99% to gain six months for paying it off? I wasn't even that confused in the 70s! It might also interest everyone to know that Capital One apparently has no legal department according to Sherry. It seems to me they might want to think about getting one if the complaints are any indication.

I've contacted my State Rep. If that doesn't rectify the situation, I guess I'll just quit paying my mortgage for a few months, pay off the card, and who knows if I get behind enough, I might just qualify for some help from the government. If there's any money left after we bail out the banks. One would think in this political climate these parasites would at the very least temper themselves, but alas, I suppose heads need to literally roll. So let's all just have a piece of cake and bend over!!!