THE UPSELLING OF THE CREDIT CARD

The Up Selling of the Credit Card

I recently received a credit card offer from Orchard Bank in the mail.  With all that is going on in the credit world, I wanted to see and feel the process my clients are going through in trying to re-establish their credit.

I filled out the authorization form they provided me online, and was approved.  Shortly, they stated, I would receive my card in the mail.  It came about 2 weeks later.  I reviewed all the documents, and called the number to activate the card, which was done.  I was ready to purchase, or so I thought…………………

About a week later, I wanted to purchase something on line, and I thought I would try this new card.  I put in the correct information and was rejected.  I thought that was strange – so I went to the online portion of Orchard Bank and saw that I had some start up fees – about $75 – so I thought, even before receiving a statement from them – I thought I would pay those off, which I did.  I then tried the card again for my purchase – and was rejected again.  Oh well, maybe it takes a while for the information I gave them to hit the account.  I then completed the purchase with another card.

Two weeks later, I go into my local grocery store and thought I would try it again.  Again, it was rejected.  Immediately when I went home, I called Orchard to find out why.  (I even checked online if my payment had been accepted, which it had been.)  The person on the other end of the phone said yes, everything was fine; they had just needed me to call in to finish the process of “activating the card”.  I told him I had already done that –I had called in to the “activation Phone Line” and had gone through that process. 

He stated that he would take care of the final part of it.  He just needed to talk to me about purchasing their credit monitoring system – an incredible system that will show you how to maximize your scores.  The system would cost just $9.99 per month, billed conveniently to my credit card.  I fought off the desire to tell him what my line of work was – dealing with systems just like the company he represents.  However, I did not – I just told him I had another credit monitoring system.  He refused my answer, told me how important it was to have his system – and for just $9.99 per month.  I again told him I had a system in place.  He again, refused my answer.  He then again went into his diatribe about his system of credit monitoring.  Seeing there was no end to this, I then accepted, knowing that I could cancel at any time.  He said thanks, activated my card fully, and we parted ways.

The only item needed to activate my card fully was some face time with a rep from the company to sell me, and a hard sell, on credit monitoring.  In the dispute process, they, the creditor, want a direct relationship with the customer to up sell and to deal directly with them if there are any disputes.

Most people are not aware of their legal rights regarding their own reports.  The creditors want you to bypass those rights – “Tell us why you think we are wrong” – in other words, show me your defense.  In fact, the client has to show the bureaus or the creditors nothing!!!  It is the creditors and the bureaus that have to show the information they put on the reports is correct.  The burden of proof, if you will, is on them, the bureaus and creditors.  Could you imagine being arrested in the criminal justice system, and they tell you you have to prove your innocence?  It just does not happen that way in our society.  The same applies to the credit industry.