Conference 7.286::dcu

�I'm always getting VISA offers in the mail for gold cards at very competitive
�rates, no fees, etc...  pre-approved.
    
    Don't be so sure.  Those pre-approved gold cards can and do downgrade
    to a regular card when you send your application in depending on the
    rest of the information you provide in your no-application, application
    form.
    
    I ran into a similar problem trying to have my credit limit raised on a
    Visa card with another credit union.  I was told I had to fill out
    another application.  I never bothered and magically a month or so
    later my credit limit was raised anyway.

This is something that ALL the credit unions seem to have difficulty doing.
When we went to upgrade my wife's card to a gold card, at one of the credit
unions I usually rave about in here, they made us redo the application from
scratch.

Bob

I'm not so sure it's just credit unions either. When my bank started hyping
new lower interest rate VISA's I called them to see if I could convert to the
lower rate. No can do. I've gotta apply like for a new card, then transfer any
balance from the old to the new and then cancel the old.  I tried to find
out why the guy couldn't just tab over to that field on his little screen and
plug in the new number but got nowhere.

mark

re: 1

Interesting...  I would have thought that raising the credit limit was an
even more of a no brainer.  I always thought that the big advantage
between a credit union and a bank was that the credit union was
more personal, but maybe not.

re: 2

Good to know that it isn't just me.  You'd think that they would make the
little things like this a little easier since they don't cost any money yet 
keep the customer happy.  I guess efficiency isn't part of the equation.  

re:3 

Banks are bigger, so I'd expect it of them more.  I guess that I'm a 
credit union bigot.  :)



todd

�Interesting...  I would have thought that raising the credit limit was an
�even more of a no brainer.  I always thought that the big advantage
�between a credit union and a bank was that the credit union was
�more personal, but maybe not.
    
    The problem may be not in the "personalness", but the fact that credit
    unions are merely credit card brokers and not the actual provider of
    the card.

    I received an offer from Fleet Bank for MC at 9.9% no fee.  Soooo...I
    sent in the application and got a regular MC card at 9.9% interest good
    for one year at that rate and no annual fees ever!
    
    This beats the Sears and Monkey Ward cards at 21% and Fllet even
    transferred my balance at Monkey Ward.  I don't usually carry a balance
    with Sears cause up here in NH there is no real regulation on cards and
    Sears charges 21%.   I also have a DCU but I don't use it anymore.
    
    

    You should have seen the expression on the DCU teller's face when I
    wanted to LOWER my credit limit - she had to ask someone if it was even
    possible. She was completely flabbergasted that someone wanted a lower
    credit limit than a higher one. When she found out that I could indeed
    lower my DCU VISA limit - she admonished me that if I wanted to raise
    it in the future, I'd have to reapply all over again.

    My bank let me change from 1 Gold MC to another with a rate based on
    the prime + % without re-applying.

    
    I switched from blue to gold without problems, in fact the DCU staff
    were great, faxed me the forms (still gotta relist all your history,
    if the original form is a few years old), and they got the card to me
    in around 2 weeks, just in time for vacation!
    
    Simon

    I was an original DCU Visa member way back when.  Then they decided to
    offer the Gold card and I had to reapply.  I had a half hour argument
    with the branch manager over this and lost that one big time.  Then I
    wanted to increase my limit and had to again reapply - I was initially
    rejected for the higher limit, however, after a spirited discussion with
    my now friend, the branch manager, and he was able to get them to
    reconsider.  Why didn't they want to give me the higher amount? 
    Because, I had never charged that much and they weren't sure I could
    "handle" that much credit.  I was extremely insulted by their attitude
    and told the branch manager how dissatisfied I was with DCU. 
    Then they instituted fees and I dropped my DCU Visa (and had another
    discussion over why I was leaving them.)
    
    I consider it very interesting, though, that when I wanted to upgrade
    my ATT Universal Master Card I did it over the phone and when I
    upgraded my AMEX from green to gold and then back to green (why bother
    spending the extra money for what I consider inconsequential services),
    I was able to accomplish this over the phone with those service
    providers.
    
    I really believe if DCU continues with this arrogant attitude they will
    start loosing members in droves.
    
    Fredda
    
    

RE: Note 727.10 by PCOJCT::TURNOF

>    I was an original DCU Visa member way back when.  Then they decided to
>    offer the Gold card and I had to reapply.  I had a half hour argument

I was in the same boat.  I will be closing by DCU card in the next week
or so.  Just not worth the cost and hassle when there are better deals
out there.

DCU will be loosing more of my buisness in the future as I close my
accounts and move them to a different CU.  Why wait for DCU to get
better when others are already doing what a credit union is supposed to
do?  Better returns, cheaper loans, etc...

	- mark

    
    I moved and changed my address. Called Discover, Called AT&T, Called GM
    Card all over the phone no problem. Then Called DCU and sorry you need
    to come down and sign a change of address form. The only other folks
    that gave me any hassle was Simmons First National Bank but they only
    charge 8% so I'll let them give me a hard time. 
    
    Vern

re: .12

I wonder if that means I'd have to hop on a plane and fly to either Colorado
Springs, Washington, D.C., or Mass. if I ever moved?

Bob

P.S.  A lot of credit cards have a "check here if new address" box on the
return envelope.

I moved a couple months ago as well.  While it is convenient that all of my
credit card companies will take address change orders over the phone without
any hassle, it is also a RISK.  Discover and AT&T Universal take the change
order with just the account number and old address and send statements to
the new address without any confirmation to the old address.

One could imagine a criminally-inclined person "moving" for someone else,
then "losing" that person's card and getting a replacement, and then running
up $12,000 (or whatever the credit limit is) in charges before leaving town.

All my mutual funds sent a "we just changed your address" notice to my old
address.

Sam Ho

    I let DCU know by mail ... and they accepted that ... but make sure
    that you let them know that it is for all services... accounts and
    VISA!  Left and Right hand there you know ...
    
    Stuart