Here is how to STOP Advanta.

First, understand that they don't bother following the law. Second, understand that they really have no power over you other than harrassment and dinging your credit if you don't pay. The wost they can legally do is send you threatening calls and letters and finally do a charge off on the debt on your credit if you don't cave in to their tactics.

If you're finally in a postion where your credit score is no longer an issue you can worry about (you're just trying to survive and letting some bills go unpaid), include them in the unpaid stack. They will send you a couple of letters and then send their phone dogs after you. They are not supposed to call you more than twice a day at the most because that is considered harrassment.

Legally you can send any creditor a certified letter to instruct them to no longer contact you by phone. (Do a search for an example.) The law is clear. They must abide by that. However, Advanta will insist that it doesn't apply to them but only to third party collectors and since they are the account owner they can ignore it. Interestingly, all other lenders in primary position DO honor the law and stop calling.

You could go through all kind of hassles to compalin to the State Attorney General, but it won't do any good. They'll keep calling. Now's the time to take matters into you own hands and fight fire with fire. This is what I did.

I have caller ID. When I noticed it was Advanta, I began by not answering. When the calls reached 3 or 4 times a day, I opened the phone line and let it sit. Sometimes I opened the phone line and smacked the microphone against the table top rapidly several times to explode the callers ear. Sometimes I flushed the toilet and put the phone near the water so they could hear the flush. I considered it all a game. After all, I wasn't working and couldn't pay them. My credit was shot anyway.

They continued, but changed to a different line that listed a phone number but no name. These I began answering. I sent the letter to them and when I got the return receipt I told the caller about it. They insisted it didn't apply to them. I asked to speak to a supervisor. He said the same thing. I asked nicely to stop calling and he insisted they would until deadbeats like me paid our bills.

I decided ti fight fire with fire. The next time they called I answered and hung up as soon as I knew who it was. Now I had their phone number. I I hit return dial and got one of their callers. I proceeded to tell them all about how they had just called me and I was returning the favor. I asked to speak to a supervisor and got handed up. I didn't discuss anything, I just told him the same thing and said goodbye.

Now the fun began. I redialed and went through the same thing again - over and over and over again. They proceed each answering with a statement of the call being recorded. So what? It's not illegal to call them. Just be pleasent and don't swear. If you get flustered, just hang up and call again. Each time I asked to speak to a supervisor. They started by passing me up. However, after about 6 calls they tried to block me by asking me my account number, address, name, etc. I told them it was a personal matter and they only needed my name which I gave them. After about 15 calls I began getting the same people over again. A couple of times they hung up on me, but remember their recording is showing me being pleasant while they are being rude and hanging up. That only happened a few times. They finally began to immediately passed me up to the senior supervisor, Ed McFadden. He's good. He'll wait quietly until you begin to speak and them begin immediately cutting you off, telling you how much of a jerk you are, asking for their money, anything to try to keep you from getting a word in edgewise. His job is to get you mad. Keep smiling. You're winning. It didn't matter. I just kept telling him I was returning their calls as they had originally asked and would continue since I wasn't working and had nothing better to do than play games on my computer while calling them. I let him know I would continue to keep this up until they finally stopped calling me.

Of course he insisted that it didn't bother him or his work and I was wasting my time. By the way, this conversation took over 10 calls to complete because as soon as I said one line and he jumped in I nicely said. "Goodbye." and hung up. He tried to tell me all about how I was going to lose my house, bank accounts, have wages garnished, etc. I called his bluff because I know he can't do any of those things. He threatened to send it on to their attorneys. I applauded him and asked him to please do it. That would stop the calls. He backed off saying he had to follow protocol. I laughed at him on that one.

Interestingly, this activity took about 1 hour which I viewed as a game instead of irritation. I was "returning the favor" of calling them. That was last week. I don't know why, but I haven't had my phone ring from them in over a week. Can anyone please tell me how I can get them to start their friendly calls again. I feel left out and unloved!

Sincerely,
MIserable and along waiting for a call.

The Advanta corp. seems to have a slick game it likes to play. I mailed in a payment in the month of February. For some reason, they related to me a check mailed Feb. 4th, arrived February 16th, late. I was called on the 18th, informed my payment was late, none had been received, and if I made a payment over the phone at that time a 39.00 dollar late fee would be waived only if I made a payment right then and there. Assuming the check was lost I complied. A week later I received a mailed statement. Clearly applied is the late fee, not having been removed. I call to ask what is going on. At this point I find out that they had cashed the mailed check on the 16th, 2 days before calling me and telling me no payment was received. They basically extorted an additional payment from me, and tacked on a late fee for giggles & grins. They refused to remove the late fee and said it was not possible. The attendant falsified his name by telling me he was Jack Smith. When I called and asked for Jack Smith and gave his ID the women taking my call had no knowledge of a Jack Smith, or the ID he gave me. Smells pretty bad doesn't it?

I have paid 100 dollars every month, they changed my rate without notification. Now they call me and threaten me that if you think 100, is going to save you from legal action your are wrong. They call my work, home, cell phone, all hours midnight, 6:00am on Sunday.
I will join your class action law suit. [email protected]

I have never been late with Advanta and I sent a payment in on August 29 or 30th and Advanta customer service states they did not get my payment in time. I also, made a payment by phone for the same billing period and Advanta took both payments added them to late payment charges and hiked my interest rate up from 2.99% to 34.99%.

I spoke to customer service and they said there is nothing they could do about this. I also, asked to speak to the supervisor and they would not let me, stating the supervisor would say the same thing . They gave me a number to call Apprisen Financial Advocates.

I sent my payment in on time, plus made another payment by phone.

THESE ARE FRAUDULENT PEOPLE AND RUINING GOOD PAYING CUSTOMERS. I PLAN TO CONTACT CONGRESS, BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU, AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, AND MY LOCAL NEWS MEDIA.

KANSAS CITY, MO

This is the 3rd time I have received harassing phone calls from customer service agents at Advanta small business cards. I have always paid my bills on time, but to no fault of my own they have wrongly credited payments that have been submitted to them. The first time after several attempts from my bank and I contacting them I received a weak apology from a female supposed manager that they were mistaken and credited the $500.00 plus late fees $39 back to my account. the next incident went about the same but an even weaker apology came with excuses of "computer errors". I am now in a battle this 3rd time after sending them $15, 000.00 last month the harassing phone calls started immediately. I contacted my bank and they say they sent the money on the 15th and it shows they received the $600.00 on the 15th of July. The payment was due the 20th. It shows on the account summary website they received the $600.00 on the 15th then on the 21st they charge me a late fee 0f $39 for not sending them a payment that was due the 20th. I tried to speak to a manager, told they do not speak to you write them at this address. I asked for e-mail and fax numbers was blown off. they have blown off my bank who insists they received the money. I was told after calling 3 times and in the final call getting very upset that I am a liar and I am harassing them. I am harassing them. Unbelievable. No wonder they are on the verge of going under. They are seeking another bank sponsor for their accounts. I hope no other bank enters into business with this company, some companies should be allowed to fail due to their poor business practices. NO BAILOUTS!! What happened to customer service?