On May 26 I received an email saying that Advanta was going out of the credit card business and I could charge nothing after May 30. I set about replacing the ONLY credit card I have. I could not get on the website and I could not get through by phone. There was a continuous busy signal. I transfered a $300 balance to Discover. (my new card) This was an over payment because I could not determine what had actually gone on the card. When I was able to get through by phone, I was told the check was being mailed out that day, and I should get it in 7 to 10 days. I have been told that 3 times now. Most recently today. I wait 10 days between calls even though I am sure the mail is not going pony express... I believe I am being told the "worlds oldest lie."

Dorothy Kalaveras
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I had the same problem as 1000's of others but called this company called Comdata. They issue cards in a very timely manner and at 0% interest. It was easy.

It appears this complaint has become common with Advanta. I have a small painting business. Advanta just raised my rate from 6.9% to 34.99% and told me they informed me it was going to change, but I only found out by my most recent statement when my payment jumped $160. These business practices, if nothing else, are unethical.

Advanta is the lowest of the lows. They epitimize the troubles with unregulated corporate banking today. They have jacked my interest rate from 0% to 9.99% to 24% to 37.5%. I too have had no late payments from any creditor EVER and they gave me no explanation either. Unfortunately, I'm not sure that I am in the position to pay that interest rate back in which case they will eat this! I feel bad, but not that bad. If a company wants to put the screws to its clients, they should get ready to eat a lot of bad debt.
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Like everyone else here, I was victim of Advanta's predatory lending practices. My rates were 2.99%, and then 7.99%, for the longest, and recently, just like everyone else, the rate went up to 32%! They gave me the same lies they are giving everyone else, that something changed on my credit report, and there are a variety of factors leading to the change. All of this is bull, and nothing has changed.

I paid the balance off, and then they renegotiated the interest rates to 15.99%. They said that I could call back in 60 days to try to reduce the rate further, (I do not use the card anymore)

I am reading everyone's stories, and doing my research on Advanta, and their predatory lending practices apparently date back to the 90s.

I've decided that I am going to sue them under breach, since the contract that I signed, says, "for the life of the account" and NOTHING on my credit report has changed. I can see that in the past, there is how Advanta lost most of its cases, under breach. Not only that, but they lied and said they mailed out a letter. Everytime I call, I get hung up on. I asked them to resend the letter they sent, I still have not received it. This behavior, in addition to their history, I think I have enough to at least bring up the claim.

I looked them up on the BBB, and they only have one complaint and there is no information about it, so the BBB is on their side.

For now, I am gathering all my information, and every week I call Advanta for an update. I plan on going to the FTC, the States Attorney General, etc. I am going to sue them for the amount of interest that was charged over and beyond, and that was breach of contract. I am also suing them for my court costs.

I read somewhere else that a poster was able to get a claim through on the BBB, and then Advanta agreed to lower the interest rate, if the person closed the account.