I have been a Chevy Chase Bank Visa card member since 2004. When I first obtained the Visa card, it was at a modest interest rate. In March of 2004 I was in Iraq, coming under mortar fire, being shot at, and had my convoy stopped three times for road side bombs to be detonated. I was late in making a payment to Chevy Chase Bank Credit Card in March of 2004 and my interest rate went up to approximately 29.99%. I have called multiple times to request that the interest be lowered and each time am told that because of that late payment in March of 2004, nothing can be done to lower my rate, despite the fact that I have been making on time payments and significantly reduced the total amount on the card. I have even been told that Chevy Chase Bank Visa is not a charity and that because of the recently enacted rules and regulations by Congress, they can not lower my rate. I find the first statement insulting and the latter statement questionable.

I have asked that an account manager call to discuss this and have been told that one would call within 24 – 48 hours, but no one ever calls. It is further distressing to been shown this degree of disrespect and gives the appearance that Chevy Chase Bank customers are only there to be gouged for profit making and not as a type of partnership that is mutually and respectfully beneficial for both Chevy Chase Bank and their customers.

Chevy Chase Bank absolutely refuses to lower the rate and blames Congress, my ineptitude in not making a payment while my life is in danger, and on the economy. This is simply not how one should do business and is an example of why the banks are in such dire conditions.

Chevy Chase Bank and its senior management discriminates when it comes to promotions and employee salary increases. This is "most" apparent in regions run by Denise Pope, Robert (Bob) Brown, Suzanne Rossetti, and Dana Belgrave. These people think they have a single bureaucracy in the bank since the bank was run by a single person in B.F. Saul. I have one request from the CEO of Capital One, Sir, please remove these old fashion people that has no impact to the bank and also who has outdated visions, and in addition that does not take care of their employees. The bank has so much money to spend on other things even during hard economic conditions but when it comes to cut backs it comes from their lower level hard working work force. Recently they reduced and made it harder to earn commissions for its employees. They keep placing barriers for employees and at the same time spending ridiculous amounts of money on other things where they could be spending on their biggest asset "front line employees". One last thing..."Chevy Chase Bank its not a place for employees, hope it changes with Capital One"...