I also attended some symposiums about how credit cards are earning their money and why credit card owners should pay on time or face the high interest. In case you’re wondering why I am telling you this, it is because I had my own share of bad experiences in dealing with these credit card companies.

My first two problems involves the credit card of my wife who passed away 2006. One of the very first tasks we did after her interment was to make sure that her credit cards be discontinued and fix all her financial obligations and banking records. We inform both companies regarding my wife’s demise. They said we need to submit her death certificate for record purposes which we did.

The problem started when we receive a P 40,000.00+ bill from one card. I personally called their customer service number and was able to talk to a certain Rochelle. I told Rochelle about the problem and Rochelle asked me to wait for awhile. After a minute or so, Rochelle came back and said she saw transactions made even after my wife pass away.

Transactions that were made in the province, she added. I told Rochelle that it is impossible because we’ve never been there and we already submitted her death certificate so her card should have been cut. Rochelle acknowledged the situation and said she will fix the problem and added that someone have been using my wife’s card.

I thought the problem was over after the conversation - I was wrong. A month after, we got another billing and this time the amount is already P 50,000+.

The same situation happened with the other card. My sister informeded them of my wife’s demise, they asked for her death certificate which we submitted. After a few weeks, we got a billing statement; my daughter settled the account thinking that maybe my wife indeed bought something before her death. But to our surprise, after a few months, we got another billing. I called their customer service again and the person on the other line kept on insisting that my wife still has some unpaid bills. I told the lady on the other line if we can have a detailed statement, they said they sent it to us already. I told her we never received any except the last one in question which did not contain any detailed transaction but just a total. The lady said they cannot send a detailed transaction since it was sent out already. I told them that I will only pay if I get to know what I am paying for.

A few months after, their third party collectors called introducing themselves as lawyers of the card company, threatening us of lawsuits unless we settle the account. I reiterated my request of a detailed billing which was turned down again. Months after, we got a letter telling us that we just needed to pay P 4,000+ from our balance of P 12,000+ as part of a promo? WHAT?

My third nightmare involved my own credit card. The card was issued 2006 and after two years of using it, the card’s back cover which contains the black bar that contains the code got peeled off. I called Metrobank’s customer service and I was able to talk to a certain "Jam." I requested a new card and this Jam told me that they will be charging me with a P400+ for the new card. Why charge a P 400+ fee? Was it my fault if the card was made with inferior materials that couldn’t last for three years? The card’s expiration date is 2009. Jam suggested that I allow them to charge the P 400+ fee, then for me to call them after and request for a refund, but she cannot guarantee that the request will be granted since it has to go through certain approvals. WHAT?

I have nothing against having credit cards. Actually, it helped me a lot during my wife’s treatment. But I am having second thoughts now after the experiences I am getting. What kind of security and customer services are these banks giving their customers? Cards that can be used by other people. Collectors that are harassing clients. And a bank that is dead serious in charging P 400.00 for a new card?

Banks are considered the most computerized sector of our industry given the nature of their business, and yet loopholes like these are still happening. Security lapses that are blamed and passed on to their clients. To all my readers who are experiencing problems with their credit cards, email me your stories and I will write about it so that these banks can improve their services.

I am logging off. God Bless us all!