Credit Cards That Suck

First North American National Bank

Loan Shark owned by Circuit City Stores

People who know this webmaster understand him to be a level-headed person who doesn't anger easiliy. However, this credit card company, First North American National Bank, has prompted me several times to get into heated arguments with their phone harassers. These folks are nasty. They don't give a shit about your circumstances. They'll call you at illegal hours and they will lecture you about your life. Not only are they nasty, but they are a criminal organization. I use to joke with friends about how FNANB was like the mafia, in that they loaned money and then fucked people over with extremely high interest rates and bogus late charges. Then I did some research recently and found out that FNANB really is a criminal organization. Details about that are listed below.

Word of advice to the young: when older people give you advice about credit cards, listen to them. Credit cards are like venereal diseases: they really screw your life up.

The Skinny on First North American National Bank

Owned by Circuit City, a retail chain that sells crappy consumer electronics.

In 1998, FNANB lost a lawsuit filed by 43 states. It was found that FNANB was lying to debtors in a consistent fashion and even going so far as to collect debts from people after they had filed for bankruptcy.

New Jersey Consumers To Receive Part of $11.7 Million Settlement With First American National Bank
NEWARK - First North American National Bank ("First North American") has entered into an $11.7 million agreement with New Jersey and 43 other states to settle allegations that it improperly collected debts from consumers who filed for bankruptcy protection, Attorney General Peter Verniero and New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs Director Mark S. Herr announced today.

Consumer complaints

• Stay Away from Circuit City
• I've had enough

Chuck's rant about FNANB from 1998

One of my VISA cards charges me a 24 percent interest rate, basically because I was late with a payment several years ago. So I called them to ask for a reduction of my interest rate. No problem right? The customer service guy said that I had been denied. I asked him: "When was I denied? Just now?" He said: "Yes, and we will be sending you a notice in the mail."

Gee thanks.

Then I get the notice in the mail and it said that my request had been denied because of a credit check with Equifax. Since when does a interest rate reduction request get referred to a credit agency? I'm not asking for more money, just an adjustment in the profit the company is making off me.

A week later I get my statement and I notice that they are rubbing this in my face. I discover that they've raised my credit limit by $500. Huh? Didn't they check with Equifax to get an approval?

You folks really take me for a sucker huh? Fuck you.

Imagine No American Express

Imagine a large corporation that profits from people using their product to consume and accumulate possessions. Now imagine that this company uses a song by a famous musical artist to promote a campaign against hunger. This song says many things, among them "Imagine no possessions."

Large corporations do charity campaigns like the "Charge Against Hunger" for one reason only: to make themselves look caring and responsible to the masses. This is designed to convince people to have positive vibes about a company and therefore use its products. True, there may be some American Express employees concerned about hunger, but they are NOT the corporation. AE exists to maximize profits and please its stockholders, goals which are incompatible with a world free of hunger.

You'd be better off donating to the local soup kitchen directly or Food Not Bombs, which doesn't want you to consume crap so the hungry can be helped.

Imagine no American Express!

Want to fight back? Put this graphic on your web page.

LETTERS

March 9, 2004

Just discovered your website. I have a FNANB platinum card with a $12,000 limit. For the second month in a row they claim not to have received my payment. I always pay in full every month, now they are hitting me with all kinds of interest and late charges. Getting no satisfaction from a telephone person I asked for a supervisor, when he came on the line I could barely understand him, he indicated I had not sent the payment and my charge privileges had been cancelled What can I do ???

anonymous

Response #1

Take photocopies of your checks which you used to pay the bill. your bank can provide these. fax them to the company and assure them that you will sue them if they do not 1. credit your past payments, 2. fix your credit report, and 3. rescind any late fees which you do not owe. contact an attorney if they do not cooperate 100%. if you cant afford an attorney, check out kcbs (radio station in california) as they used to have a consumer line where they would help the little guys.

Response #2

Sounds like you might have to keep calling the company until you find somebody who will take some responsibility. If you have a track record of making payments on time, this should be evident in their computer records.

You might want to do some research on the Internet to find out what other people suggest about ways to deal with messed-up credit card companies.

Finally, we urge you to get rid of your credit cards or, at least get the limits reduced to a few thousand dollars. The credit card companies always give people high limits to tempt them into spending. The credit card companies will always find a way to screw you over.

Good luck!

September 18, 2003

I am trying to send this anonymously as I do not wish to be identified. What would you like to know about FNANB's policies and practices? I am fed up with them and am ready to quit but I'd like to know that I helped at least a few unsuspecting consumers avoid the pitfall of doing business with this criminal company.

anonymous

We'd love to hear more about FNANB's policies and practices. Please contact us if you want to share anything that would be of interest to all the FNANB customers who have been harassed. -- Webmaster

September 6, 2003

Apparently on 9-4-3 fnanb grabbed $180 from a checking account of mine for a past due account.no warning no nothing,i live in arizona. is this legal?

-- bandaid

August 18, 2003

I can relate to your Web Site about F N A B. I agreed to make 3 monthly payments thru my checking account but NOT to be taken out prior to the 3rd of each month due to me living on V A Disability. Their first check was posted prior to the 3rd so I paid up the ass in fines to my Bank (U S Bank) On August 14th F N A B called me about the check and I told them I would have money in there on the 3rd of next month. I get my checking statement today and guess who tried to ram a payment thru ? You guessed it F N A B. Now with me paying fines and penalties to my bank there is no way I will have any money for them next month. I have been advised to send them a Regestered Letter telling them to STOP taking this payment out but what do I do about the almost $900.00 in fines from my bank I owe ?

D.L.

August 25, 2003

I recently have had a credit report done, and it is showing that I have an open account with First North American. How would I go about finding more info on this, please help me.

Thank you, C.W.

July 17, 2003

I was excited to see the write-up on this bank. I was trying to find their address to send another complaint letter when I stumbled onto it. I'm glad I'm not alone in how I feel about these people. I don't even owe them money and they continue to harass me. One of their customers apparently gave them my number and I can't get them off my back. They tell me how easy it would be to remove my number from their records but can't seem to, or won't, get it done. The last call from them came at 5:30 a.m. I wasn't aware, until reading your article, that there are illegal hours for calling people. I'm getting ready to send my second complaint letter since, after writing the first one two weeks ago, I've received two more calls. Now I'm making a game out of it. The last time they called asking for this Valentino character I put my husband on to pose as him. They were probably onto us cuz the bank employee said, "We received your payment. Sorry to bother you." Now, why would they call at 5:30 in the morning to say that? So if they keep calling I plan to turn the table on them and put a fictitious person on or keep them on hold as long as I can, just to annoy them the way they've been annoying me. I'd rather the calls stop, of course, but if they don't I can't think of any other way to fight back. Do you possibly have any advice for me? Do you know of a place to report them for not complying with my request to have my number removed from this other guy's records or for making the 5:30 a.m. call? I'm basically computer/internet illiterate but is there a way for my to post my beef against them on line? Any information you have would be greatly appreciated.

Cecile

FNANB is not supposed to call before 9am, but I've gotten collection calls from them much earlier than 9 am in the morning. They also call you on holidays. -- Webmaster