Originally Posted by Jenney & Mark

Not ALL Capital One reps are horrible. Without sounding full of myself, I was the type of rep that you described: helpful, patient, polite, etc. There are good reps at Capital One, no doubt about it. But the culture that Capital One has created makes those people few and far between, because they are penalized for having those qualities. I mean, really -- reps who achieved low ACT (average call times) by basically sitting on their hands, being curt and rude and doing f-all to help solve the customers' problems were rewarded big time financially (ie, $1000s extra each month), while other reps (like me) who took an extra few minutes to listen to the customer and try to actually help them were reprimanded. I can't tell you how many times I was told, "Don't ask them any questions or ask them to tell you what the problem is; try to figure it out from the account and if you can't fix it quickly, tell them they'll need to call back."

If it sounds like I'm bitter because I didn't get bigger bonus checks, that's not it. I'm bitter because I felt like I could really make a difference -- however small -- at that job, but my hands were routinely tied and I was written up for being "too helpful." And what pisses me off is the fact that consumers out there, including me, deserve so much better, especially when it concerns their hard-earned money.

~ Jenney

Originally Posted by Tracym

Well obviously you had a bad experience, no doubt. Can't blame you there.

At this point - it's been a decent card for me, and the customer service has been excellent. I won't tell anyone else that'll be their experience. If that changes, I'll dump them easy enough.

Originally Posted by Longy

I think the main thing is you sound like you have prime cards with them - that is you had a decent credit score before getting a card with them and thus got a decent limit.

I think you will find the experience of people with poor or no credit is quite different - mainly cause they get a low limit and apart from an initial small increase which they sometimes say you can get if you use the card in the first few months they are reluctant to give you any more.

On top of this the fact they didn't report your limits to the agencies until the last couple of months so it made your utilisation go way up (100% if this was your only card), so its understandable why they are not particularly liked.

However as they are reporting limits now I imagine their image may improve somewhat.

Originally Posted by Jenney & Mark

One of the reasons that I didn't get bigger incentive bonuses was because, in Capital One's opinion, I tended to try to help the customer too much. Working to help fix customers' problems often meant staying on the phone longer than 240 seconds (the maximum call time goal). It takes time to get all the details about the problem from the customer, to read through the notes on that person's account (if anyone actually left notes from previous calls, that is), to look up information on how to solve the problem, and to explain why the problem happened and how it can (or can't) be fixed.

Originally Posted by Tracym

Just curiousity - I wonder how the utilisation works with a card like American Express - there is no actual limit. So how would they report it I wonder?

Originally Posted by Elvira

All 3 of my Amex cards have a limit...

Lots of lovely air miles and cashback too

Originally Posted by Elvira

All 3 of my Amex cards have a limit...

Lots of lovely air miles and cashback too

Originally Posted by Longy

Are these Amex credit cards or charge cards?

I believe the charge cards don't report the limit so could hurt you in the same way that Capital One used to - but generally people with an Amex charge card would probably have a fair amount of credit to their name and not suffer too much from this.

Originally Posted by Longy

Are these Amex credit cards or charge cards?

I believe the charge cards don't report the limit so could hurt you in the same way that Capital One used to - but generally people with an Amex charge card would probably have a fair amount of credit to their name and not suffer too much from this.

Originally Posted by Elvira

I don't care what cards I have - I always do the "sign up for new card with lots of lovely bonus miles" dance... and cancel them before they incur a fee...

Originally Posted by Tracym

Except getting lots of new cards can actually hurt your credit rating. If yours is quite good, probably doesn't do much damage I would guess.

Originally Posted by Elvira

At this point I don't care as I do not actually need credit (as in not paying it back - I clear all my cards every month). I spend tons of $$$ on travel, so they all really, really want me...

Originally Posted by Tracym

After I figured out the difference (lol) - mine is almost a cross between the two.

It does let me keep a balance (and interest would accrue).

But if I pay off the new purchases for the month (even if I leave a balance) no interest accrues on those purchases. If I want, I can choose to transfer a new purchase to the pay over time option.

But there's no specific limit on either the balance I could carry, or an indiidual purchase that I can find (or been told about). I've had the card half of forvever though...

Originally Posted by BritGuyTN

amex charge accounts report your highest ever balance as your limit, so if one month you blew 20 grand on it, thats what reported as a credit limit (to the best of my knowledge and looking at my credit report)

so yes it can negatively impact your score

and actually you do have a limit, even if you have a centurion card (amex black)

they advertise as if you don't but if you call them and ask them specifically, they admit you have an exposure limit

i'm not being negative towards them, I love my amex charge/credit cards

Originally Posted by Bob

The big trick there, well up where the missus used to work, transfer the call to Spanish desk, because a transfer stopped the clock to keep you on incentive and then blame it on an accident if someone complained