Chase UA Visa program - run by Keystone Kops?
 

This will be a bit of a lengthy, venting post. Sorry. I hope this is the right forum.

Un-fun experience with a new Chase UA MP card for 20K - finally applied after multiple offers - as described in the sequence below.

1. Apply online, giving UA info, etc.

2. Receive card and call for activation.
Rep: "Is the name the same as your UA MP account?" It is not, so we decide to change the 1st name on the card to match.

"You can trial the fraud protection program...alerts for any suspicous activity...all credit agencies...no risk..." OK, may be worth a look.

Use activated card for a purchase, under $30. So far so good.

3. Fraud alerts. Within a few days get 2 separate fraud voice mails on different days.
"...request to issue a new card..." No other information.

4. Call "fraud." I call the number in the messages, partly to test the system. Why I am I getting these calls?

"What was the message?" Don't YOU (Chase) know???

"Well, they may be testing a new card." Is that the normal procedure???

"Or, they may want to validate a recent transaction." Really??? One rather low value purchase??? Don't you know why I was called??

"[...don't know...]. Maybe I should transfer you to security." OK. (this is the first I knew that I was talking with a generic customer care person)

"Security..." (he proceeds to grill me with a number of questions to establish my identity, including one going back 30 years or so). Look, I just want to find out why I got these fraud messages.

"What was the message?" [...around and around a bit as above...rep starts getting pretty snotty]. Can I speak with a supervisor?

"I AM a supervisor." How do I know YOU are legitimate and this is not some scheme to steal my ID?

"I have your account information. Maybe you should call the number on the back of the card so you know it is legitimate." OK - end call.

5. Call number on back of card. I want to find out why I got fraud alert messages.

"What were the messages?" [around and around as above, I don't want to tell them why they are calling me] OK, I give up, the messages said something about new card requests - who requested and where are they being sent?

"...don't know..."

6. New envelopes. Over a couple of days receive two new cards and a fraud protector package in the mail. Ah hah! That is why I got 2 fraud alert messages. Reading thru fraud package it seems alerts are only for activity on the Chase account - although they will help with ID theft if I report it to them.

7. Call Fraud. Used number in package. Why did I get these 2 voice messages?

[around and around as before] OK (giving up a bit again) maybe it has to do with these 2 new cards. Why did I get 2 new ones?

"...researching...Don't know. I checked and they are identifcal. You should destroy one.". OK (later I do destroy one)

"...and we blocked your account." What???!!! Without notification??

"You did not call us back. I can reactivate it now." Please do - and I certainly have been calling you back. Can I speak with a supervisor?

8. Supervisor. (One pretty nice person actually comes on the line after a short wait.) Can you tell me why I got these alerts?

"What was the message?" [...around and around again...]

"Well, these messages are sent by an automated systems based on triggers you select." It must have been the default triggers; I had not selected any yet. Don't any of you know that these messages are sent and why???

"It is a different system." And, it appears this protection program alerts only for this one card account!! That is not very useful for fraud and ID protection.

"We will help with all your accounts." OK, this program is more hassle than it is worth. I have spent a lot of time on the phone and no one seems to know what is going on. And the protections seems not that valuable. AND you blocked this account without letting me know. You need to work on your processes, people and systems so you can answer my questions accurately. Please cancel.

"...OK. Your bill has not gone out yet. We will cancel the charge." (I can't wait to see) Thanks, end call.

8. New letter next day. "...we had an incorrect UA MP number...UA MP provided...your correct number...we have updated our files...sending you a new MP credit card." (Oh boy, sinking feeling. I look at the card I have. It has a weird MP number starting with "03..." I fish fragments of the destroyed one out of the trash. Sure enough it has the correct MP number. This rankles a bit too, since twice I gave them my UA MP number.)

9. Call again. Call number on letter: What do I do now? Can I use any of the cards - they are all the same account number?

"You should use the one with the correct MP number. We will issue a replacement that will arrive 3 - 5 days..." (At least if I get no new fraud alert that may confirm that was actually cancelled)

10. Score so far.

- 3 cards in hand at some point
- one under $30 charge
- no MP miles posted as yet ("4-6 weeks...")
- no usable card
- much time spent on phone
- Chase reps seem mostly clueless on what is happening

I await developments.

Signed up under the same deal...no mileage posted yet but no statement yet, so that was expected.

I actually got offered payment protector when I signed up - and said no but then they said "What about for 1000 miles". I fell for the trap and signed up, but I haven't sent the signature card back yet. I have to cancel it for another Chase card anyways so I figured I should be able to do both at once.

Guess I'll stay away from fraud protector unless it comes with a good offer.

I applied the same and got my miles without problems. I guess I just lucked out.

One ... Fraud detector---> more pain then what it is worth. You are not liable for fraud charges anyway

If you keep getting calls from security ask Fraud to increase you Security LEVEL.

If you are going to make large purchases Like I do in my household I have learned with my chase card to call and request this so they will place a hold on my acct, for every transaction I do. I know they are doing it for my protection but when i am shopping DONT STOP a females Credit card, that is worse then PMS

multiple offers, card?
 

I keep getting UA Chase offers, first year free, 15000 or so miles. I applied for one online, used it once, saw the bonus credited. I applied for a second via mail, used it once, saw the bonus credited. I have two more invitations sitting on my desk. What happens if I keep mailing them back? Am I at all at risk?

Somehow I have in my head that snailing is preferable to online application completion, less chance of cross checking.

In general I use these bonus cards the once and then put them away with all my freqent flyer materials, and cancel them when the renewal fee bill comes. I have this huge amount of credit available but I don't carry balances forward on my cards.

For everyday, following FT advice, I use my Starwood Amex, and Amtrak MBNA where Amex isn't accepted.

Sylvia

Update - all is cool now...
 

1. Bonus miles just posted and I got the upgrade and discount certs in the mail the other day. So, all seems in order now. It may stay that way as long as I don't try to call them again.

2. While I also got a number of offers in the mail, I used a FT link to apply for another card online to give that a try. Back came an automated reply: "...We will notify you of your approval status in 30 days by U.S. Mail. In the meantime, please refrain from submitting any additional applications. We will only be able to consider your first application."

3. Next I may try submitting one of the snailing applications as well!

4. Anyone have a use or need for a 1000 mile upgrade cert?