I have the United Signature Visa from First USA. I keep having such good experiences with them (in fact, so good that I dumped my Amex Platinum), while the general opinion of them on FT sounds quite low.

So I'd like to share the experience I had just a minute ago:

I had ordered quantity 2 of an item from an online merchant, was charged for quantity 2, received quantity 1. Merchant does not answer queries. Called First USA to dispute $53 of the $106 charge. Was issued a $53 credit instantly over the phone, after a conversation of about twenty seconds. Very nice. This is the best Visa card I've ever had.

You must be the only person in the world that has ever had a good experience with First USA . They are the absolute pits to deal with.

I know that if United changed their affiliation to another company I would go running to that company. I'm sure there are quite a number of others who would do the same.

Glad to hear that you had a good experience with them. Maybe it will rub off on the rest of us!!

Mary

Sure you weren't having a dream? I had a FirstUSA card about 5 years ago; I still fume whenever I think of what happened then...

Ditto on the still fuming. In addition to the fuming incident, they have the highest costs involved with using internationally.

Sadly, I have to agree -- with the one excecption you mentioned (regarding disputes).

FirstUSA customer service is famously bad; for example, remember the class action settlement they recently had to pay when they were caught unfairly charging many of their customers inappropriate late penalties. FirstUSA's credit card business has traditionally been a mass-market style business, often aimed at people with less-than-perfect credit (their affinity cards, such as frequent flyer cards, aside), and they generally treat customers in down-market, "mass-production" manner. HOWEVER, they are also notorious for mistreating merchants and upholding even unfair disputes filed by their cardmembers. Why? Because FirstUSA has discovered a way to make their cardholders very happy at no expense to FirstUSA, by ruling on behalf of the cardholder in a dispute, since it is the MERCHANT who pays the bill. FirstUSA can thereby give something of "value" to the cardholder, without taking a penny out of their own pocket.

Do you work for First USA?!!??

I've never had any problem with FUSA's customer service. I've called several times to cancel various cards and they are always polite and helpful.

QL

LOL. I am sorry, but unless your comment was an example of wonderfully wry, laconic wit (which it may have been, and I appluad you), it just BEGS for the following question: If FirstUSA is so good, why have you cancelled so many cards? :-)

Applause graciously accepted.

QL

I bow graciously to your wit.

I had only good experiences with their customer service. No problems when I had some fraudulent charges on my card. They took them off immediately.

Very cute QL.

I've also never had a problem with FUSA.

I think they used to be very bad, but then they were merged into Bank One, and things change.

-David

They downright suck!
My parents filed chapter 7 due to high medical bills. I had one joint card with Mom from years ago (not 1st usa), First USA has been the only company to jack MY rates up to 24% and Mom's card with them is still 14%. Yes I am in the class action to have the credit agencies to note that it was not my chapter 7, but first usa would not even listen. I closed 1 acct with them, and now paid the united one off down to the point where they get no interest. I was using it for business expenses during the summer and usually carried a $15K balance for 6 months or so till fall. Who loses? They do.....
JudyJ
Hello Advanta 3.9 till paid transfer....

Strangely, I never had any problems with my FirstUSA until they started calling themselves Bank One! And, as I understand, it's still the same people; just new stationary...

--Grog--

The only problems that I have had with them involved posting of the ocassional double miles promotion. The first time I had to call them bc the window which they claimed should post past. When I called, they said they would enquire on my behalf. Low and behold, the miles posted to ua in a matter of days.

However, right now, I am also waiting for the pending posting of the double miles promo that ended July 15, 2003. I recently called, and they informed me that their records indicated that the miles were already sent to my UA account. Still no miles have posted yet, but I think it should be occurring really soon, I hope.