I was sent a new Visa “Infinite” card this past August (unsolicited) from Visa (… or is it RBC?). I told the them (the Royal Bank) that I didn’t want/need the new card (with its new fees) and subsequently shredded the card and the “terms” that it came with as it didn’t apply to me and contained personal information. However, in the fine print (apparently… my version is shredded) it says that my existing card will be automatically cancelled after 6 months even though my original card doesn’t expire for several months afterward.
… so after 6 months (January 31, 2009 I’m guessing) my existing card got cancelled with no further warning. This has resulted in me having to scramble to renew a number of pre-authorised payment vendors and left me a little red-faced today at a local restaurant with colleagues and clients.
My question: Does it seem odd/fair that Visa (or is it RBC?) should be able to force a card “upgrade” when my original card doesn’t actually expire for months?
A call to their customer service department resulted in only one option: they could courier a new card (under the new plan) to me, which would take 2 days because it is after 5pm … Eastern time. I guess my other option is that I could cancel my account… which I will.
This is probably neither here nor there, but this card in particular does between $8,000 – $15,000 per month on average in volume (paid monthly in full) because I use it for my company… and I’ve had it for at least 8-10 years, which I would presume makes me a good customer.
Does anyone else have a story similar to this? If so, please comment here and submit a complaint to the following agencies:
As for me, I’ve sent the details and submitted formal complaints (where applicable) to the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada, the Business Practices and Consumer Protection Authority, the Ombudsman for Banking Services and Investments, the Better Business Bureau (in Vancouver and in Oakland/San Francisco… because that’s where Visa Headquarters are) and even our local consumer affairs watchdog at CTV’s “Olsen on Your Side”. That’s just so far…
Hi Jame,
What were consequences? Did RBC lost one more VIP client?