AOPA / MBNA credit card problems

wrote:

AOPA is a great organization when it comes to performing their core
mission. Just don't confuse the side businesses that they use to make
money with that mission. They are not there to give you the best deal
as a "member".

Yep, that's my expereience with just about every AOPA-endorsed service
I've tried to use. Don't get me started about the bozos in MBNA's
aircraft loan servicing department. I finally just paid off the stupid
thing early to resolve their ongoing stupidity.

wrote in message ...
Hello,

This message is to serve two purposes: 1) to warn people about the
business
practices of MBNA bank (who provides credit card services to AOPA
"aircraft
owners and pilots association" customers), and 2) to find out if others
have had
as much trouble as me.

Recently, I've found the payment period on my account significantly
reduced, and
the statements mailed late, leaving me with little or no time each month
to pay
the bill. As an example, my last bill, dated "5-2-05", arrived on 5-18-05,
and
was due 5-23-05. As the service center for MBNA is on the opposite coast
from
me, it's nearly impossible to make the payment on time. This appears to me
to be
a deliberate attempt by MBNA to cause a missed payment, resulting in
penalties
and interest.

My father, who has an identical account, has a much larger payment period.
His
closing date is one day BEFORE mine, and his payment due date is five days
AFTER
mine. The difference is, the bulk of the airplane expenses go on my
account, and
my account usually has a much higher balance (i.e. more interest and
penalty to
MBNA if the payment is missed)

I spoke with MBNA customer support, and their answer was that they're
shortening
everyone's due date, and they just haven't caught up with him yet. This
has
happened to me 3 months in a row (and never to him), so their "database
update"
must be very slow indeed.

I'm going to be composing a letter to AOPA, letting them know of my
difficulties, and suggesting that they switch providers, dumping MBNA for
a more
reputable company. I'm also considering canceling the card, and probably
would
have already were it not for the FBO rebate program (which seems to have
plenty
of its own problems, but that's another story...)

My intent isn't to sit here and whine about the credit card company. I
certainly
believe in taking responsibility for my own finances. I just want to be
able to
specify in my letter to AOPA whether this MBNA crap is an isolated
incident that
has only happened to me, or something that many people have experienced.

And I thought it was just me. I've gotten the MBNA bill and the "you're
late, $39 fee charged!" sitting in the mailbox on the same day. We've dumped
MBNA on account of it.

Kathy

"Kathy" wrote in message
...
wrote in message
...

And I thought it was just me. I've gotten the MBNA bill and the "you're
late, $39 fee charged!" sitting in the mailbox on the same day. We've
dumped
MBNA on account of it.


Unfortunately, surveys shave shown that something like +90% of people will
just tolerate such service.

MBNA knows it and takes advantage of it.

My Credit card is with MBNA and I got a notice a couple of weeks ago
that they were shortning the "grace" period. I always pay my bill in full each
month but I still don't like it.


Trip



but In article , says...

Hello,

This message is to serve two purposes: 1) to warn people about the business
practices of MBNA bank (who provides credit card services to AOPA "aircraft
owners and pilots association" customers), and 2) to find out if others have had
as much trouble as me.

Recently, I've found the payment period on my account significantly reduced, and
the statements mailed late, leaving me with little or no time each month to pay
the bill. As an example, my last bill, dated "5-2-05", arrived on 5-18-05, and
was due 5-23-05. As the service center for MBNA is on the opposite coast from
me, it's nearly impossible to make the payment on time. This appears to me to be
a deliberate attempt by MBNA to cause a missed payment, resulting in penalties
and interest.

My father, who has an identical account, has a much larger payment period. His
closing date is one day BEFORE mine, and his payment due date is five days AFTER
mine. The difference is, the bulk of the airplane expenses go on my account, and
my account usually has a much higher balance (i.e. more interest and penalty to
MBNA if the payment is missed)

I spoke with MBNA customer support, and their answer was that they're shortening
everyone's due date, and they just haven't caught up with him yet. This has
happened to me 3 months in a row (and never to him), so their "database update"
must be very slow indeed.

I'm going to be composing a letter to AOPA, letting them know of my
difficulties, and suggesting that they switch providers, dumping MBNA for a more
reputable company. I'm also considering canceling the card, and probably would
have already were it not for the FBO rebate program (which seems to have plenty
of its own problems, but that's another story...)

My intent isn't to sit here and whine about the credit card company. I certainly
believe in taking responsibility for my own finances. I just want to be able to
specify in my letter to AOPA whether this MBNA crap is an isolated incident that
has only happened to me, or something that many people have experienced.

I'm having the same problem with MBNA. I thought it was just me, but I
see they're doing it to everyone. Time to drop them!

BJ

wrote:

Hello,

This message is to serve two purposes: 1) to warn people about the business
practices of MBNA bank (who provides credit card services to AOPA "aircraft
owners and pilots association" customers), and 2) to find out if others have had
as much trouble as me.

Recently, I've found the payment period on my account significantly reduced, and
the statements mailed late, leaving me with little or no time each month to pay
the bill. As an example, my last bill, dated "5-2-05", arrived on 5-18-05, and
was due 5-23-05. As the service center for MBNA is on the opposite coast from
me, it's nearly impossible to make the payment on time. This appears to me to be
a deliberate attempt by MBNA to cause a missed payment, resulting in penalties
and interest.

My father, who has an identical account, has a much larger payment period. His
closing date is one day BEFORE mine, and his payment due date is five days AFTER
mine. The difference is, the bulk of the airplane expenses go on my account, and
my account usually has a much higher balance (i.e. more interest and penalty to
MBNA if the payment is missed)

I spoke with MBNA customer support, and their answer was that they're shortening
everyone's due date, and they just haven't caught up with him yet. This has
happened to me 3 months in a row (and never to him), so their "database update"
must be very slow indeed.

I'm going to be composing a letter to AOPA, letting them know of my
difficulties, and suggesting that they switch providers, dumping MBNA for a more
reputable company. I'm also considering canceling the card, and probably would
have already were it not for the FBO rebate program (which seems to have plenty
of its own problems, but that's another story...)

My intent isn't to sit here and whine about the credit card company. I certainly
believe in taking responsibility for my own finances. I just want to be able to
specify in my letter to AOPA whether this MBNA crap is an isolated incident that
has only happened to me, or something that many people have experienced.

(John Clear) writes:


Like the other poster said, check the postmark, since my bill got
to me (in California) in under a week.

I get many bills with no stamp/meter imprint and thus no postmark.
"Prepay permit" is all you see...


--
A host is a host from coast to
& no one will talk to a host that's close........[v].(301) 56-LINUX
Unless the host (that isn't close).........................pob 1433
is busy, hung or dead....................................20915-1433

In article , andrew m. boardman wrote:
This message is to serve two purposes: 1) to warn people about the business
practices of MBNA bank (who provides credit card services to AOPA "aircraft
owners and pilots association" customers)

The thick packet of changes to account terms they've been sending around
should provide plenty of warning all by itself. The new 3% surcharge on
non-USD transactions is enough by itself to get my card circular-filed.

I haven't heard anyone who's had a really positive experience of MBNA.
All my experiences of them have been negative (starting from the
'pre-approved AOPA credit card' that really wasn't pre-approved at all).
I won't touch MBNA with a six foot barge pole after their excuse for
'customer service'.

--
Dylan Smith, Castletown, Isle of Man
Flying: http://www.dylansmith.net
Frontier Elite Universe: http://www.alioth.net
"Maintain thine airspeed, lest the ground come up and smite thee"

Dylan Smith wrote:
I haven't heard anyone who's had a really positive experience of MBNA.
All my experiences of them have been negative ...

Dylan,
I use the AOPA/MBNA credit card strictly for AV GAS purchase. I use
the online payment option and find it extremely convenient. MBNA
allows me to specify which day to apply the payment & the online
payment option can pretty much start anytime. I also apply for the 5%
rebate online. I have never had any problems with them over the last 4
years.

All my experiences of them have been negative (starting from the
'pre-approved AOPA credit card' that really wasn't pre-approved at all).

Obviously you missed the issue of Consumer Reports where one of them
got one of those "You've been pre-approved for $xxxxx" credit card
letter. So he called, and they started asking the usual "How much do
you make? Do you own your on home? Etc." questions.

He interrupts the guy and asks "Wait, it says here I am pre-approved.
So why do I need to answer all these questions?"

He said, in the magazine, that the guy on the other end of the phone
never missed a beat. Just replied "Yes, Sir. You are indeed
PRE-approved. And as soon as we complete all these forms, you will be
APPROVED." G

If you haven't done so, you need to sign up an online account with MBNA
and see all your credit card transaction, including the statements,
right off their website. In this day and age with all the fraud going
on, it's important to check the credit accounts reguarly, like every
couple days. If you do that you will know your balance due right away.
Sign up online banking with your bank and pay it online.


wrote:
Hello,

This message is to serve two purposes: 1) to warn people about the business
practices of MBNA bank (who provides credit card services to AOPA "aircraft
owners and pilots association" customers), and 2) to find out if others have had
as much trouble as me.

Recently, I've found the payment period on my account significantly reduced, and
the statements mailed late, leaving me with little or no time each month to pay
the bill. As an example, my last bill, dated "5-2-05", arrived on 5-18-05, and
was due 5-23-05. As the service center for MBNA is on the opposite coast from
me, it's nearly impossible to make the payment on time. This appears to me to be
a deliberate attempt by MBNA to cause a missed payment, resulting in penalties
and interest.

My father, who has an identical account, has a much larger payment period. His
closing date is one day BEFORE mine, and his payment due date is five days AFTER
mine. The difference is, the bulk of the airplane expenses go on my account, and
my account usually has a much higher balance (i.e. more interest and penalty to
MBNA if the payment is missed)

I spoke with MBNA customer support, and their answer was that they're shortening
everyone's due date, and they just haven't caught up with him yet. This has
happened to me 3 months in a row (and never to him), so their "database update"
must be very slow indeed.

I'm going to be composing a letter to AOPA, letting them know of my
difficulties, and suggesting that they switch providers, dumping MBNA for a more
reputable company. I'm also considering canceling the card, and probably would
have already were it not for the FBO rebate program (which seems to have plenty
of its own problems, but that's another story...)

My intent isn't to sit here and whine about the credit card company. I certainly
believe in taking responsibility for my own finances. I just want to be able to
specify in my letter to AOPA whether this MBNA crap is an isolated incident that
has only happened to me, or something that many people have experienced.