A 79.9% Interest Rate on a Credit Card
One of the scariest credit score experiences was lived by Toni Riss of Texas. She had a First Premier card with an introductory rate that went from 29.9% to 79.9%. Given that the card was Riss’ life-saving instrument, the rate increase generated quite a shock.
Although the First Premier Bankcard CEO Miles Beacom admitted the increase shouldn’t have occurred, he nevertheless acknowledged that the 79.9% existed before being reduced to 59.9%. To make matters worse, people who own that type of card are charged $135 a year in fees as they try to fix and improve their credit score.