Pampered Chef Visa: Excluding APO Consultants for Overseas Applicants

[angmillar]

Welll....

I called today to apply for my new card, and I was told over the phone that APO consultants cannot apply for this card. They don't accept overseas applicants.

What is that????

Any other APOers out there actually apply for this card?

 

[The_Kitchen_Guy]

Dear Ms. Millar,Thank you for serving our country and representing us overseas. As a reward for your loyalty and dedication, here is your official kick in the ass. Thanks for applying but please get lost until you're back home. Warmest regards,Visa

 

[chefann]

That's a load of BS, Angie! You need to send a note to HO that their new Visa partner refuses to service all their consultants. They need to know that. And you should also ask them if alternate arrangements are being made for APO consultants to use a different card for payment.

 

[angmillar]

KG... Your post is EXACTLY how I felt on the phone. Boy, did I get heated during that call. You would think they could at least accomodate us.

And, Ann... I plan on calling HO as soon as they open today. Surely, something will be done about this. I don't use my credit card to submit shows, but I DEFINITELY need one just in case.

I'll keep you all updated.

 

[erinyourpclady]

Dear Ms. Millar,

Thank you for serving our country and representing us overseas. As a reward for your loyalty and dedication, here is your official kick in the ass. Thanks for applying but please get lost until you're back home.

Warmest regards,

Visa

How frightening it is that KG read all my mail from while we were in Okinawa!
I got that response a lot but even better was the response that many companies had to charge us more shipping because it was going overseas! Um hello..you send it to the East or West Coast and then it gets put on Military planes jerk!

 

[BethCooks4U]

I say alert the media. Start a national campaign. This is ridiculous! Those that serve our country deserve discounts and special perks not refusals and higher prices! I am going to write my congressman. I am also going to call my local TV station (one of my consultant's is an executive assistant there - she would know who to contact).

 

[legacypc46]

Angie,
Let us know what HO says. I found that a lot of times I'd be dealing with a customer service rep who was just simply clueless about understanding how APOs work. You may have gotten one that didn't understand that just because your overseas, you still have a US address. (Being overseas didn't seem to stem the flow of "welcome, you are pre-approved for our ridiculously high interest rate and fee-heavy credit card" offers!)
leggy

 

[vwpamperedchef]

I am outraged!! Definately call HO and if you don't get satisfaction with a rep as for a supervisor and go up the chain!

Unbelieveable!

Keep us posted.

 

[angmillar]

Angie,
Let us know what HO says. I found that a lot of times I'd be dealing with a customer service rep who was just simply clueless about understanding how APOs work. You may have gotten one that didn't understand that just because your overseas, you still have a US address. (Being overseas didn't seem to stem the flow of "welcome, you are pre-approved for our ridiculously high interest rate and fee-heavy credit card" offers!)
leggy

That's what I was thinking, but I actually spoke to a supervisor with New Millenium, and she said the same thing. But, it just can't be right...

You guys are AWESOME, though!! Thanks for the support.

I'll keep you all updated.

 

[chefann]

I am so mad about this that I could just spit! I can't believe that there are companies out there who refuse goods and services to US citizens who protect and serve this country. Especially when they have, for all intents and purposes, US mailing addresses! It doesn't cost any more to send a card or a package to an APO address than one in a neighboring state.

That's it. My New Millennium card is going in a box and I'm not using it. Poo on them! (I'd love to say something stronger, but this is a family site.)

 

[RebelChef]

First of all, this is outrageous and totally discriminatory. I would refuse their card just on principle.

Secondly, I just looked at the terms and conditions for the card and I have to wonder what the company was thinking? Those are pretty crappy terms. Variable rates? Sliding scale fee for overlimit? The cashback incentive is laughable. Basically, this card is not a good deal.

I disagree with the company only allowing one card, of their choosing, anyway. The people who have the previous card can't use it after the end of the year and if they carry a balance, will be paying for it as well as the new card. That's setting some people up for disaster. A visa card is a visa card no matter what bank it's issued through and we should have a choice as to what bank/company we do business with. They give us the ability to have our own business and run it as we see fit but tie our hands on this. I'll be sticking with the debit card.

 

[stephanieboyd]

I am so mad about this that I could just spit! I can't believe that there are companies out there who refuse goods and services to US citizens who protect and serve this country. Especially when they have, for all intents and purposes, US mailing addresses! It doesn't cost any more to send a card or a package to an APO address than one in a neighboring state.

That's it. My New Millennium card is going in a box and I'm not using it. Poo on them! (I'd love to say something stronger, but this is a family site.)

Ann,

I am with you on this one!! I had no intention of getting the card anyway, but if enough of you (stateside reps) refuse to use the card maybe HO would go with a card that we could all have the opportunity to use if we chose too!!

I don't post that often anymore, but this one has my blood boiling!!! I just had the same fight with Royal Carribean Cruiselines while buying $1000 gift certificates for my parents for Christmas. Somehow, they couldn't mail the freakin' card to my address???? What the heck is that??? It's no bigger than a birthday or Christmas card, why can't they??

I am getting a little tired of being the asterisk at the bottom of an offer, always in the small print. It's this way with everything!! The gift baskets from PC with Merry Maids, Omaha Steaks, etc--yeah we didn't count for that.....the Home Depot gift cards last year or $10,000 dream kitchen--nope not for us!!! The gas gift cards--sorry, we are excluded there too!!!

Boycott the dumb credit card until PC wises up and lets us all play in the reindeer games!!! :grumpy: :grumpy:

 

[chefann]

I had to rant about this on my blog. Argh!!

Here's a thought- New Millennium sent out a note yesterday that consultants who got the card will be receiving an email with a $25 certificate to Omaha Steaks. I say we all reply to that note and let them know that instead of a coupon to be used on overpriced products, we'd rather they make their card available to all US consultants, whether they're stateside or overseas with military addresses. And let them know that we will not be using the card until they change their discriminatory practices.

 

[jrstephens]

Let us know what HO says. This is ridiculous.

I say we start an email campaign to HO if they do not fix the problem and let them know those that have applied will NOT use the card and that those of us that have not applied will NOT apply until these policies are changed. We need to ALL stick together on this and stand up for what it is right!

 

[dianevill]

That really stinks - please keep us posted on what HO says. I've already boycotted the card, so this is another nail in the coffin.

I'm tired of getting the e-mails, "You MUST apply for the new Visa card..." No, I mustn't. I feel like HO isharrassing me. I just got a letter in the mail from them yesterday, too. The LAST thing I need is another charge card.

Good luck!

 

[chefann]

I found the perfect smilie for this situation: http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb315/chefann1138/smilies/slider_gaah.gif

 

[janetupnorth]

I found the perfect smilie for this situation: http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb315/chefann1138/smilies/slider_gaah.gif

I can think of some better... ...but that one is cute and clean!

 

[missyciccolella]

Welll....

I called today to apply for my new card, and I was told over the phone that APO consultants cannot apply for this card. They don't accept overseas applicants.

What is that????

Any other APOers out there actually apply for this card?

They can't do that...you have a US address (hence the APO AE address)...you probably can't use it on the economy in Europe (there were very few places we could use our US credit cards while living in Germany...we had to pay cash for almost everything). I would call back, and see if you can speak with a manager as the person you were speaking with may not have understood you are an American living overseas on US military installation...you can always say, "Wow, wouldn't America love to know how this company truly supports our troops! What is the phone number to Katie Couric?" - that should get their attention. Seriously though, call back and for the time being I'll give them the benefit of the doubt the person you were speaking with was new or just didn't get it.

 

[DebbieJ]

I'm tired of getting the e-mails, "You MUST apply for the new Visa card..." No, I mustn't. I feel like HO isharrassing me. I just got a letter in the mail from them yesterday, too. The LAST thing I need is another charge card.

Tell me about it! DH and I are on a plan to get out of debt (Dave Ramsey, which has been discussed here) and there is no way in youknowwhere that I'm applying for this card. My PC debit works just fine for all PC purposes, thank you very much.

And now hearing about what they're doing to our overseas consultants just confirms my decision to not apply.

 

[chefann]

I'm with you on that, Janet. But as I wrote in my earlier post, this is a family site.

 

[ChefJoyJ]

Oh my word - I'm so mad for you!! I would like to think that this was an oversight and easily corrected, but I'm afraid their ignorance is intentional. Call HO and let them have a piece of your mind! To think that a credit card company (of their choosing) is refusing to issue a card to an APO address (which is technically a US address) and to a family member of a service member overseas!

I personally want to thank your husband (and you) for all that you both are doing - all the sacrifices, hard work, and our freedom! God bless you!!

 

[The_Kitchen_Guy]

I had to rant about this on my blog. Argh!!

Here's a thought- New Millennium sent out a note yesterday that consultants who got the card will be receiving an email with a $25 certificate to Omaha Steaks. I say we all reply to that note and let them know that instead of a coupon to be used on overpriced products, we'd rather they make their card available to all US consultants, whether they're stateside or overseas with military addresses. And let them know that we will not be using the card until they change their discriminatory practices.

This card needs a steak through the heart!

 

[finley1991]

Tell me about it! DH and I are on a plan to get out of debt (Dave Ramsey, which has been discussed here) and there is no way in youknowwhere that I'm applying for this card. My PC debit works just fine for all PC purposes, thank you very much.

And now hearing about what they're doing to our overseas consultants just confirms my decision to not apply.

Me too Deb!!!!! I have no intention of getting this card.

 

[redsoxgirl]

I'm tired of getting the e-mails, "You MUST apply for the new Visa card..." No, I mustn't. I feel like HO isharrassing me. I just got a letter in the mail from them yesterday, too. The LAST thing I need is another charge card.

I couldn't agree more!

I have 2 credit cards under my name and husband is paying off huge amounts of debt from when he was in college and bought everything on credit cards. Another credit card is a no-no for us - especially with those rates and great cash-back rewards!

 

[sfdavis918]

Tell me about it! DH and I are on a plan to get out of debt (Dave Ramsey, which has been discussed here) and there is no way in youknowwhere that I'm applying for this card. My PC debit works just fine for all PC purposes, thank you very much.

And now hearing about what they're doing to our overseas consultants just confirms my decision to not apply.

I'm on the plan too! No way I am getting this card. This is just a perfect example of the snakes that Dave talks about. Everything about this card just screams BAD DEAL!!!!

 

[ChefJoyJ]

So what did HO say when you called??

 

[dianevill]

She's probably on hold for 3 hours . That was my hold time this morning...

 

[chefann]

Don't forget that Angie's in Japan, where they're about 12 hours from HO, time-wise.

 

[stephanieboyd]

And it costs a fortune to call that 800 number from overseas!!! She will probably email them tomorrow.

I am drafting my nasty-gram now!!

 

[angmillar]

Hi all...

You all are amazing!! Thank you so much for your support for all of us living overseas with our military spouses.

As for the update... it's 7:45 AM here, and I've just got the girls' breakfast together. I just checked email and called the solution center. There's an hour wait, so I opted for a call back. THANK GOD FOR VONAGE!!! Before we had it, I had to HOLD for the entire amount of time, all the while paying for the call. (Free numbers aren't free here.)

I'll post as soon as they return my call. Thanks again.... you all are wonderful!