Pampered Chef Visa: Excluding APO Consultants for Overseas Applicants

[The_Kitchen_Guy]

Just one more service we graciously supply.Along with the usual foolishness, smart remarks, jokes, insults and wry observations of life.

 

[Jean DeVries]

Hey!

This type of ignorant, non-reputable practice is exactly what made me NOT get the new Visa. (I mean, seriously...what kind of cracker jack operation doesn't hand out cards globally? Visa is Visa....).

When HO first announced this change, I sent them a rather curt but polite letter saying that, thank you very much, them pretending that the rewards that came with this card were significant enough to outweight the questionable terms and conditions was insulting, and if they really wanted to make consultants, particularly this one happy, they could allow me to use my airlines miles Visa card. After all, my customers can use whatever card they want to, but the company consultants can't? Ridiculous.

Apparently my 4 shows a year weren't enough to motivate them to make me happy

I opted for the debit card after the first of the year. Unfortunately, this means I won't be able to offer my customers the payment flexibility I did in the past (many people where I work liked the fact that I would hold their checks until payday, which was always before the card bill came) and sales will probably suffer.

I'm dying to hear what HO told you. Kind of puts you in a bit o' a jam, then doesn't it, if they force you to use a Visa card that the Visa company won't give you?

 

[angmillar]

Well, here's the scoop.

When I recieved the call back, the guy on the phone just told me to always use my debit card. He told me that I didn't really need the Visa, anyway. Obviously, I didn't like this answer. The fact that I can use my debit card really isn't the point. Besides, when I travel to the states and do shows, I like having the credit card to use. After telling him all of this, he transferred me to someone in finance. The gal didn't answer, so I left her a message.

I waited for three hours for her to call me, and when she didn't I called the Solution Center again. The representative this time told me that they had all received an email about this situation. TPC had been working on a solution with NM. And, here's what I have to do...

In order to receive this credit card, I have to apply with a stateside address. Once the card is received in the mail, then the person at that stateside address can send it to me. Then, once I receive the card, I can call NM, and they will send my statements to my APO address. I guess NM can't run a credit check on an APO addresses. (Crazy, since other banks can do it.)

UGH! It's not worth it. I don't like the fact that I'll have a credit card in my name arriving at my brother's house in the states (hopefully arriving, since my name will be the only the name on the envelope), then him sending it to me. And, I don't understand how I can be approved for a card at my brother's stateside address, but not my very own APO address.

I was told this is the only resolution.

 

[The_Kitchen_Guy]

What part of "...APO is an address in the United States..." do they not understand???ARRRGH!

 

[katie0128]

I had just applied for this card to be my "backup", but haven't activated it yet. After reading about Angie's issues, I'm going to call and cancel it tomorrow. There is no reason for all of this nonsense. My 20-year old baby brother leaves for Marine boot camp in 17 days and it pains me to think that for all he is going to give up he would be treated with this lack of respect and common courtesy.

 

[legacypc46]

Wow, not only is this an incredibly stupid 'solution', it makes me wonder what kind of company TPC is dealing with here.

Since we're venting on this new VISA, I don't get why TPC went with such lousy terms and dubious 'rewards'. Limiting us to one card (of their choosing) is frustrating enough, but with today's consumer/credit problems, why offer a card that just screams lousy service and problems from the get go?

Another gripe is the incessant and poorly worded emails promoting it. More than one consultant on my team initially thought they HAD to get the new card (that it was replacing the debit card).

I love so much about this company, but this new VISA was, IMHO, a lousy business decision.

 

[angmillar]

PC is always very accomodating with APOs. I'm guessing this issue took them by surprise. NM probably just has some kind of program that won't allow APO addresses. I could understand it better if all credit card companies were like that, but I know for a fact that some companies do allow APO addresses for the application. (I recently just received an Amazon card.)

Knowing how great our company is, I wouldn't be surprised if something else wasn't done about this. It'd be nice if every APO consultant received an email or something explaining the process, too.

 

[chefann]

Ugh. This completely stinks. Makes me wonder how much of a kickback HO is getting from NM.You mention you just got an Amazon card. Now THERE'S a card it would be good to charge shows/supplies on! DH loves getting the reward certificates from them.I never really thought about it before, but it is total BS that we can't use whatever the heck card we want to. My theory is that it's so HO can handle problems faster because they know who they're contacting, etc.I wonder how many of us have to write a firmly worded letter to HO and NM to get either of them to change their policies?

 

[pamperedlinda]

Ugh. This completely stinks. Makes me wonder how much of a kickback HO is getting from NM.

You mention you just got an Amazon card. Now THERE'S a card it would be good to charge shows/supplies on! DH loves getting the reward certificates from them.

I never really thought about it before, but it is total BS that we can't use whatever the heck card we want to. My theory is that it's so HO can handle problems faster because they know who they're contacting, etc.

I wonder how many of us have to write a firmly worded letter to HO and NM to get either of them to change their policies?

I'm sure HO only uses one card company because they get a huge break in CC processing fees. If they were to allow all consultants to use their own card then their CC fees would be much higher...which would then be passed on to us and to our customers. My other guess is that since a lot of cards give miles and rewards that there were alot of consultants who would put all of their shows on those cards and then cashing in the rewards that technically they did not earn and were thereby cheating the CC company. That's what I think.

As far as I'm concerned, I don't really care what card HO wants me to use.....a card is a card....but after reading Angie's dilemna I too don't think that HO even considered that it would be a problem. I'm sure that there will be a resolution on this issue soon. HO takes very good care of us and I've yet to see them say "oh well, too bad...." Give them a few days to work on it and I bet we'll hear something positive from this situation :chef: .

 

[BethCooks4U]

I'm sure HO only uses one card company because they get a huge break in CC processing fees. If they were to allow all consultants to use their own card then their CC fees would be much higher...which would then be passed on to us and to our customers. My other guess is that since a lot of cards give miles and rewards that there were alot of consultants who would put all of their shows on those cards and then cashing in the rewards that technically they did not earn and were thereby cheating the CC company. That's what I think.

As far as I'm concerned, I don't really care what card HO wants me to use.....a card is a card....but after reading Angie's dilemna I too don't think that HO even considered that it would be a problem. I'm sure that there will be a resolution on this issue soon. HO takes very good care of us and I've yet to see them say "oh well, too bad...." Give them a few days to work on it and I bet we'll hear something positive from this situation :chef: .

Kind of how they listened to our being upset that Merrill is our only vendor?

 

[pamperedlinda]

Kind of how they listened to our being upset that Merrill is our only vendor?

Yeah. Same....but different....

 

[ChefBeckyD]

Kind of how they listened to our being upset that Merrill is our only vendor?

LOL! Yeah - and how they've listened to our being upset with Fed-Ex!!!

Big Business is Big Business.

 

[trps]

Just to be sure my customers can still use any card they want correct???

 

[chefann]

Oh, yes. It's only consultant purchases that are affected. And we can still use our PC Debit, too. (That point has not been made real clear in some of the notes from HO.)

 

[sfdavis918]

Wow, not only is this an incredibly stupid 'solution', it makes me wonder what kind of company TPC is dealing with here.

Since we're venting on this new VISA, I don't get why TPC went with such lousy terms and dubious 'rewards'. Limiting us to one card (of their choosing) is frustrating enough, but with today's consumer/credit problems, why offer a card that just screams lousy service and problems from the get go?

Another gripe is the incessant and poorly worded emails promoting it. More than one consultant on my team initially thought they HAD to get the new card (that it was replacing the debit card).

I love so much about this company, but this new VISA was, IMHO, a lousy business decision.

I don't think this was poor wording, I think it worked exactly how they wanted it to. Make us think we have to get it so that more people sign up.

 

[Kitchen Diva]

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.

Omaha Steaks are not "that" good!
I have gotten 12 emails, and 3 card offers in the mail from PC's new credit card company. I am scratching my head as to why they went with this company, and the only thing I can think of is that CHASE was raising people's interest rates without notifying them- whenever they felt like it. I didn't have the old card, and the way they are pushing this new card makes me wonder...

I have heard so many complaints about this card it makes me wonder why the HO didn't send everyone an email asking them what they would like in a credit card company before they forced people into a contract with a credit card company that is so user Un-friendly.

My husband is Retired Air Force, and I feel for those in APO's! I don't think you should be descriminated in any way shape or form, and this is, IMHO a huge oversight by the planning committee at the HO that chose this card company.

I agree with everything everyone has said about our Military members and their families. THe last thing they need is grief because they are sacrificing for our greater good!

God Bless all of you cheffers who are married to, or family members of Military personnel serving over seas! I am greatful for you and pray for you daily!

 

[Kitchen Diva]

PC is always very accomodating with APOs. I'm guessing this issue took them by surprise. NM probably just has some kind of program that won't allow APO addresses. I could understand it better if all credit card companies were like that, but I know for a fact that some companies do allow APO addresses for the application. (I recently just received an Amazon card.)

Knowing how great our company is, I wouldn't be surprised if something else wasn't done about this. It'd be nice if every APO consultant received an email or something explaining the process, too.

You would think the "New-Credit-Card" Committee would have asked about overseas consultants...if they were dotting all their i's and crossing all their t's this wouldn't have caught them by surprise!

Grrrrr

 

[Jean DeVries]

As much as I love PC and think it's a great company, I'm pretty sure that the interest rates we were being charged by Chase didn't even enter their minds. My rates with Chase have never gone up, and in fact I have transferred balances from other cards to the Chase card because the interest rates were lower.

And if our needs were really a concern, they would have switched us to a more reputable company.

They are doing it because the credit card fees to them (PC) are lower. Predatory companies like NM often negotiate lower CC processing fees with larger companies, like PC, because they get a pre-made customer base. Think about it....we are thousands of less customers NM has to go solicit...PC is doing it for them by making us use the card. So they have leverage to negotiate lower CC processing fees. HO doesn't have to pay the higher fees of a reputable company (who has enough existing customers they don't really need PC's maling list. And how did Chase get millions of customers? No doubt by sending their cards to people overseas ). It's a win-win for both companies.

 

[The_Kitchen_Guy]

Jean, thanks for bringing this up again. You and I, along with some other Cheffers, described this phenomenon in this thread: Have y'all talked about new pc visa back in October.See Page 2 of that thread.

 

[chefann]

I forgot about that previous conversation. Thanks, Jean and KG.I got the new card because sometimes I need to order things when the cash isn't yet in the account - like getting product samples or supplies before commission is deposited. But after Angie's experience, and re-reading some of the info about NM, I'm planning on NEVER using this card. I'll just have to boost my show schedule so I always have a "cash cushion" in the account. (And how is a busier show schedule a bad thing?)

 

[ChefBeckyD]

I have completely ignored all emails and mailings telling me I MUST get this new card. I've said it several times - Big Business is Big Business.

I too love PC - but I am not naive, nor do I have my head in the clouds or the sand...when it comes right down to it, a company will always look first at the benefit to the company - and not individuals in their employ. Does that make me a pessimist? I think of myself as a realist.

 

[sfdavis918]

I have completely ignored all emails and mailings telling me I MUST get this new card. I've said it several times - Big Business is Big Business.

I too love PC - but I am not naive, nor do I have my head in the clouds or the sand...when it comes right down to it, a company will always look first at the benefit to the company - and not individuals in their employ. Does that make me a pessimist? I think of myself as a realist.

I agree, a realist.

 

[The_Kitchen_Guy]

Management of a company changes when it answers to stockholders instead of an owner.

 

[ChefBeckyD]

Management of a company changes when it answers to stockholders instead of an owner.

And I've never seen it for the better.

 

[stephanieboyd]

I have composed my firmly-worded letter to HO. I was hoping this would be resolved for Angie before having to send it. I am so mad that I am on the verge of resigning my consultantship over it!!!! What's worse, I don't even want this friggin' card!!!

 

[Jean DeVries]

Hey -

What about the possibility that HO picked this crappy company on purpose to push more of us to debit cards? Those are completely free to process.....

....just ruminating.....

 

[legacypc46]

Jean, I crack up every time I see your avatar!

 

[sfdavis918]

Hey -

What about the possibility that HO picked this crappy company on purpose to push more of us to debit cards? Those are completely free to process.....

....just ruminating.....

Thanks Jean! I have just decided that that is what I am going to believe!

 

[angmillar]

I'm definitely not applying for the new card. I'm also working on email to send to HO and NM about it.

I do believe this was a forsight on PC, but I was hoping they would find some sort of soultion. I don't really think using an address in the states in order to actually get this card is an acceptable one.

I would only like to have the card so I can submit shows when I am in the states on leave. Before, I had some guests that preferred to pay by check. It was easier to cash those checks at my bank in Kentucky, submit the show with my ccard, then pay off the card. Oh well.... I'm guessing one good thing is that I doubt I'll be going home during our last 14 months in Oki.

I do want to thank you all for your support. You all are just AMAZING!!