CIBC Credit Card Issue

[Devils'Advocate]

I have a no-frills, no-points, no-nothing CIBC credit card. Had the card since the 90s and until now have had no problems.

I received a call last month from CIBC asking if I wanted to upgrade to their Aerogold card. I said no way... I didn't want to pay the annual fee.

Yesterday the Aerogold card arrived by mail. The annual fee was posted on my existing no-points card!!

I absolutely told them in no uncertain terms that I did NOT want this card. I'm thinking that the phone person probably gets paid commission on any new customers they get, and in an attempt to get some extra cash, they marked me as wanting the new card.

I could probably just call them up, have them cancel the card and get my annual fee back. But why do I have to jump through hoops because of their incompetence? At the very least, I will be dropping my no-frills card with them.

I'm wondering if this was just one rogue agent, or if CIBC is doing this as standard procedure - "upgrading" existing customers whether they want it or not, hoping that most won't bother going through the hassle to have it reversed.

[Pinner]

I agree the original phone call was likely recorded

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by Devils'Advocate

I could probably just call them up, have them cancel the card and get my annual fee back. But why do I have to jump through hoops because of their incompetence?

I would file a chargeback against them. Call them up and ask how you report an unauthorized charge, and how you file to get it reversed.

[Devils'Advocate]

What does a chargeback do other than give me my $120? I'm sure if I call and say cancel the card and the fee, I'll get my money. I'm just peeved that I have to go through this effort in what is obviously a fraud, either by CIBC or a rogue agent.

[bc-chris]

I absolutely told them in no uncertain terms that I did NOT want this card. I'm thinking that the phone person probably gets paid commission on any new customers they get, and in an attempt to get some extra cash, they marked me as wanting the new card.

i had something very similar happen about 9 years ago... also with cibc.

my wife and i went in to get a mortgage thru cibc and at the same time i set up a business account. i was asked about the areogold and said no way - i don't pay anyone to use their credit card!

a few weeks later an areocard BILL shows up... no card - just a bill for $120. i called them asked what was up and they said that was the bill for my card. i told them that i never asked for a card and that i had refused it becuz of the fee. i also told them that i never received the card (that i didn't ask for in the first place).

i was told not to worry about it and that they would take care of it.

the next month i get another areogold statement.... i'm thinking, 'no surprise - this should say that the charges are reversed, the account is at $0 and the card in cancelled'... nope... statement for $120 + interest.

so i called again.... i was little 'short' with whoever i talked to since i was now pi$$ed off. again i was told that it would be taken care of.

30 days later - a third statement shows up - and yup - $120 + interest + interest. this time i called and i freakin' lost it on the poor lady that answered the phone.

30 days later - a forth statement - all charges reversed and the card (that i never did receive) was canceled

[Devils'Advocate]

Okay, I called CIBC credit card services and they explained what happened. It was NOT based on the phone call I received, but rather on the mailing that I received.

- CIBC sent me a mail asking if I wanted to upgrade to their gold card with a return envelope.
- I returned the application in the return envelope with the only thing written on the application form was "please do not send me junk mail".
- Whatever agent received the notification only looked at the name side of the form and didn't look to see if I filled in the application side and the authorization side and ASSUMED I wanted the new card.
- The agent then CANCELLED my old card and issued this new card.

Credit card services said that they will speak with the agent and coach him that he MUST check to see if the card has an authorizing signature on it. But he said there was nothing they could do to get my no-frills card back. Once a card is cancelled, it's cancelled for good. So given that it was their mistake and that I now have to call around to all the places that do auto-deductions off my credit card and change the number, he offered to waive the fee for the first year and give me a $100 credit. I negotiated $250.

I'll keep the card temporarily, use the 15,000 Aeroplan miles that come with the new card, use the $250 and then cancel. I have already asked TD to send me one of THEIR cards.