AOPA / MBNA credit card problems

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.

On 20 May 2005 22:24:52 -0700, wrote:


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.


I use mycheckfree.com to conduct most of my payments online. It
captures an electronic ebill from the company and automatically looks
at the minimum. You can set it up so that only the minimum will be
paid when it is due or you can specify an amount to be paid monthly or
you can go in each month and pay what ever you want to. I have an
AOPA card and I only look at the charges to make sure that nothing
doesnt belong and then I let the mycheckfree take care of the rest.
This way, I dont have to worry about missed bills or late payments.

BTW, when was the envelope postmarked. Could the bill have been lost
in the mail and then finally found its way? Just a thought.


Scott D

To email remove spamcatcher's

No, you're not alone. MBNA is doing this to everyone. Fortunately,
the only use of my AOPA/MBNA card is aircraft expenses (charts,
etc.) at the FBO. And the hangar. Yes, I put my hangar rental
on the card. And get the 5% discount, since the FBO manages the
hangars.

However if MBNA gets anymore snotty, then the card's going to
be cancelled.

In article , wrote:

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.

Closing date of 5-16-05, bill received 5-21-05, payment due 6-10-05.

In my experience, MBNA is slightly less evil then some of the other
credit card companies. Twice I've missed the payment due date,
and called them, and they gave me a payment holiday so that there
would be no penalty for late payment. Citi sits on payments for
up to a week before crediting your account, even for electronic
payments. MBNA only sits on epayments for two days,

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

John
--
John Clear - http://www.clear-prop.org/

"John Clear" wrote in message
...
In article , wrote:

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.

Closing date of 5-16-05, bill received 5-21-05, payment due 6-10-05.

In my experience, MBNA is slightly less evil then some of the other
credit card companies. Twice I've missed the payment due date,
and called them, and they gave me a payment holiday so that there
would be no penalty for late payment. Citi sits on payments for
up to a week before crediting your account, even for electronic
payments. MBNA only sits on epayments for two days,

A few years ago CitiBank got hit (something like $300 million) for sitting
on payments. Of course, the Feds mandated NOTHING back to the card holders
that were screwed (more $$$ for the feds).

John Clear wrote:

In my experience, MBNA is slightly less evil then some of the other
credit card companies.

Not in my opinion. MBNA has made more mistakes than any other company
I've dealt with.

"Ron Natalie" wrote in message
...
John Clear wrote:

In my experience, MBNA is slightly less evil then some of the other
credit card companies.

Not in my opinion. MBNA has made more mistakes than any other company
I've dealt with.

as far as i am concerned mbna is nothing but a group of thieves. I
have had there card for a number of years and never carried a balance. last
year i had a bad annual inspection and it hit me up for a few thousand, put
it on the card and payed it it off next statement. statement after that my
apr went from 8 to almost 18 percent. called mbna. asked what the hell is
going on. there response was that because i had used over half my credit
line i was now a poor credit risk. After laughing a few minutes i told them
to kiss my ass and cancelled my card. I would suggest using capitol one i
have had good experience was them. Bye the way,if AOPA wants to do business
with scumbags like that i wont have anything to do with there business
partners.

tony zambon
grumman 9941L

On 5/21/05 00:24, " 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.


I noticed the same thing. I have a reminder set on my computer to check
online for the bill posting. I then request the rebate and pay the balance
online. I don't wait for the paper bill. My paper statement was so late this
last month that I requested another one be sent before receiving the first
one.

Another rant, I think it's BS that I can't set up auto-draft to a checking
account the pay the bill in full every month - like I can with every card,
utility, etc.... The only options for auto payment is a fixed amount or the
minimum due.

- Don
The preservation of liberty depends upon the intellectual and
moral character of the people. - John Quincy Adams

wrote:
snip
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...)

You can do what you want, but I think you're wasting your time.
This has to be about the 10th time I've seen someone complaining about
the AOPA MNBA card in the last few months (with all the others saying
they were going to complain to AOPA).

The short of it is that MNBA contracts with AOPA for this card, not
because it's supposed to benefit you as a member, but because MBNA is
willing to pay AOPA the most money for their customer (uhh,,I mean
"member") list.

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". They are there because the banks and insurance
companies that you'll ultimately deal with are hoping you'll choose
them automatically because they have the AOPA name (that you trust) on
them. To them you are not a member, you are just another customer.

John Galban=====N4BQ (PA28-180)

I'd been an MBNA customer for several years and they used to be pretty
good to me as far as a credit card outfit goes. I too noticed a
disturbing trend in their behavior, so as soon as I got my balance down
to where I could pay it all off, I did and closed out my account with
them, never to do business with them again. Something certainly smelled
fishy going on with them.