Report unsatisfactory credit card company
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 Dear Dr. Don,
I signed up for a credit card with Guardian
Financial about three months ago. They took $249 out of my checking
account and said it would take 25 days to get the card. It's
been almost two months and they keep saying you should be getting
it in the next day or two. Have I been ripped off, and should
I call the Better Business Bureau? Thanks for your time!
-- Tanya Took
 Dear
Tanya,
There are quite a few complaints about this company bouncing
around on the Internet. Others, like you, paid $249 or more
to receive a credit card with a $2,000 to $5,000 credit line
at zero percent interest over the next three years. What they
received in return didn't match the card holders' expectations
for the card.
The
Better Business Bureau lists 12 companies nationally with
the name Guardian Financial. The only one listed as providing
credit card services is Guardian Financial Benefits in Champlain,
N.Y. This firm had 39 complaints lodged against it in the
previous 12 months and it doesn't seem to be particularly
responsive in correcting these complaints.
At this point you're better off filing a complaint
with the Federal
Trade Commission than reporting the company to the Better
Business Bureau -- although there's no harm in doing both.
You should also contact your state's attorney general. The
National Association of Attorneys General maintains a
listing that includes your state.
You may not get your money back, but you'll
get the psychic satisfaction of knowing that the company bought
more than $249 worth of headaches when they took your money.
-- Posted: July 15, 2004
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When
applying for credit cards with better terms, should I drop the old
cards so that I don't have too much available credit, or should I
keep them because of the age of the accounts? 
