Consumer complaint received 2025-10-21 00:00:00
Product: Credit card — General-purpose credit card or charge card
Issue: Fees or interest — Problem with fees
Company: Atlanticus Services Corporation
State: NY

Complaint narrative:
So, I opened aspire about 3 years ago. about 2 years later they said they were going to install a 15 dollar account maintenence fee and i had 2 options. 1 ) agree to the monthly fee and retain card privileges or 2 ) refuse the fee, they would close the card, and i would be liable for the balance.

I chose 2-refuse to accept the fees, i will pay the balance, done. ok, sir, your account is now closed, your liable for the balance with no additional fees. I pay monthly on the 3rd religiously.

about 5 months into this agreement, i noticed monthly fees being added v called customer service, talked to XXXX XXXX, asked for states, sent to eastern XXXX country asked for the states, sent to XXXX where it was explained a 3rd time, that the fees were valid. i said ok, then reopen the card. they said i could not reppen the card because i chose not to pay the fees and it was too late. ok, i said, then reverse these fees. they said no. i said ok, this fraudulent behavior I'll file a complaint. i was suddenly given a number that goes to Georgia who apologized for the misunderstanding abd wouldn't happen again. 
two .months ago i see fees cropping in. again, the call center chase happened and I was like, ugh! its almost paid off.

then this month, i went to pay my account, later than usual byt on the pay d
ate, and the system wouldn't let me pay that day only for 24 hours later. so, i did. come to find out, they turned on auto pay at some point so it took a payment on the XXXX then my manual payment on the XXXX. my bank said both cleared. 
i called for a reversal, they said it would take 5 days. i brought up the account maintenence fees, they said you agreed to them. i said i did not and explained the whole sitch to which that rep says im sorry we charge fees. 

ok, so I get an email 36 hours later saying it will be 10 days before they can begin processing the reversal if the bank honors it. the bank already honored it. 

Today, i go into my account because i know its close to payoff see the balance and exit. i chat with a rep.asking if the payment was reversed to which there was a five minute wait with no response. i had to move on 4 hours later my phone dings with a OTP and to call if i didn't intiate it. I call, the rep ( XXXX ) says 3 times that can't happen, i say it just did then says oh, theres too many requests we need to send you.... then some kinda garble came outta here anf suddenly I'm transferred to XXXX XXXX again who starts asking too many questions, i say i don't really know who you are, AI fakes and other scams and he gets huffy saying that is what they do on his end. I ask if there is state number, he says, oh you want a states number I'll schedule a call back, mumbles something, long pause then click. 

Tonight i goto pay this XXXX thing and the account is locked. 

I am charged usury level interest rates, multiple fees were assigned that were agreed not to be charged if my privileges were closed and now i can't pay it off. 

The practices are predatorial and they did not abide by their agreement whoever the " they '' be behind the aspire name.

Company public response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law
Company response to consumer: Closed with monetary relief