Comments on: Orchard Bank Credit Cards Review

By: DR

DR — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 23:26:16 +0000

Vickie, on the secured card, you get your deposit back once you close your account.

By: Vickie

Vickie — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 22:03:42 +0000

hello there,
My question is what happens when you no longer want to carry the card? Where does the initial money we loaded it with go? Thanks so much!

By: Marie

Marie — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 07:01:13 +0000

Glad that you are having a good experience thus far. I think he has a clear understanding, and can compare his experience to his wife’s so that would explain the trouble he’s having. I think most would agree that is the problem he’s having. And there is a card activation fee that you pay upfront in addition to an annual fee. I guess we’re all safe to continue using banks, cards and computers for now.

By: Marie

Marie — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 06:57:04 +0000

If there is a security flag with your SSN at any of the bureaus you will be asked to send in proof of identity before they finish processing the application. I kept receiving the same request until Equifax finally removed the security freeze that they placed (still for unknown reasons) on my report after multiple complaints. I just applied again and did not have a problem.

By: Marie

Marie — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 06:43:03 +0000

Applied 9/11 online and was pre-qualified for Visa Gold after having only been pre-qualified for the Secured multiple times. I am expecting a Chapter 7 discharge any day now so I thought that may have something to do with the better pre-qual. I finished the application process and submitted information for activation processing. At the conclusion, I was referred to check progress on the website. Checked via phone and online and received confirmation that my app was approved and the funds for activation were being validated. Checked progress today (online and phone), and received a notification that there is no record of my application. As this is my first time going through this I am not sure what to make of it.

By: Romeo

Romeo — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 22:06:33 +0000

Tried to apply online but at step 4, it always asked me print and send it to HSBC USA via mail. I thought the application was online?

By: Mary

Mary — Sun, 26 Jun 2011 19:32:38 +0000

I applied online two months ago and then was given a website to check status. It takes about 21 days in all to get the card. I made a 100.00 payment (credit limit was 500). Payment posted within two days and Credit available…was made two days after payment. No problems. This month I made a 125.00 payment early and it says payment hold. It reduced my balance by the payment I made but there is a hold on availabe credit. I guess from reading about Orchard, if you make a payment more then 100.00 they place a 10-14 day hold on the credit available amount. Glad I found this out early.

By: David

David — Mon, 23 May 2011 20:44:32 +0000

I have had my account for 3 months and it is great far better terms than any other card used to rebuild credit not sure why it takes a week for your payment to be posted Chris but mine is done the same business day. Great card product and the fee is charged to the actual credit card its not a fee you pay upfront. If thats difficult to understand then you should stay away from credit cards,bank and computers…..just pay cash

By: Chris ReBuilding Credit

Chris ReBuilding Credit — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 17:18:44 +0000

Okay! I almost didn’t share my Orchard Bank story. I’ve been with Orchard a total of three (3) years come May 2011. One of the most amazing things I’ve found was that they like most companies outsource the customer service, No service to other countries. What I mean by No Service is that they will supposedly escalate your call/concern, but it’s yet another person on the line that you can not understand (language barrier).

I’ve had ZERO (0) late payments and in the almost 3-years I’m still at a $300 credit amount. I recently called and inquired about a credit increase and I was told that they are not offering increases at this time. Now here’s the interesting FACT…

My wife also has the Orchard Bank Master Card and she received it at the same time as me. Her account has gotten no less than 3-4 increases (I can’t keep up anymore). I mentioned this to the bank and they denied that it was truth/fact. LOL. Her account is somewhere near $1200 worth of credit. I’m not too certain how they make these increase decisions, but I know that they’re all over the place in terms of the information that they’re willing to share with the customer! One day I’ll call and someone reads me a ‘credit increase’ script and as I’ve stated, I called recently and was told NO. That same rep did ask me to call in April 2011 and ask at that time?!? It’s February now, so I’ll see what happens then.

As for HOLDING MY PAYMENT – my wife called on my behalf regarding this issue. She spoke with someone who escalated her call to the states and the American representative made some sort of change of status in the system and so now my payments post within 5-7 business days!?! I guess that’s a bit better than before because we were dealing with the 14-day HOLD time as well in the past.

Further what I did to counter the $300 credit amount…I opened a Visa account with Public Savings Bank based in Philadelphia, PA. I opened the secured card and I love it. I only deal with reps for the bank based in Philly and my Orchard Bank Mastercard now maintains a ZERO dollar balance. I only have plans to use the card 2x per year on a tank of gas!

I wish you all well in your ReBuilding Credit. Let’s all get the desired 850 score…Cheers!

By: DR

DR — Sun, 27 Mar 2011 18:33:37 +0000

Kimberly, all of our applications are via the Chase online application website.