Given that Banco Popular has increased the sign up bonus on the Avianca credit cards to 40,000/60,000 miles I thought it would be useful to put together a post of things everybody should know about their credit cards.
- The cards are not churnable. If you’ve been approved for one variation of the Avianca card before, they won’t approve you for another Avianca card. The plus side is that they don’t even let you proceed with the application so no credit inquiry is done.
- It’s possible to call reconsideration if you’re not instantly approved. Previously you had to send a snail mail letter to Puerto Rico to plead your case if you were denied for one of their cards, but they now have a regular reconsideration number you can call. If you’re not comfortable with calling reconsideration I’d recommend reading our tips here.
- They do have retention offers. In the past people have been able to get the annual fee waived from year two onwards. This can be useful as the cards has some ongoing benefits.
- They will pull a different report if you have a frozen credit report with one of the bureaus.
Things We Don’t Know
There is a lot of things we don’t know about Banco Popular. If anybody knows the answer to any of these questions, please let us know in the comments so we can make this page more useful.
- Do they match higher sign up bonuses? E.g if you applied for a 40,000 mile offer and a 60,000 mile offer comes along will they match the sign up bonus?
- Do they expedite credit cards? If so, what fee if any is charged?
- What is their annual fee refund policy?
- Does asking for a credit limit increase result in a soft or hard pull?
- Do they allow product changes?
- Can you change your statement closing date?
- Is it possible to get the sign up bonus expedited?
Final Thoughts
As always fingers crossed other readers can help us build out this page. If anybody has any other useful information let us know in the comments. You can view other posts in this series by clicking the links below.
- American Express
- Bank of America
- Barclaycard
- Capital One
- Chase
- Citi
- Comenity
- Discover
- Synchrony
- TD Bank
- US Bank
- Wells Fargo
8/7/21: statement with annual fee posted
8/8/21: called up for retention, no offer, closed account
9/3/21: was still able to log into account and saw $149 fee still showing and due 9/4/21. called customer service and asked what the deal was with my account and the rep said it is closed but the annual fee cannot be waived. i told her that was bullshit because the fee posted and i’m within the grace period (before payment is due). she said that was the bank policy. i said i was filing CFPB complaint and we’ll see what happens. she had no response.
9/3/21: filed CFPB complaint and went ahead and paid the $149 fee on my account because this is going to be a hassle and i don’t want any late fees or credit reporting problems in the meantime before this is resolved. we will see.
Thanks for the DPs, Keep us updated
Me too. same as you.
Mime AF post around 8/18. Call for cancellation.
I talked to them the annual fee is related to next year I don’t hold the card. They told me I don’t need to pay. However, unlike other credit card account. still can login and fee still there.
Can u advise where u file –> ” Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ? ”
I am checking there now and it said “Do not include personal information, such as your name, account number, address, Social Security number, etc” when we wrote issues.
Would u please let me know any follow up from CFPB to let u reply detail account info? or Popular bank reply anything after CFPB contact them?
thanks
Just keep clicking thru on CFPB to file the complaint. Here is what I put:
“Banco Popular Avianca Visa statement posted on 7 August 2021 with $149 annual fee. I called the customer service line and closed my account on 8 August 2021. I called the customer service line again on 3 September 2021 to verify the account was closed and the representative stated the fee still applied. I asserted there should not be a fee for a service I’m not longer using when I terminated the service before the fee was due. The fee has not been waived and Banco Popular is still requiring payment.”
You will select the company towards the end (Banco Popular) and it’ll ask you to put in the CC# so Banco Popular can match the complaint to your account. That’s it. It’s pretty simple.
thx. I did it already.
it is a lesson for ppl who is going to get this card. Pls be aware when ur next annual fee post.
I saw some post in google article they did credit and waive fee within 30 days before.
Just wondering if Bank changed policy not waving AF within 30 days grace period of posting date, they should at least send notice to card holder.
Hi, Kyle:
I did file CFPB complain too. However, they don’t response after past due date. So same as u, I did paid annual fee on last due date to avoid credit report problem.
On 9/17 CFPB reply case closed and Popular Bank determine to issue credit $149. But since my card has closed and I paid AF already, they will issue check to me.
Until today 2 weeks passed, I didn’t receive check yet. and login to that closed account shown -$149 credit.
how’s ur status? and did u receive check quick and smooth or u still need to call them again?
thx
Received $149 check in mail on 10/7.
hi, Kyle:
first, thanks for many of your advise and help.
My CFPB closed date is same as yours 9/17. I didn’t receive check yet.
so if u got the chance to re-login that closed account again, is it still shown -$149 after check sent and received?
Did u call them (bank) again the request check or just automatically got it after CFPB closed notice.
thx
9/8/21: received another monthly statement showing I paid the annual fee. $0 statement. the account is supposed to be closed, so no idea why i’m still getting statements. no update on CFPB yet.
9/17/21: received CFPB response from Banco Popular, it is very long detailing everything going back to my card opening, lol. they are sending me a check for $149. i will post the full response below. i would strongly suggest closing the account the month BEFORE your anniversary/annual fee.
Thanks for the update
On September 3, 2021, Banco Popular de Puerto Rico (BPPR) received a copy of the complaint you submitted through the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) Portal. Thank you for taking the time to inform us of your concerns. Such correspondence allows us the opportunity to review our processes and ensure we provide our customers with the best service possible. In the complaint, you allege that BPPR posted the annual credit card fee of $149.00 for the above-referenced credit card on August 7, 2021, and that you called BPPR the day after to close your account. You called BPPR back on September 3, 2021, to verify if the account was closed and the representative stated that you were still responsible for the annual fee. Your desired resolution is for BPPR to reimburse the annual fee. BPPR conducted a full investigation regarding your allegations and our records show that on August 6, 2019, you opened your account and duly executed a Credit Card Agreement that disclosed the amount of the annual fee, that the annual fee may be charged annually for the use of the card, and that you are responsible for any pending balance after closing an account. Furthermore, your account statement dated July 7, 2021, provided the following message: ANNUAL FEE NOTICE: We hope you are taking advantage of all the benefits that your credit card offers. We would like to inform you that your next account statement will include the Annual Fee of $149.00. If you don’t agree with the Annual Fee, you shall call 1-844-294-2576, within thirty (30) days following the date of delivery of this statement. Our records show that you did not communicate with BPPR within the thirty (30) days following the date of delivery of said statement, thus the 2021 annual fee was posted to your account on August 6, 2021. On August 8, 2021, you contacted BPPR’s customer service department to close the account. BPPR’s representative explained that the annual fee could not be waived. Your account was closed on that day upon your request. Subsequently, on September 3, 2021, you called BPPR to confirm that the account had been closed. BPPR’s representative confirmed that the account had been closed but again stated that the annual fee could not be waived. On that same date you paid the annual fee and submitted this complaint requesting a reimbursement. Based on your acceptance of the annual fee terms during account opening and the 30-day notice provided prior to posting the fee, our customer service representative advised you correctly that the annual fee could not be waived. We confirm that the above referenced account is closed with no pending balance. Nonetheless, considering you closed the account and had no pending balance except for the annual fee, BPPR has determined to reimburse the $149.00 annual fee for your Avianca Vuela Visa Card. We confirm that your account has been closed and you will receive a check in the mail with the annual fee amount. We trust that the… Read more »
Have u received refund check already? thanks
CFPB response was on 9/17. I just received $149 check on 10/7!
Plot twist! Deposited check on 10/8 via Chase mobile deposit. The check bounced on 10/14/21! Chase charged me a $12 fee and told me to contact Banco Popular. WTF!!
Interesting plot twist! Keep us updated.
WTF so dishonest bank and biz way….
9/17 I received the same CFPB reply as urs they confirmed to refund check to close case.
However, I still not received check till today 10/28. Thinking if I call them again but saw ur bounced check message to lose $12 more.
Right now not receiving check might be good thing in my side….
So what should u (we) do now? file another CFPB case? it looks not trustable company once they sent a New check again to take risk for another $12 bounced check loss….
I called Banco Popular (1-844-294-2576) on 10/19 to get things resolved and actually have a really helpful rep who noted everything down and submitted the issue to whatever department it is to handle it. I hadn’t heard anything since then, so I called in today (10/29) and the rep saw everything and actually showed a response was issued today and a new check was mailed out and it includes the Chase service fee. Probably take a month or so to get here…
Good to hear ur updated info.
Finally I received my check today. Just don’t know will this check be $149 real money or -$12 as ur story.
It is dilemma now to have courage to deposit.
Don’t know if my check will be same as ur previous story or they will play trick again for ur 2rd check.
I believe both of us waste too much time and effort to deal with hassle. Is there any method to ask our bank to find out will this check be bounced before deposit?
BTW, the bonuced check remind myself bad memory long time before.
I got a big check from online shopping portal website after accumulating many purchases. I contact them after 1st check bonuced, but 2rd check same again, then their customer service won’t response and disappear.
I still kept the bonuced check my bank sent back to me w/ stamping..
I remembered in old days the bank fees charge each time like $29 instead of $12 current low…. Hope Banco bank will be good on ur 2rd Check.
Does anyone know what their official policy is for getting a fee refund if you cancel the card (for example: you need to call within 30/45/60/etc. days from the date the AF posts if you want to close the card and request a refund)?
Just got mine refunded, once per lifetime they say.
ANNUAL FEE NOTICE: We hope you are taking advantage of all the benefits that your credit card offers. We would like to inform you that your next account statement will include the Annual Fee of $149.00. If you don’t agree with the Annual Fee you shall call 1-844-294-2576, within thirty (30) days following the date of delivery of this statement.
They will change payment dates, but was told it takes 3 statement cycles, 07/31/19 was expecting a possible turndown or further underwriting…. instant approval 16k CL. equifax was pulled– 768 fico 8, 10/24 just equifax. Also bought miles, but business/first with Lifemiles on other carriers (star alliance) about impossible to find…. they’re a bit clunky but are trying to improve their game. IMHO they have improved in the past year based on my experience vs comments, have been watching this play out a couple of years before pulling the trigger?….
I think it should be added that you should cancel before the statement opens that will include the annual fee. I called two days after the annual fee showed up and they said that canceling it won’t make the annual fee disappear. The phone agent had no ability to remove it. I wrote an email to an address she provided to protest the charge. They never responded, but about two weeks later when I logged in the balance appeared to be zero.
Datapoint: Fee posted 2/26 when statement closed, called 3/3 to close account “and get the annual fee refunded,” — completed with no problem.
Thanks for the DP, do you still have the email address you mentioned in your post? Is it actually in the t&c of the card that the annual fee charge gives you 30 days to get it refunded or it is purely their good gesture. Thank you
Another DP – same here on the fee. I advise anyone with this card to just avoid the hassle and cancel this card on the 11th month.
Fee posted 9/15, I called 9/17, rep cancelled the card then said ‘oh and this fee will not be refunded’. She had an attitude on her so I didn’t push and will try emailing like you mentioned. The only one I could find is [email protected], so hoping that works.
It’s linked in the post: https://www.doctorofcredit.com/credit-cards/credit-card-reconsideration-line-telephone-numbers/#Banco_Popular
840 fico, denied.
Sounds like your score is TOO HIGH for such a low-classed operation. I think most of the viewers here should avoid them and not waste their time.
This bank is YMMV. Some applicants had easy instant approval and others had to send in income verification, etc and still not approved. Also, some had difficulty using their Lifemiles card because of fraud alerts even after previously notifying the bank.
I got approved for 2 of the 60k offers. Closed the first one, Waited a few months, and got a second one instantly approved
Oooh interesting. Can you let us know if you get the bonus?
What is the rest of the sentence for point 4? “4. They will pull a different report…”
I had the same question while reading that.
Same. I’m curious what that could mean. They pull a different report….based on location?
I read that to mean either (or maybe both)
1. If you have their 1st choice frozen they will automatically pull from another credit bureau
2. If you are denied you can call recon and ask them to use your credit report from a different credit bureau
Are you certain that we can call them up and give a one time PIN for the pull?
Apparently decided to take a nap in the middle of my sentence. Should have read: They will pull a different report if you have a frozen credit report with one of the bureaus.
One more reason you’re the best blogger. This should be a comment of the month. Funny, informative, succinct.
From the Avianca LifeMiles credit card post: “If you’re not approved, Banco Popular does have a reconsideration number you can now [call] (844-343-1010).”
they are virtually impossible to MS on. Fraud alerts and declined transactions left and right. Could never get the card trained to accept transactions of any volume. Gave up trying.
Customer service is also a nightmare to deal with. Very incompetent.
I don’t do MS (much) but I can add +1 to the above. Their fraud alerts are so sensitive I could barely use the card. Main reason I got it (aside from the bonus) was for LifeMiles purchases, hoping to get the bonus miles but– even after notifying Banco Popular in advance of the transaction of my intention to make the purchase, they declined it over and over until I just gave up. Sock drawered and cancelled as it is pretty much worthless. Approval was painful too. Terrible bank to deal with.