CitiScam

What a shock when I opened my credit card bill to find that the interest charged was twice what it had been the previous month.  Then I noticed that the rate had doubled from 8.49% to 16.99%.  After I picked myself up off the floor and breathed into a paper bag I called and initially spoke with a decidedly eastern person.

The first thing you do when confronted with a customer service person is ask to speak with a supervisor.  It saves the time it takes to tell your story twice.  You have to ask a couple of times, after the first CSR tries to get you to accept the first offer, i.e., prime plus 10.99%, or the second offer of prime plus 6.99%.  

It helps if you have a great credit score and payment history.  Don't cancel the card.  No matter what.  If you do it will decrease your available credit and affect your credit score, which will affect the interest you are charged on all your cards.  Tell them you don't want to reject the increase, just that you want them to fix their "mistake."

Once you get to the next person, reiterate your virtues as a good customer.  Ultimately I was offered prime plus 4.99%.  Jumped on that and then asked for a refund of the usurious interest charged on the current bill.  Got that too.

Persevere.  Ask for someone who can say "YES."