So-called “convenience checks” invite you to write checks against your credit account and pay the amount back within the specific promotional period. The offers may sound great, but as it is with so many other things, it's important to read the fine print before putting "convenvience checks" to use.

  • Convenience checks often connected to balance transfers, deferred interest
  • Issuers may charge interest if certain conditions not met
  • Click here for consumer tips from Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

Angela Bates got several enticing offers for convenience checks from her Wells Fargo Visa credit card, which the company calls “superchecks.”

"This slew of advertisements saying zero percent for 15 months, use me for any expense. Pay an individual. Transfer a balance," Bates said, repeating the pitch-lines.

At first she ignored them, but when she decided to renovate her kitchen, Bates decided to use the superchecks to pay the contractor.  She expected they would make it possible for her to have 15 months to pay off the amount, with no interest.

At first, it seemed to be fine, but several months later, she noticed confusing charges for interest on her bill.

"You can see they're charging me 24 percent interest," Bates said, pointing to her billing statement.

"I immediately called them and made a formal complaint to them and said 'this is wrong,'" Bates exclaimed. “I was promised 0 percent interest for 15 months, and that did not happen.”

She says Wells Fargo told her they would look into it, but after a review, declined to fix the issue.

“He was very rude and said, ‘Well when you wrote the check and signed it, you agreed to the terms on the check,’” Bates explained, recounting the call.

Bates asked for an appeal and wrote a complaint to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which regulates credit card companies.  Read on to find out what happened.

Confusing Language

These kinds of promotional rates are common with credit card offers and are often connected to:

  • Balance transfer offers
  • Pitches for low-cost ways to finance big purchases, such as “deferred interest” offers

Part of the problem with the offer Bates received was the language in the fine print was confusing.

On the check, it said: “Use these Superchecks for virtually any expense … and enjoy a low promotional rate.”

But then, if you read on, in the fine print of the offer, it says: “If you take advantage of this offer, you will be charged interest on purchases you make with your credit card, unless you pay your entire new balance (including any balances you transfer from this offer) in full by your payment due date.”

In other words, if you use a supercheck, then use your credit card for anything else and don't pay off the entire balance by the due date — including what you wrote the check for — you will be charged interest.

"If you read the fine print, it's just so misleading, the verbiage that they use," Bates said. “So, If you use these superchecks, then you can’t even go buy a $2.50 Starbucks coffee (with your credit card), without cancelling the agreement.  It voids the offer.  It’s not fair at all.”

Not So Super

When contacted by Consumer Wise about the confusing language, Wells Fargo issued the following statement:

"Superchecks offers are sent to customers who may wish to transfer balances from other cards or cover unexpected expenses. The terms for the offer, including interest and fees, are included in the supercheck mailing. We encourage our customers to carefully review and consider the details of any offer they receive, and to call us if they have any questions before accepting the terms."

That didn’t make Bates feel any better.

"It's not so super!" she said. "It's a not so super Supercheck."

Credit card companies often market these promotions as a way for you to save money, but getting the savings is not so easy.  So beware - read the fine print and realize there are a very limited number of circumstances where these "convenience checks" actually work out to the consumer's benefit.

How to complain

After Bates wrote her complaint to the CFPB and after several months of dogged persistence, she finally got the company to credit her for some of the interest she paid, but not all of it.  When Consumer Wise called Wells Fargo about Bates’ situation, a spokesperson offered to put her in touch with a Wells Fargo representative to address the problem.

Bates subsequently spoke with that person and told us they apologized for the confusion and that they would credit her account for all the interest she was charged.

"They said, 'Someone dropped the ball and they were very sorry, so hopefully, I'll get the credit,'" Bates said. "I thanked them, but I also told them, 'It's unfortunate someone has to go to this extreme to get their problem resolved.'"

If you’ve had a problem with convenience checks (or with your credit card company that you can't resolve), you can file a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau online at https://www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint/ or call toll-free at 855-411-2372.

And click here for some consumer tips from the CFPB on dealing with convenience checks and credit card promotional offers.