This rather distressing email message was sent in to us and it's worth remembering if you are tempted by the "zero percent" checks now commonly printed on your credit card statement:

"I just got off the phone with a cust. svc. person "supervisor" at Chase. It seems I missed the small print at the bottom of a letter from my credit card company that states I will be charged $65 to use the "zero percent" charge checks..."

"Throughout the whole "valued Chase card holder" letter it mentions the 0%, convenience, etc (you know how that is). I even looked over the whole check (front and back) to see if it mentioned any secret fees. Figures I would miss the most important one!"

"I asked them to remove the service charge and each person I spoke with said they ABSOLUTELY could not. Well, now I have to suck up to my old bank and have them reissue the Visa I closed. CHASE sucks! And I will continue to try and get a hold of "Carter Franke". I'll keep you posted."

As we've said here before: pay attention to the small print and make sure you fully understand all the charges and costs associated with any offer from any bank. They're not in it to make our lives easier, they're in it for the profit.