In September my husband and I transferred all of our remaining credit card debt to the Citi Home Rebate card. The card had no annual fee, no balance transfer fee, and a 0% intro APR for 12 months…enough time for us to pay off our card.
I faithfully made payments above and beyond the minimum due. September…October…and in November I switched over to paperless billing. Toward the end of the month I noticed that I hadn’t received a statement in my email box. Normally I would have had the paper statement by then, so I checked the due date online and made a payment. That was November 21.
I received the email statement in my inbox a few days later. I double checked online to make sure everything was hunky dory, and I went on my way. At the end of December I received notice of another statement. I let it sit in my inbox for a couple of days, because I was busy with the holidays. Two days later I received a notice that my balance had gone UP by around $100. THAT got my attention!
I logged into my Citi account and saw that I had been hit with a late fee, AND my interest rate had gone up! I looked all over the site for a customer service number and couldn’t find one. So I went into the depths of my freezer to unfreeze my credit card. Credit card in hand, I dialed the customer service number.
The man who answered the phone seemed nice enough. I sweetly explained that I had made a payment every month, and I didn’t understand why I was hit with a late fee. He explained that I had paid my bill too early in November. I (getting less sweet by the moment) explained that things got messed up when I went to paperless billing, and that I had made November’s payment specifically to avoid a late fee.
The man replied that he would do me a “courtesy” of dropping the late fee. I think my jaw dropped.
He was doing me the courtesy of dropping the late fee, even though my payment wasn’t late? I couldn’t wait to hear his answer to my next question.
Are you going to set my interest rate back to 0%?
His reply: “I’m not sure if that’s possible, ma’am.”
Me: “So, let me get this straight…I switch to paperless billing on YOUR site. I don’t receive my statement on time, so I take the preemptive measure of paying my bill to avoid a late fee. It ends up being a couple of days early, so it doesn’t count, and now I lose my interest rate, because I’m a good customer?”
The guy (stutters a bit) “Let me see what I can do.”
After much more haggling back and forth, and a lot more of the guy trying to convince me that I was wrong, he agreed to lower the interest rate. End of conversation….so I thought.
Two days later, I was blissfully taking a Sunday afternoon nap, when my husband received a phone call. You’ll never guess who it was. You guessed Citibank’s automated calling system? You’d be right.
The automated system informed my husband that we were late in making a payment and asked if he’d like to pay now, or whether he’d like to talk to a customer service representative. He pressed the number 3 for customer service. You’ll never guess what the automated machine told him next. Are you ready for this?
We’re sorry, but there are no customer service representatives available today. Please call back during regular business hours.
I woke up from my nap to the sound of my husband yelling at the phone. That’s not a pleasant way to wake up.
Monday I called Citibank again, just to make sure things were OK. This time I got a very nice woman. I explained (again) the whole story and asked her to please make sure that our account was listed as current, that our late fee was waived, and that our interest rate was set back to zero.
She pulled up our record and said she could see the account was set back to zero percent, but she wasn’t sure if she’d be able to waive the late fee.
What? Didn’t the guy I talked to a few nights before say that the late fee wouldn’t be a problem, but the interest rate might be? At this point I’m really beginning to doubt whether these people know what they are talking about.
The conversation ended with the woman assuring me that my account was current, my interest rate was 0%, and the late fee was waived. But she told me to double check my next statement just to be sure. Very reassuring. So now I’m waiting until the middle of the month to make sure everything is taken care of. Pray for me. I may need it.
To recap:
- I faithfully make payments to my credit card every month….payments that are larger than the minimum due.
- I switch to paperless billing.
- My statement is running late.
- I make my usual payment to avoid a late fee.
- The payment ends up being 5 days early, because my due date apparently moved.
- I get hit with a late fee and an increased interest rate.
- The first guy I talk to sets my account current, says waiving the late fee will be no problem, but that resetting the interest rate to zero might be a problem.
- He eventually says the interest rate is reset.
- Two days later we get an automated call, telling us our account is past due.
- I talk to a live operator the next day, who tells me that setting the interest rate back to zero isn’t a problem, but waiving the late fee might be a problem. She eventually tells me it’s all taken care of.
- But she’s not completely sure, so I need to make sure to double check my next statement.
Does this sound ridiculous to anyone besides me?
Make no mistake. Credit card companies want to suck you dry. Check your statements, check them often, and follow up quickly when you notice something is wrong. And get out of debt!
Photo by brainloc.
January 3rd, 2008 at 4:45 am
Yup, they want every penny they can suck from you. I’ve had similar problems with Bank of America. And they make it so frustrating to the point that you give up. But you can’t. You have to go through customer service again and again until it’s finally resolved.
January 3rd, 2008 at 4:49 am
You summary left off the first bullet point
* Borrow money from a credit card company that you can’t afford to pay off in full
If you don’t like dealing with credit card companies, don’t borrow off them in the first place.
January 3rd, 2008 at 5:04 am
This sucks. Yes, there’s the argument that you maybe shouldn’t have borrowed the money in the first place, but firstly I imagine you haven’t invented a time machine to do anything about that, and secondly, the credit card company is still messing you about and that isn’t acceptable regardless of whether you carry a balance or not.
January 3rd, 2008 at 5:23 am
I haven’t dealt with Citi’s live people, but I can vouch for the fact that Citi’s paperless system is completely retarded.
I hope it is completely resolved for you!!
January 3rd, 2008 at 5:29 am
I don’t want to be a credit card CSR with Lynnae on the phone.
January 3rd, 2008 at 5:46 am
This is totally absurd. They penalize you for paying early?
I have to get rid of my credit cards. One of my new year resolutions. I’m so tired of dealing with them and being a slave to them.
January 3rd, 2008 at 5:50 am
I’m sorry that the company gave you that headache and then acted as if thy were doing you a favor by fixing it.(which may or not even be the case) *sighs* It’s just pathetic how they’re trying to suck as money from you.
Good advice on keeping on top of everything. I hope it got fixed for real this time.
January 3rd, 2008 at 6:15 am
:-O Lynnae, it’s time to pull out the big guns. I think this blog post should be turned into a letter to Citibank’s president. And I think you should e-mail a link to the Consumerist! This is just up their alley!
January 3rd, 2008 at 6:21 am
So, are you finally convinced, Lynnae? Ready to come over to the “dark side” and live without those money-sucking leeches? American Express (Excess) tried the move the due date routine on me by moving it forward a couple days and still mailing the statement out at the same time. I am convinced they will try anything just to hit you with fees and rate-jack you. CUT IT UP!!!
January 3rd, 2008 at 6:32 am
When we were first married we had a HUGE credit card bill that we scrimped and saved to pay off and it was eye opening to see all the little underhanded things that the company did when they saw that we were, in fact, paying it down. I spent way more time on the phone with the company when we started paying it off than ever when I just payed the minimum each month.
January 3rd, 2008 at 6:41 am
I would be more than a little upset. The next call I would make would entail me not saying anything until I could speak to am anager or someone with the authority to change things. Then I would want an e-mail confirmation or on-line verification that the rate was at 0% and all “late” fees were waived.
If that didn’t work, I would oh so politely mention Better Business Bureau, the Consumerist, you blog, media outlets, or whatever it took. It is ridiculous to have to go through those kinds of penalties and BS when you clearly did nothing wrong.
January 3rd, 2008 at 7:06 am
I can’t believe they did that to you! I agree with Mrs. Micah, mail a letter to a big-wig and contact the Consumerist. Although I have to say that I’ve sent polite, well-written complaint letters in the past and rarely get any good response. Grrrrr!
January 3rd, 2008 at 7:09 am
Gah! Credit card companies want you to pay interest. They will do anything they can to get it. I’d start writing letters- to everyone you can think of that might be able to help-customer service, their boss, the CEO, the BBB. Do NOT let them get away with this crap. Keep calling & ask to talk to their supervisor, insist on it. If they say they can’t help you, ask to talk to their supervisor.
AND make sure these late fees etc aren’t showing up as a ding on your credit. Insist they resolve this with the 3 reporting agencies, and then run your credit with each to make sure.
January 3rd, 2008 at 7:17 am
Similar thing happened to me too when I was transitioning into paperless billing and automatic debit payments. There is usually a month transition period when you have to keep close tabs on your payments before the automatic debit kicks in. I mistakenly assumed payments would be made sooner than later.
-Raymond
January 3rd, 2008 at 7:38 am
This has happened to us with more than one company. You almost have to check EVERY DAY to make sure they are’nt pulling some kind of scam on you!
January 3rd, 2008 at 7:54 am
GACK!!! We had a similar problem with MBNA, and I’ve never been so relieved to pay something off in my life - not only was I getting rid of a stupid interest rate, but I was also getting rid of all that *hassle* and stupid mechanised phone calling system.
I would like to add that I have a real issue with outsourced call-centres as well. I have no problem with anyone from another country, but I always seemed to speak to the people with very crackly phones and utterly inpenetrable accents. It drove me CRAZY!
I plan on leaving 2008 at *least* one card down on where I start it
Good luck getting this mess-up sorted out, we’re all rooting for you!
January 3rd, 2008 at 8:37 am
I have to quote Dave Ramsey on this one:
“If you play with snakes, you will get bit.”
People wonder how credit card companies make money with their 0% interest offers.
This is an example.
January 3rd, 2008 at 8:42 am
This kind of stuff just makes me (all of us?) crazy! I once paid my bill (capital one) online and underpaid by a few dollars as I looked at the “current balance” instead of my “statement balance”. I got penalized 17.00 for underpaying by 4.00! They waived it but told me they wouldn’t do it again so “be sure and look more closely”. I’ve learned that anytime I have to talk to a CSR - get their employee number and write down every last detail of the call. That way when you have to call back (more than likely you WILL have to call back) you have some leverage.
GRRRR!
January 3rd, 2008 at 8:48 am
It’s not so much a matter of paying early, as which billing period your payment is applied.
The credit card companies shift around the number of days in their billing periods. This affects people who pay on the same day of each month.
Every time I make a payment online, I check to see which payments have been applied during this cycle. Sometimes I’ve had to wait a couple days until the new statement has been “sent”.
I made the same mistake of paying “early.” I did catch it - but it meant I had to make an extra payment in the new billing cycle that was not budgeted for. Grrr!
Check out this episode of Frontline - Secrets of the Credit Card Industry. It’s a real eye-opener.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/.....edit/view/
January 3rd, 2008 at 8:58 am
That sounds so frustrating!
I think everyone can relate though, it’s not just credit card companies, it’s the electric and phone companies, the mortgage company, they all want your money! We have to be disciplined in verifying our statements or we can lose major money!
I hope you get it all straightened out and your next statement is correct!
Take Care
LJ
January 3rd, 2008 at 9:14 am
I had a similar thing happen to me last month. I have 2 Bank of America credit cards and my mortgage is with them as well. I always pay my mortgage at the branch, in person. I made my mortgage payment (due Dec. 1) on November 15 at the branch, wrote the account number on the check, included a mortgage payment coupon. I did NOT, unfortunately, scrutinize the receipt which only displays the last 4 digits of the account number. A week later, I received one of my BofA credit card statements. It’s a new card which I got for one reason only - no interest for 1 year with balance transfers. I had paid off a high interest card by transfering the balance to this card. And on that statement, saw that my mortgage payment had been applied to the card. Drove to the branch immediately and they could not reverse the payment since it had been a week. (The last 3 digits of these 2 account numbers are the same, incidentally). The bank manager called the credit card for me and they agreed to refund my payment to me. I received it a week later (I was told that for them to directly pay it to my bank account would cost me $25) and was able to make the mortgage payment on time. When I got my credit card statement the next month, B of A charged me the “purchases” interest rate on the “refund” amount! I called, was placed on hold, spoke with various idiots over a 45 minute period, and was finally put in touch with a nice woman who assured me the interest would be refunded and that no more would be charged, but I should monitor my statements to make sure that really happened. All because of a teller error! Yes, I should have carefully scrutinized the receipt from the bank, but seriously! You have to stay on these people!
January 3rd, 2008 at 9:52 am
Wow! Looks like I’ve struck a nerve here!
@Enough Wealth - I completely agree with you. Once this credit card is paid off, there will be no more CC borrowing. I wish I had never borrowed in the first place.
I’m sorry so many of you have gone through the same hoops I’ve had to jump through. I’m noticing lots of BofA stories here. Don’t get me started on them either. They held the loan for the manufactured home we bought way back when. I won’t do business with them either.
January 3rd, 2008 at 9:53 am
That’s how they get you. They intentionally do stuff like that hoping you won’t call them or push them on it.
This is exactly why credit cards are risky EVEN when you pay them off monthly.
They are scum, and will do anything to make a profit from you.
January 3rd, 2008 at 9:57 am
@glblguy - “They intentionally do stuff like that hoping you won’t call them or push them on it.” Well they messed with the wrong person, then.
January 3rd, 2008 at 10:41 am
I would immediately ask for a manager. It sounds like a customer service problem. THat doesn’t make it any less frustrating though.
January 3rd, 2008 at 10:52 am
What Pam said is very true. They move around the billing cycle dates and then payments get applied at weird times.
CapOne was doing that to me as soon as I started paying them off in earnest. i didn’t recognize it for what it was at the time, but they would have some billing cycles as long as 35 days and some as short as 20. I see it now, they were trying to catch me.
$175.17 away from freedom. Kiss my butt credit card peoples!
January 3rd, 2008 at 11:15 am
Credit card companies suck!!! Won’t it be nice to say goodbye to them forever once you pay them off??!!
January 3rd, 2008 at 11:22 am
@InTheHole - I’m looking forward to the day more than you know!
January 3rd, 2008 at 12:38 pm
Wow, what a story!
Once I paid our Discover card two days late accidently because when I originally paid it, I got sidetracked before clicking enter and the payment didn’t go through. They were great about refunding our late fee and all the finance charges we accrued those two days since we’ve always paid right on time. Your story makes me even more grateful that it all turned out okay and that I don’t have a Citicard
January 3rd, 2008 at 1:22 pm
That same thing happened to us with First USA Visa over 10 years ago. It was the BEST thing to ever happen to us because it made us MAD. It was what started us on the path to being free from credit cards.
ArdenLynn
January 3rd, 2008 at 2:52 pm
Yeah, that’s old news. That’s how the big banks make their money- off the backs of us consumers. Got robbed like this myself. Lesson- stay away from those 0% offers.
January 3rd, 2008 at 2:54 pm
On top of this, those customer service agents you spoke to were probably in India. More great service from the big American corporations.
January 3rd, 2008 at 3:08 pm
@Patrick - I don’t think the customer service agents were in India. I was pretty surprised.
January 3rd, 2008 at 3:21 pm
I hear this happening a lot to people. Weirdly, in the 8 years I’ve had credit cards (and I’ve had a LOT of them), I’ve never had a problem. I always do paperless billing (setting up my account as soon as the card arrives), linking to my checking account, etc. I’ve gone over my limit, missed payments, etc, and never been charged anything. I’ve never had the due dates changed, and have in fact been given multiple opportunities to change them myself. Very weird.
In recent times, I’ve gotten more responsible, and will never go over the limit again. At most, I’m a day late with payments, but I think that happened maybe twice this year. Lately, I have been religiously checking my accounts when the statement is supposed to be created (usually over a 3-4 day period), and then I schedule the payment immediately.
January 3rd, 2008 at 3:59 pm
What a terrible experience. Dealing with big corporations is becoming a real nightmare anymore. However, in defense of the customer service reps, they may have been well-intentioned but lacking the resources to do their job correctly.
I once worked for a financial services company whose internal systems were so terrible that I couldn’t tell customers with any certainty how much money they owed, when their payment was due, when (or if) we had received their last payment, etc. If a customer complained about not receiving a statement, I was instructed to tell him or her that a statement is a courtesy, and as such there is no guarantee one will be mailed every month, but payment is due even if no bill is actually received. It was awful.
As a result of my experiences, I have a tremendous amount of sympathy for phone reps to this day!
January 3rd, 2008 at 4:14 pm
@Katie - You’ll be happy to know that while I was very firm with the reps, I never yelled at them or anything. I know they were just doing their jobs, but you’d think Citi would at least have each C.S. agent give the same answers. I think what got me was that the first agent said one thing, and then the second said the exact opposite.
My beef is definitely with Citibank as a corporation, rather than with the individual agents. I used to work at Target in customer service, and I know trying to deal with unhappy customers can be a real hassle.
January 3rd, 2008 at 5:59 pm
I’ve had similar problems with my Chase Southwest card. Apparently, many others had problems with this credit card in particular, and I failed to do any digging on them before I got hit with a decline when I was completely sure that I was nowhere near my credit limit. But regardless of whic credit card company you’re dealing with, you’re right: they’re ALL vultures.
January 3rd, 2008 at 7:11 pm
Isn’t great that we now have blogs to voice our misgivings and rally others who have been similarly given the short end of the stick.
I think, Lynnae, you are starting a revolution here. Something that should have happened long ago. Long live the Vigilante Consumer…..as quoted by Faith Popcorn.
Whether the supplier is a big giant like Citi or HSBC, they now have to contend with people like you.
Well done.
I suggest that you try our Mrs. M’s suggestions and take this @#$%% attitude of the Bank all the way.
(PS: Just ten minutes ago, I cut up my Citibank Card. Just a coincidence. Another bank gave me a lifetime no fees card and I think I don’t need Citi’s anymore.)
January 3rd, 2008 at 7:27 pm
Credit card companies are just evil. Yes, evil. They don’t just want to make money. They want to make a fair share and then steal as much as they can after that.
These stories serve to strengthen my resolve to get my cards paid off and closed for good.
Sorry for your troubles, but at least it sounds like you might have things solved.
January 4th, 2008 at 3:43 am
JD had a post about the exact same thing only Citibank went back 5 years to try and find miss late payments etc. They then assessed large late payemnt, of course they never bothered telling anyone.
The best thing to do is to cancel the card and go somewhere else, even if it means paying a bit more interst. You rest assured they will try in again and again, someonehas to pay for the 150 million dollar severence package. Enough people do that and they amy rethink it
January 4th, 2008 at 8:59 pm
Lynnae - Citibank is almost as bad as Bank of America in my experience.
I actually had an experience similar to you with my USAA card. I switched to paperless and accidentally overlooked the email notice. I actually was late.
A rep called me. When I explained what had happened, she said no problem. Removed the late fee, took my payment right over the phone (no extra charge for this, unlike Citibank), and never changed my interest rate.
That’s the USAA difference. Best financial company on earth, if you ask me. If you have a way to get service with USAA (through an immediate family member who has served in the military), by all means, do so.
January 4th, 2008 at 9:19 pm
@Ryan - My dad served in the army many eons ago before I was born. That’s about the only connection I have to the military. I’ll have to look into that. It might be a stretch though.
January 6th, 2008 at 5:17 pm
I’ve been using citibank cards for a while now. I always make my payments online without issues.
Basically, if it shows a payment due, one is due. If it says $0 then your statement cycle hasn’t cycled yet and any payment will be applied to the previous cycle. This is the same for all cards afaik. If you go to your unbilled activity view, it will show you the date of the next statement cycle. No idea why this is on that page!
One other issue to be mindful of - CitiBank only allows a few payments using their site per month.
January 9th, 2008 at 7:47 am
Chase is no better. I had ordered a new card because my card got damaged. They then changed my due date at the same time, charged me a late fee and ratched up my interest to default rate. I have had the card for like 6-7 years and have never been late. Of course, they refused to lower the fee. I then tried to transfer the balance to another NEW CHASE CARD OFFER I got in the mail for a much better rate. They gave me the card but refused to transfer the balance stating that they do not transfer among Chase cards. I then tried to move it to another card I had with another company, but Chase refused the electronic transfer and it has taken 2 months with no transfer yet because Chase is holding it up on purpose so they can suck me dry. UGHHHHH
January 9th, 2008 at 2:16 pm
I had a similar problem with Citi and I don’t trust their paperless billing anymore. Basically I paid one of the bills before the due date online and they didn’t take the money from the bank! Then they charged me a late fee and started calling me at work from their collections department about 2 days after the bill was due. I was really pissed off and called them about six times and also called my bank to confirm that there was no charge from citi and in the end they gave be back the late fee. I no longer use their online billpayment. I am paying them from Bank of America’s free billpay now, and I haven’t had a problem. Citi always delivers their e-bills really really late though, so be careful and check your online accounts all the time.
January 24th, 2008 at 5:00 pm
found this on google when I was worrying about my accidental late payment on my discover card, and I had to wait another day to call and ask to remove the fee and rate hike and finance charges.
I just called today: I told the woman my concern and that I had intended to pay the full $650 balance on time (which I did the day before, late, after receiving a collection call). And to quote: “let me look into that and see if we can do anything… Okay sir, based on your account history with us that’s no problem at all. We’ll clear that right up. I see you’ve made all your payments on time in the past, and you’ve been a very good customer.”
I’ve never made a late payment for a credit card before. I once made the minimum payment instead of the balance by accident with Citi. I did the same thing and the finance charges were cleared up right away.
Honestly, I think any credit card company will do this, if you have the right credit score and history with them. Negative past items just may be haunting the people who didn’t have such luck here.
Now student loans on the other hand… I made one payment about 20 days late because i had moved and forgot about it. They of course decided not to post it until EXACTLY 30 days late, so they could wreck my credit scores. I fought with them for 3 months, I had my bank advocating for me. I eventually gave up, the loan company had the supreme power in the end and I found out ‘that department does not accept incoming calls’ (the one that makes these decisions final).
February 14th, 2008 at 9:14 am
That’s pretty darn outrageous. I can’t believe you were hit with a late fee for paying early!!! I always pay my Bank of America credit cards off early online…if they gave me fees or raised my APR for that, I’d be livid. Hopefully this new credit card legislation in the works will help prevent these types of situations.
March 4th, 2008 at 5:42 pm
I’ve come to the conclusion, based on many similar experiences with credit card companies, that the people who _don’t_ call to get their situations rectified, are the very people these companies count on to make their profits. More power to you for telling them who is boss!
March 7th, 2008 at 1:21 pm
This happened to me in December. I only get paid once a month and I work at a University. It was closed from December 20th to January 2, so I got paid on December 20th, so instead of waiting for my statement like a good girl, I though I’d just pay all my bills on December 20th so that I wouldn’t be tempted to overspend on the holiday.
Come the end of January I had late fees up the wazoo.
You live, you learn, I guess.
*sigh*
June 29th, 2008 at 12:37 pm
@Ryan Healy
USAA is just plain awesome! My husband was in the service and I think that’s one of the best things we got out of his service. To anyone who is eligible I highly suggest you switch anything and everything to them. We have our insurance through them and we get money back every year. I couldn’t believe it the first year it happened.
July 8th, 2008 at 3:13 pm
I am a consumer class action lawyer. I hear these tales, and far worse, all day long.
Remedies:
*Credit industry lobbyist pay campaign donations to politicians to rig the system so that you have very limited remedies. That is why they dare to treat people this way. Vote for candidates that will not stand for this.
*Write your congressperson and state legislator and tell them about your experiences and demand that do something to stop this.
*Don’t use credit cards to borrow money. They are a huge ripoff and are sucking away your retirement. Do without, save, scrimp, sacrifice, but live within your means. Its worth it in the long run.
*If what they are doing to you (and others) is contrary to their own policies, advertising, terms, and agreements, contact a consumer class action lawyer.
Excellent site.
July 8th, 2008 at 3:14 pm
Contact me at millslawfirm.com.
August 23rd, 2008 at 3:06 pm
This is no lie! When you start building your credt get ONE card, and keep it. ALWAYS pay your balane. DO NOT (NOT NOT NOT NOOOT) carry a balance, even if it’s a couple thousand. Why? Because credit card companies will find ways to nit pick and screw you over. I had one bank after I made an online payment with my checking account number send me an email that the payment didn’t go through. No problem, I called the representative and guess what, it did. It said so on the phone and their website. Good? No. It didn’t go through. They neglect to inform their representatives of what’s going on with the payment so the rep thinks the account is okay. Now guess what? After a excellent standing account, always paying on time, I have a penalty interest rate of over 30%. TRUST ME, carrying balances for any length of time is BAD BAD BAD for you to do. Don’t do it. Credit card companies are THERE to make money and they will screw you if they have to do it.
Be wise, unlike me.
October 28th, 2008 at 11:48 am
My Citibank card WITHOUT FAIL will always request my payment on a federal holiday, or a Saturday or Sunday when they specifically do not accept payments.
I have called to complain to them about this, I have written to the fair credit bureau, I’ve even written my state politician. Citibank says that it’s merely a coincidence that my payment will be due on Columbus day in October, then Veterans day in November - both are banking holidays. Pay on the due date they request, you are late.
The last time this happened, the fuckers tried to increase my rate to 18.9% from my fixed rate of 4.9% right after I made a large purchase because they said my online payment posted a day late because my due date was ON Columbus day, so it was collected the next business day, they tacked on a $39 late fee, and they said I forfeited my fixed rate of 4.9% for an APR of 18.9%, etc. etc.
I now write my due dates on a calendar in front of my desk as to what day I need to pay my cards, and I always check to make sure the DUE DATE doesn’t fall on a banking holiday. These fuckers will try to screw you over every single time!
And to people who say “don’t use credit cards if you don’t like it”, for many of us, if we didn’t have credit cards we couldn’t pay for college tuition each semester, automobile repairs when they suddenly come up, urgent medical care when we get hurt, and other vital necessities each month without them!
-angry in Kansas
October 31st, 2008 at 1:15 pm
I’ve decided I am not getting a credit card for a very long time. Every time I have to wind up using it is due to lack of income as a result of our current economy.
Captial One is the worst credit card company in the world. I will never do business with them again.
Between the idiots at Capital one, in the stock market and financial industries- all of which who have ran our American economy into the ground- I am being forced to appear in court over- get this- $1300.00 total chump change to any credit card company.
I’ve been layed off three times in the past 4 years, once due to idiots at these corporation who outsourced jobs to the Phillippines. And twice more to fools who cannot budget to keep a department staffed properly.
Charges were made on a Capital One card in the amount of $700 for one month’s rent- so that I would not be homeless. In turn, this company pulled off their ‘rip off’ tactic that were noted in another web article- overlimit fees and late fees… jacking the total up to well over $1300.00. Years ago such charges were illegal by law. I am not sure what government official ever changed that law- to where 700 becomes 1300 within a year- but I can bet it was someone that was in kahootz with the financial industry.
Capital One is the most relentless and abusive credit card company. What’s in my wallet? A debit card, that’s all I need.
So now, after they’ve hosed the housing market with their loans, they’re coming after credit card holders that are unemployed, barely scraping by to make ends meet on food stamps and unemployment insurance… over their own doing sending jobs overseas. And for what? $1300? Then hit me with the additional court costs as well? No other credit card company has pushed to such extremes, just these jerks with their India call center who can’t even speak english.
Its a shame, Capital One and its lawyers, stealing from the poor and giving to the rich. I really wonder how they sleep at night doing this to other people, they will have to answer on Judgment Day for it so I figure, all of it - its bad karma on their part.
Screw the credit card companies and the financial lenders who are more posessed about putting money in their wallets and driving some fancy car- by sending jobs overseas and screwing the middle class into being poor.
Honestly I really wonder what would happen if this were to make it to the local news here and around the world. It really is a shame these companies are so greedy. To me its just like the napster incident, suing the poor girl who had kids- and couldnt afoord music, so she downloaded it. The case was dropped.
Stay away from Capital One, they are the worst.
-Anonymous
November 6th, 2008 at 4:06 am
I’m glad I found this article. I had a similiar experience with CHASE. That is the worst customer service I have ever had. I think the internet is the best weapon against these crook bastards. Let’s give them a taste of their own medicine. These companies don’t like bad publicity.
November 11th, 2008 at 8:24 pm
Gee, and what can be the havoc of our economy. Fuel prices, food prices and the penalities that have been opposed on the everyday consumer having plastic debt. Can we not get a bale out of some kind to help us. Banks are just getting richer and we are all in the poor house. Government help us out for once. Withall the penalties we will never survive. I have vowed to cut the plastic up and our family is canceling any and all gift giving. See what retailers appreciate my business if I even give em any!!!!!!!!!!