CC Company really pissing me off!

[Pitman]

Let me explain, long read.

Yesterday I went online to pay off the bill for my 1st Financial Bank CC, which was $236.85, but when I put that amount in to pay I got an error saying I cannot pay more than the balance I paid last month, which was a measly $40. From there I'm salty, so I call up the Customer Service with the intent to raise hell, when the rep gets on the phone, I tell her my problem, she says that’s an error, I'm sorry but we can change it online, but if you pay by phone you can pay off the card, I say no problem.

Then she puts me on hold, I'm assuming to talk to her manager, when she gets back on the phone she says that I can't pay the whole balance because your bill charged says $235, the final amount owed is $236.85, and to add insult to injury we're gonna have to charge you an additional $12 for paying by phone. So now I'm HOT, I tell the lady on the phone, Miss I'm not paying any fee of any sort, and I damn sure not paying less the full amount on this card, she again puts me on hold, I'm assuming to again talk to her manager, when she gets back on the phone, she says they will waive the fee because its my first time paying over the phone, which is a lie, but I’m not saying, and I can pay the final amount owed instead of the bill charged amount.

So finally I give them my info, and I pay off the CC bill. Now this morning I checked the CC website to make sure everything is in order, and to my surprise my final amount bill is now at a whopping $237, those idiots have added $.15 cents to my final amount, so in actuality I haven’t paid off my CC bill. I literally can’t wait for 9am to call them up and use all sorts of foul language.

All in all, I blame myself, I should’ve never used this damn card, but I had to buy a couple of textbooks for school a month back. But I've learned my lesson, I was going to wait until the end of the year fully pay off my CC debt, but after yester I don't want to deal with anymore CC companies. So I'm going to hold off putting money into my savings, and use that to pay both my CC debt in November.

Sorry for the long read I just wanted to vent.

[kork13]

This conversation came up elsewhere (somewhere), but it was mentioned that a fact-only (avoid the anger) letter generally does better than an angry phone call. Anger is ignored, facts are considered. Or, call and ask for a manager, and calmly explain the situation. People who use anger to get their point across are frequently written off, so calmly presenting the facts of what happened tends to yield better results.

[FrugalFish]

Oh, I'd be mad too. The last time we had a CC problem, I called and tried to be nice and reasonable- they blew me off. DH called and gave them a piece of his mind (no profanity) and they were ever so nice in correcting the situation for him. It's hard to say what will work and what won't.

I just reactivated a card we hadn't used in a while and Wednesday was the first time I'd ever paid it online. Like yours, ours was a small bill, and I was surprised at how this particular company's pay system was set up. It automatically defaulted to the lowest possible payment, and wouldn't give the pay-in-full amount. I had the total, so was able to put the right amount in, but it struck me that they really are trying to be difficult in allowing you to make a payment without accruing interest.

Good luck with your dilemma. Hope you get it straightened out quickly.

[kork13]

Doesn't deal with your immediate situation, but for the future, you might try checking if your bank has a free bill-pay service. I pay all of my bills through that, I just tell them to send my CC [this much], and they make it happen. That way you don't have to deal directly with the CC company, and your bank will get it paid for you. Unless is the CC with your normal bank already? In that case, .... don't know what to say.

Of course, if you're not happy with your CC (or the service, or whatever else), you can always look at changing to a different card, or just completely spurn credit cards altogether and go with debit only.

[ActYourWage]

Play with snakes, get bit by snakes.

[MYOM]

You have to pay 15 cents interest to the day you paid off your balance and you are willing to give yourself permission to get upset over that? Don't feel bad; we all let the littlest of things upset us even though we know we shouldn't. A deep breath and a walk around the block might help.

Dan Clemons

[Pitman]

Originally Posted by kork13

This conversation came up elsewhere (somewhere), but it was mentioned that a fact-only (avoid the anger) letter generally does better than an angry phone call. Anger is ignored, facts are considered. Or, call and ask for a manager, and calmly explain the situation. People who use anger to get their point across are frequently written off, so calmly presenting the facts of what happened tends to yield better results.

I definitely won't curse out the manager, I said for the effect mostly. But I will say my words very sternly so they know I'm serious. Thanks, I do appreciate the advice.

Originally Posted by FrugalFish

Oh, I'd be mad too. The last time we had a CC problem, I called and tried to be nice and reasonable- they blew me off. DH called and gave them a piece of his mind (no profanity) and they were ever so nice in correcting the situation for him. It's hard to say what will work and what won't.

I just reactivated a card we hadn't used in a while and Wednesday was the first time I'd ever paid it online. Like yours, ours was a small bill, and I was surprised at how this particular company's pay system was set up. It automatically defaulted to the lowest possible payment, and wouldn't give the pay-in-full amount. I had the total, so was able to put the right amount in, but it struck me that they really are trying to be difficult in allowing you to make a payment without accruing interest.

Good luck with your dilemma. Hope you get it straightened out quickly.

Good luck as well my friend. It’s sad really that CC companies are resorting to these tactics to hurt their card members, instead of trying to help.

Originally Posted by MYOM

You have to pay 15 cents interest to the day you paid off your balance and you are willing to give yourself permission to get upset over that? Don't feel bad; we all let the littlest of things upset us even though we know we shouldn't. A deep breath and a walk around the block might help.

Dan Clemons

I was completely unaware of the $.15 cents interest when paying off your balance, but I will ask the rep or manager when I call them today. As towards taking a deep breath, I'm not an angry person, I'd much rather have a debate calmly, than an argument, but yester I did feel like I was being taken advantage of, and this CC company was toggling with my finances. Plain and simple its not right.

[PrincessPerky]

Very much not right, I hope you got it straightened out by now, I know calm but forceful works, but I am avoiding a phone call right now because knowing and doing are very different!

[mikandmari]

Credit card companies are sneaky and conniving. But the sweet justice is that, for all their kindness, they are on the verge of losing billions and billions of dollars.

I work for one of these places. I've watched my employer go from a respected part of the community (late 1980s) to the greedy corporate loan shark it is today.

Of course, the big dogs don't suffer.. it's the employees who are receiving layoff notices.

The best way to get revenge: don't use the card, but leave it open. It costs them $$$ to keep the active account on its books.

[rooskers]

I love my credit card. I get 5% cash back on Groceries and Gas. I can only collect $500 per year though. However if I meet the $500 early in the year the money after that will roll over into next year. To date I have earned over $3000 from my various cash back credit cards. I think they (total of all my credit cards) may have gotten maybe $3 in interest total from me.

Oh I also used the credit card to finance my wedding a while back since it had 0% interest for a year. Invested the money for the year and about 1 month before it was due paid off the entire card but kept all the interest I had earned on it.

Just got to know how to play the game.

[simpleyme]

I always think its weird when people say they love their credit card

like,find it usefull ,but love ,really????

[segmond]

so you are mad because you have a balance of 15cents on your credit card? oh wow, your FICO score just took a hit!

[buzz]

I have been steadily shifting my business to credit unions. The banking industry has gotten downright creepy.

[simpleyme]

Originally Posted by segmond

so you are mad because you have a balance of 15cents on your credit card? oh wow, your FICO score just took a hit!

work answering phones for CC cards ? I think I have talked to you ;-)
just kidding

[simpleyme]

Originally Posted by buzz

I have been steadily shifting my business to credit unions. The banking industry has gotten downright creepy.

I totally agree with this, my credit union ALWAYS does what it says it will do
I have never had them lie mis post something or do anything that has made me mad I have been a member since I was 16 and am now 36 ,

every interaction with these companies should not have to be a action of self defense, why do they have such a hard time helping people resolve payment issues? I do not get why they let there employees be so nasty and unhelpful
I once called Citibank with a simple question and was told by a employee that I should get my DH to explain it to me ,this guy had not even tried to answered my question
my question was why had they charged me 1 dollar interest on an account that had no balance due on it

[amarowsky]

Originally Posted by kork13

This conversation came up elsewhere (somewhere), but it was mentioned that a fact-only (avoid the anger) letter generally does better than an angry phone call. Anger is ignored, facts are considered. Or, call and ask for a manager, and calmly explain the situation. People who use anger to get their point across are frequently written off, so calmly presenting the facts of what happened tends to yield better results.

Steve brought it up a while back, reguarding an egg "sammich" at some casino if i remember correctly.

I remember this distinctly because I vented a little bit on how I never complain verbally to people and I overtip even when the service is "****ty". I'm still almost looking forward to next time I get bad service somewhere so I can write my letter accordingly to help correct the wrong doings of some of the awful service that is used when dealing with customers/consumers.

VENT ON CREDIT MAN! VENT ON! (i mean that also in the form of drinking a coors light as well as sharing your frustration )

[KGeary]

Originally Posted by Pitman

Let me explain, long read.

Yesterday I went online to pay off the bill for my 1st Financial Bank CC, which was $236.85, but when I put that amount in to pay I got an error saying I cannot pay more than the balance I paid last month, which was a measly $40. From there I'm salty, so I call up the Customer Service with the intent to raise hell, when the rep gets on the phone, I tell her my problem, she says that’s an error, I'm sorry but we can change it online, but if you pay by phone you can pay off the card, I say no problem.

Then she puts me on hold, I'm assuming to talk to her manager, when she gets back on the phone she says that I can't pay the whole balance because your bill charged says $235, the final amount owed is $236.85, and to add insult to injury we're gonna have to charge you an additional $12 for paying by phone. So now I'm HOT, I tell the lady on the phone, Miss I'm not paying any fee of any sort, and I damn sure not paying less the full amount on this card, she again puts me on hold, I'm assuming to again talk to her manager, when she gets back on the phone, she says they will waive the fee because its my first time paying over the phone, which is a lie, but I’m not saying, and I can pay the final amount owed instead of the bill charged amount.

So finally I give them my info, and I pay off the CC bill. Now this morning I checked the CC website to make sure everything is in order, and to my surprise my final amount bill is now at a whopping $237, those idiots have added $.15 cents to my final amount, so in actuality I haven’t paid off my CC bill. I literally can’t wait for 9am to call them up and use all sorts of foul language.

All in all, I blame myself, I should’ve never used this damn card, but I had to buy a couple of textbooks for school a month back. But I've learned my lesson, I was going to wait until the end of the year fully pay off my CC debt, but after yester I don't want to deal with anymore CC companies. So I'm going to hold off putting money into my savings, and use that to pay both my CC debt in November.

Sorry for the long read I just wanted to vent.

They are all crooks and liars. That's why I don't use them AT ALL.

[jeffmem]

Most credit card companies that I use do not let you pay more than the balance. I found that out years ago. American Express even will not let you pay for money that you owe until it is due. For example if you spent 10 bucks for something right after the cut off date and want to pay it off and it appears on your online statement, you still cannot pay it until the bill is realeased. I argue with them years and found it to be a waste of time, so I just play their little game. If I am ever late for a payment because of that, I will raise hell with them, but until then it a battle I don't really have time to fight.