Everything You've Heard About Credit Card Processors Is True

[NashVegas]

I had an interesting day.

Got a phone call early when I came home from work, from a collection agency working for a well-known department store where I have a card. They surprised me by telling me my payment was four days overdue, that my minimum was $42 and they'd like me to pay on the phone, right then.

I was surprised because a) the last bill I'd seen had me with a zero balance once I made June's payment and of my July purchases, they were made after the billing cycle's end, so it made no sense to me, but anyway I said I would go pay at the store.

After thinking about it for a little while and unable to find the current bill, I called them back up for a recount. It took a bit, but finally we worked out what happened (it was my bad, a forgotten purchase that was made between the end of June's billing cycle and the payment date), and again, the service company tried to get me to pay up then and there and I said I was going to the store. They then asked when and how much? and I said I'd do it on my own watch and said goodbye.

90 minutes later, I got yet another phone call from them about the late bill.

WTF?

Anyway, I just came back from the store. Gave them a nice payment and then told the rep exactly what happened and how upset I was by the harassment. The late payment was an anomaly - normally I'm on time and 3-4x the minimum. They ended up persuading billing to axe the late fee.

But GEEZ Louise. If this is how they treat a customer who is normally on time and looking good, I can't imagine what people who are going through real trouble are having to put up with. You all have my deepest sympathy for all the crap.

[hedgehog]

1. I'm running into the same thing. The next month's interest is tacked on,

then I get a call telling me I'm over limit and can i pay right this instant.

[NashVegas]

3. It's Mad

There's no way I'd pay over the phone, but especially to overseas operators. Even moreso, overseas operators with Slavic accents, considering all the hacking going on.

[Selatius]

2. It's incidents like this that caused me to go almost all cash on purchases.

The only time I use credit is if it is a big ticket item. I'd rather not carry a large wad of large denomination bills for obvious reasons.

[NashVegas]

4. I Hear Ya

Really, the only reason I charge anything on this card is to keep it open (balance is 1/6 of the limit) for credit score purposes.

[sarcasmo]

5. I have went to debit card only and usually carry less than fifty dollars cash.

It's hard to break the credit addiction, but I am getting better at using only the debit card.