Not completely heartless bastards
I've been trying to close a credit card account for three months now. I closed the account because I didn't need the rewards associated with the account (discounts on cars made by a particular manufacturer), as the rewards weren't completely as advertised. The deal was supposed to be 2% back a year up to a maximum about in as car rebate when you bought a new car, but, in reality, was a "we'll bump the price of the car up by the amount of the rebate for tax purposes" so you still pay the same amount in end, just to the state in sales tax instead of the dealership for the car.
Well, the bait-and-switch rebate and I'm not planning on buying a new car for a long, long time.
Now, I've been TRYING to close the account, but having no luck with the bills. After I closed the account via the phone, I called back for the balance amount, and sent a check in for that amount, figuring I was done. When my next bill arrived, it had another couple hundred dollars on the balance, which I paid five or so days of the due date.
Apparently, I didn't account for the Christmas rush of mail when mailing my payment in (yes, yes, I know, I know, "mailing a payment in?" Yes, I still write checks, I LIKE writing checks.). The January bill had a $39 late fee on the card.
Not that I knew it was on there. To me, I had paid the bill and paid on time, so I didn't bother opening the statement. By the time I did open it up, to scan the statement and file it away, it was too late to send in the payment on time. Let's see, I could send a rush electronic payment and pay $19, or send in a check for $39, plus another $39 late fee, but interest on the first $39.
Yeah, don't ask my why I didn't just call the credit card company and have the late fee waived. I didn't think of it at the time, but I should have.
So, I send the late fee and the rush fee via electronic check and pay the bill. Great, I'm done. This account is closed.
Except it's not.
I receive ANOTHER bill today with ANOTHER $15 rush payment processing fee, on TOP of the $19 rush payment fee AND the $39 late fee that I don't believe I should have had to pay in the first place.
I screamed when I opened the statement.
Kris came running.
In a frantic fit of anger, I cursed up a storm (now that Gaby wasn't in the house, I could curse up a storm for the 30 seconds it took me to explain to Kris what had happened). "I hate how they nickel and dime you," he said.
"Not so much nickel and dime as twenty and fifty dollar you," I responded.
Yeah.
So, this time, I DID call the credit card company. Could they please waive this yet-another-fee of $15? I've been trying to close this account for three months, and all I want is to have this account closed already. Please?
The customer reps answer?
"Well, ma'am, I can't waive the fee, no. But I can give you a $15 credit. Will that work for you?"
Um.... yes?
"Okay, the credit will appear on your statement within two business days. Is there anything else I can help you with?"
Um.... no?
"Okay, have a nice day."
I think I will. $15 worth of a nice day