The squeaky wheel really DOES get the grease!

[kneedownnate]

So I have a credit card from the shiftiest, worst creditor you can go through - mbna - bank of america.  A couple years ago I missed a payment, got a statement saying I owed for 2 months and paid it.  Next month comes and I get a phone call saying I owe for 3 months and I ask if they'd recieved my payment.  If they'd cashed my payment I would have been below my limit, but since they didn't I was over limit.  For eight months I went back and forth with them and was essentially called a liar the whole time and harassed heavily.  Then I finally spoke the the right person, somebody who actually looked for my payment rather than calling me a liar and found that they'd stuck it in somebody else's account    Why it took that long dealing with so many different people to get somebody who didn't think I was lying I don't know, but she agreed that all the related fees and charges from those 8 months, $35 per late or over limit fees, would be refunded.  I got back $23 total 

Anyway, I haven't paid them in a couple months.  For what reason I don't know, I just haven't paid them.  They've been calling for the last couple days and I had considered offering them some ridiculously low amount to close the account, like $500 or something.  When they called tonight I finally answered the phone and asked the guy if I could pay it off for less than what I owed, $2758.  He asked how much I thought I should pay it off for, and serious as could be I offered $758.  He asked me to repeat myself, and again I offered $758 and he said there was no way they'd settle for that.  I repeatedly explained the bs I'd gone through and said I shouldn't have ever had to endure that, to which he agreed.  I saw my chance and went with it and asked what they'd settle for and he does figuring and says they'll settle for $1400   

I'm not obligated, but I took down his info and asked that they send me something in writing and I'll have a month to get the payment in.  I'm going to poor over it myself and see that there are no substantial negatives related to paying it off early, then take it to a friend and have him read it too.  It'll be a little tough to round up the $1400, but I should be able to do it and remove one more payment each month and one giant headache    The only downside I see is it'll take away my emergency reserve and gas money for hikes, but I'll have the money that would go toward that payment and should have another 2wd toyota for sale soon, at which point I may start working on another credit card company  :rubshandstogetherdevilishly:   

[NorCalToy]

not at all what i thought this thread would be about...

but that does suck. sometimes big corporations are so retarded its amazing they ever got that big.

[BLACKDOG]

I hate dealing with them.  That was my first CC, still have it, but its going away very soon.  One time I sent in a payment, and they charged me a late fee ($25) on a $100 debt (that I sent in the full $100 for) because they received the payment  8 days late.  That may have had something to do with the fact that the statement wasn't sent to me until AFTER the bill was due.  The time stamp on the envelope was 2 days after the due date.  It took me 2 weeks of chasing down the problem, and finally going in to the district manager (or whatever they're called) and having him call the CC dept head manager, and telling him that he was holding the envelope with the statement in his hand, and that the time stamp did actually say what it said, and even HE had to fax over proof.  

Switched over to online payments, and statements since then, making copies of everything, etc.  Couldn't get another CC at the time.

[Wermz84]

Dayum.    and I thought Capital One was bad.  

There could be negative connotations on your credit score if you go that route.   Which given the description of the company could happen weather or not they say they will.

Good luck with that.  

[kneedownnate]

I'm assuming I'll take a little hit to my credit score by paying it off early, but to be honest I doubt it'll match the damage I've recieved from dealing with them thus far!  But that's why I said I needed it in writing, because if I have that I'll be golden.  Funny thing is, the guy even suggested I sue!  I asked him who had the time and said that's the only reason they even suggested it in the first place, then after telling him the only people who had the time to do that were the jobless, asked him again who had the time to sue, and while he was "uuummm, welllll..." I cut him off and said "a bum!".  He couldn't stifle his chuckles quick enough 

[JanMarie13]

Very interesting.  Was most of your balance the 8 months of late fees, or why would they agree to accept less than your balance?  Far as I know there shouldn't be any sort of "early payment" penalty as long as it's just a typical credit card? 

Anyway, I cannot stress enough, CREDIT CARDS ARE THE DEVIL!!!!

I used to have a bit of an issue with it, but we're down to one really good one that's issued through my credit union and that's it.  I'm at the point now where I avoid any sort of credit line at all cost.  We did finance a new shed when we sold our house, but only because they offered one year same as cash, and I just paid it off this month so we ended up not having to pay any interest on it at all.  And then I promptly sent a letter telling them to CLOSE the account!

UGH.  Good luck Nate.  Regardless of what you do, it never hurts to get credit cards paid off and closed out.  If this one does, I don't understand why, but it's got to still be a good thing in the end.

[79coyotefrg]

thats how they pay for all the crackheads that work there,  just like most banks they  screw people ona  regular basis so they  get  more money,  they cant make a million a week off there "honest" fee's

[kneedownnate]

Very interesting.  Was most of your balance the 8 months of late fees, or why would they agree to accept less than your balance? 

Nope, I was close to being maxed out when they lost my payment, then the late fees on top of the lost payments put me over and the 8 months of added fees made it harder to get it down below the limit.  And no, I wasn't missing payment before and pushing my balance up, I was just using the card to buy stuff and had actually stopped using it shortly before then.

I'm guessing there are a couple reasons they're willing to close out early for basically half the value.  One being there's a continuing headache between the two of us and I mention their problems every time I've ever talked with them, even if it's just a quick call to check and see what I owe, the other being I did threaten a lawsuit for the entire 8 months.  Not suing for the 8 months worth of fees like the guy suggested, but I was looking to make a big enough dent in their wallet to make them think twice about screwing anybody else over!

I'm sure you can guess, but unless you've been through similar frustration you really don't know the mental and physical anguish this can cause a persion, and I was so happy when they finally found my payments because I would no longer have the intense tightening in my chest or be so mad with the company that I could feel my whole body turning beat red    Yes, I have serious problems with incompetence!

[Shamb]

I've had prob's with my BOA card as well, needless to say I paid it off in full and cancelled it.

They are by far the worst credit card you could ever get.

[kneedownnate]

  I guess they've been sued and fined more than any other card company for their shifty actions, which I'm guessing may play a small role in why they're willing to write off nearly half my debt 

[jimbo74]

may play a small role in why they're willing to write off nearly half my debt 

by the time it gets to collections, its the same thing.... they know they arent going to see a penny unless they make it easier on you to pay it.... we will settle for $0.60 on the dollar... blah blah.....


trust me, i know all about delinquent credit cards.... i think i still have 1 left..... they also try pretty nasty tactics, threaten court and charging you with fraud and blah blah...... if you cant afford it, they will win in court, but will get a small chunk over a long epriod of time... and most of the time, wont even drag it to court because it costs them too much

[kneedownnate]

We have some pretty shifty lawyers in a big lawfirm here.  They're always showing their commercials talking about how they got 13 million for some family when their idiot kid crashed their own car.  If they ever tried suing me I'd be down there knocking on their door asking if they wanted to make a shitpile of money off a shifty credit card company.

[jimbo74]

i only trust the shifty lawyers

[kneedownnate]

So I finally got the paperwork from them.  Whe I spoke to the guy on the phone I asked what would happen if I didn't pay it off early and he said nothing, it'd go back to being a regular account.  I said "good, I just wanted to make sure I wouldn't have to pay if off in full or anything", to which he replied "nope, it'd go back to monthly payments like before".

Well, in true mbna fashion the lied to me again.  The paperwork clearly states that I'll have to pay off the full $2780 or whatever in full if I don't make the early payoff!  Needless to say, nathan will be making a call and chewing some more ass tomorrow and lighting them up 

[Cheesemaker]

I so, hate credit cards, but we got in a bit of a pinch a couple years ago and we are slowly working on them.  I got a killer one from Capital One with a killer transfer offer and now, I'm at a 1.99%!!! 

One thing I found out, is I never send my payments before the end of the month, if the payment is for the next following month.  I found this out on my house payment!    Which I got a late statement, and I called them and we went around and around, but I decided to just give an give them an extra payment!  Which the extra payment went towards escrow at the end of the month, which just made my next years payments lower!

[kneedownnate]

Well, I've yet to recieve the confirmation call they were supposed to give me a few days ago   but they've pulled the money from my account, so it appears I'm completely done with them!  I'd call them back but the phone #, extension and person's name who I dealt with are all on my note pad on my bench at work 

I may check with Capitol One cheesy, thanks!  If they'd be willing to give me a low rate for transfering the remainder of debt I'd probably jump on it.  It'd make it a lot easier to consolidate all my debt and only have one payment to worry about each month.

[Plekto]

(southern preacher voice)
They'za all eeeebil I tellz ya!
(/preacher voice)

There are only about two things a debit card can't be used for these days, so there's really no reason to own a credit card.  Oh - and turn off overdraft protection.  That's also bad.

[kneedownnate]

Umm, you do realise the reason for a credit card is to purchase something you can't outright afford, right?  Your theory only rings true if you ONLY consider a master card, or whichever card it is you have to pay off each month.  Or if you're rich or have no need for money.

[Plekto]

I also have a savings account... That works, too.  And patience.

No car payments, no credit payments.  Makes life a whole lot less stressful, though also a tad bit slower to resolve when things break.

[Duffil]

so what you're saying is, I should answer the phone next time my collection service calls me?

[kneedownnate]

  if they've fawked you over, yes!  I tried doing the same earlier this year with dell but they called my bluff.  I did get $100 credit from them for going 2 months, the first 2 months, without a working computer. 

[kneedownnate]

Just a quick update on this:  The inevitable seems to have happened!  Those fucktards took my check for $1400 and cashed it, but rather than cancelling my account like they said WAS DONE, they instead sent me an invoice stating I owe the remainder still    That is the EXACT reason I gave the lady for why I didn't want to pay over the phone while at work and wanted to mail it in, but there was really no way that would have gone through in time to meet my deadline.

I hate getting riled up before going to bed at night, but I'm very tempted to call and leave them a very dirty message tonight instead of waiting till I wake up tomorrow.  Man I hate these assholes!!!

[Rocksurfer]

Always, I mean always get it in writing before you pay of a bill with a reduced amount. That person on the phones job is to get $ out of you plain and simple doesn't matter what they say or agree to with you unless you have it in writing.

[kneedownnate]

I do have it in writing.  I have all her info on a note pad at work and I have their paperwork stating the deal sitting on my desk in front of me now. 

It was a good thing I did call last night, because even though I didn't get through to a person I still was able to attempt looking up my account via their automated system, and it came up as non-existent.  I'm hoping that means those idiots sent out the bill before closing my account, or some idiot just messed up.  I'll be calling them monday to get it all sorted out, but that makes me feel a little better anyway.

[germ]

I would consider setting up an online payment program. It's much more secure these days, and it occurs essentially instantly. Snail mail is unfortunatly unreliable (comparitivley), due to mail mishandling, some highshool drop out not punching in numbers correctly etc.

Also, if your credit isn't too messed up from all this, many cards will give you a "low intro rate", which gives you 3-9 months at a lower intrest rate to figure out what to do next, and ditch these other idiots.

Hope it all works out for you,
Erik

[kneedownnate]

I set a few different things up with online payments, but have actually had to cancel one and have them go back to paper bills because they couldn't get their straight.  I'd make a payment and get an invoice, then they'd contact me saying I still owed.  This happened a few times and I told them if they couldn't get their pos system fixed to just put me back to paper bills.  I got an email later that day saying I'd be getting paper again