wow. WOW.

[dianora2]

Pay close attention to those credit cards, kiddies, because the companies are slashing and burning and taking no hostages.

I'm sitting here on the computer and suddenly remembered I needed to pay my credit card bill. I've had this card for a couple of years now and have never missed a payment. I head on over there, and discover that 1. my due date was 7/17 and 2. at the stroke of midnight they charged me a $39.00 late fee.

Un. Fucking. Believable. I'll probably say something, but who knows if it will do anything.

So consider this a PSA to mind those due dates, because there is NO such thing as grace periods anymore.

(And P.S. Read "The Corporation" to discover how business like these are simultaneously destroying and taking over our country, then take a moment to think about how our elected representatives spend most of their time making sure these companies make as much money off of us as possible. The end.)

Comments

[lrcutter.livejournal.com]

I would call them. As you've had this credit card for a couple of years and have yet to miss a payment, they might wave the fee. They used to do that in the past -- I don't know if they'll still do that. But it's worth checking.

[aud-woman-in.livejournal.com]

And also, check to make sure they didn't jack your interest rate up to astronomical levels, which some service agreements stipulate they can do if your payment is ever late.

[quarkwiz.livejournal.com]

Holy shit! That sucks...they used to at least give you five days, no? Bleah. :-( I second what the previous commenters said, btw, and if you haven't gotten your credit reports in at least a year get yourself over to annualcreditreport.com (that's the real one, not scammers) for your free reports.

[noelleleithe.livejournal.com]

I don't remember any credit card giving a due date grace period, and I got my first one in 1989. :)

[telaryn.livejournal.com]

Two year old card - missed my first payment - they closed the account. I swear if I don't get rid of these accounts, I'm going to end up undoing the last five years of trying to recapture my rating.

[noelleleithe.livejournal.com]

Well, credit cards haven't had due date grace periods for as long as I can remember. Some will even charge a late fee if your payment comes in after a specific time on the due date (I have one that wants payment in by noon).

They're still good about reversing late fees for good customers, though. I accidentally missed a payment about 6 months ago and got it reversed easily. Still had to pay the interest charges, though, darn it, although my interest rate didn't change. (I pay in full every month, so I don't pay much attention to the rate.)

[chanel19.livejournal.com]

I pay my credit cards off every month and they will still occasionally pull bs like this on me. I call. I threaten to close the account and spend my money elsewhere. They wave the fees and usually offer me a lower interest rate. It's always worth calling. I never call angry, just profoundly disappointed. I talk to the person on the other line as if we have a relationship and they've hurt me. It works every time.

[purple-elefants.livejournal.com]

Yup. I just recently had to pay a $20 late fee on a rather small bill because the mail took a little longer than usual, and they received my payment the day after it was due. I always pay in full and on time. Thanks for nothing, bitches.