sneaky credit card company...

**happydog** · 06-04-2008, 06:48 AM

Be sure to keep good records. I'm sure glad I had transaction numbers, etc., with our latest dirty trick by a credit card company.

So, we had one card we were carrying a balance on since March, because that was when DH had a month of unpaid leave (he works in an entertainment related field--irregular schedule). I made an online payment this weekend, and paid off the entire balance. When I checked my checking account today (and double checked it through my credit card), the company had lowered my payment amount, leaving a $10.70 balance remaining on the card. I can only assume this was done so that we would continue to incur interest charges.

The card is through our credit union, so I've fired off an email to the CS department, complete with transaction tracking numbers, etc. This just really ticks me off. If we didn't have to travel constantly, I'd be cutting up both our cards and closing the accounts. Unfortunately, we are on the road constantly. Traveling without a card can be difficult, when dealing with hotels, car rentals, airlines, etc. sigh.

**Darlene** · 06-04-2008, 07:36 AM

Glad your on top of it. Hope it gets resolved to your satisfaction quickly.

**happydog** · 06-04-2008, 08:49 AM

Thanks, Darlene.

If this had been in my before FV days, I probably wouldn't have even caught the discrepancy. So, many thanks to Sara, et al, for keeping this place around. I certainly do better at budgeting and keeping track when I come here and read regularly.

**LexTysMommy** · 06-04-2008, 09:05 AM

Good luck! Hope they can take care of it right away!

I noticed on one of my cards taht I haevnt used in months that there is $19 charge. I called it was yearly fee they just started. I said I pay this faithfully when I carry balance and no need for yearly fee on my account could you please take off, they agreed to this time but next year I am sure I will make same phone call.

**C@rol** · 06-04-2008, 09:27 AM

Good thing you were paying attention. Imagine how many people they get to charge interest because they weren't paying attention.

**Ilovesewing** · 06-04-2008, 08:22 PM

This happened to my ds once on his credit card. And the way it worked he would have NEVER been able to pay it off because there was always a small balance accruing interest. It took a phone call from dh to get them to remove it. Glad you were on top of it!

**happydog** · 06-05-2008, 06:25 AM

Well, my CS representative says that "the system" won't let me pay the entire balance, only what is due on the statement balance. This is utter nonsense, since I have paid off the card in the past, including new purchases. In effect, if I can never pay the total amount due on the card, then I can never be rid of a balance that will accrue interest, which I pointed out to the service rep.

I told her that I was going to go make another payment for the remaining balance on the card, and that if I ran into any difficulty with that, that they would be hearing from me again, and not in a good way.

grrrrrr...

**BetterLateThanNever** · 06-05-2008, 06:43 AM

Have your reported them to the BBB? Your right not allowing you to pay off you balance is nonsense and sounds Illegal.

**happydog** · 06-05-2008, 08:29 AM

Not yet. We will see how this resolves. I just made another web payment for the remaining balance. If that amount is changed, or refused, I will take further steps, including closing the account.

We've had a visa with this credit union for over 20 years, and this is the first time this has ever occurred. I have paid off the entire balance many times, with no issues, so this is a new dirty trick for them, as far as I can tell.

The thing is, that it's obvious they are being sneaky, if you look at my account. We've not used the card for *anything* since May 9th, so there aren't any new charges for this billing cycle other than interest we accrued on the balance from prior to May 9. And the interest is what they've rolled over to the next billing cycle.

**FrugalMomof3** · 06-05-2008, 09:05 AM

They do this all the time so they can keep collecting interest on it, send in the last payment and get it over with. Maybe it's time to apply for a different card?

**IntlMom** · 06-05-2008, 09:09 AM

Shame on that CU! That's very unlike a credit union, which is there to serve it's members....YOU! I worked at a CU in my before kids days, and yes, that is VERY sneaky.....I'd be looking to change companies, even IF this gets "resolved".

**frugalfriend** · 06-05-2008, 09:40 AM

Like you said, that is utter nonsense! Credit card companies are getting sneakier and sneakier. I think the only way to go is to stop using cc's and use a debit card, perfectly acceptable when traveling too.

**larabelle** · 06-05-2008, 10:11 AM

It is time to apply for a new cards...there are toooooooo many cards out there to be going thru this type of drama!!

**Denvergirlie** · 06-05-2008, 10:30 AM

It's most likely just the interest you've been charged since the last statement. The lesson is to always call for a pay off qoute.

**Frugal Nurse** · 06-05-2008, 10:53 AM

did I understand this right?
You paid off the balance and they changed your payment?

Naughty!

And you caught this before the cycle closed?
I hope so, because if not, you know they'll get another month of interest off you.

That's just wrong. I've never heard of not being able to pay the balance.