M*cY's Credit Card MESS! Be careful about opening an account with them!

[gardenista]

Well, I've just gotten off the phone with "Miss Turner", who understands my frustration, which is all well and good, but she can't help me.

I opened a M*cy's credit account last December to take advantage of a big sale. My intention was to pay off the balance and only use the card for such occasions, paying off immediately.

Well, turns out that the so-called store account was also a Visa credit card. I don't remember signing up for that, but it must have been in the fine print. Oh well, I won't use it, so it doesn't matter, right?

So, I pay off the card as soon as I get the bill, which was very late in coming. I actually had to call to get the bill sent to me, since I wanted to be sure I didn't carry a balance. That was in January.

Today, I got the fifth collection call, and third collection letter, with the threat that they'll report me to the credit bureau, because my payment is past due.

My bank and I have twice sent copies of the payment transmittal, AND I have spent about three hours total on the phone, on hold, or talking with people who can't help me, and keep telling me to do what I already did.

Now that I've mentioned this to a few people, they say that one should never open an account with M*cy's, because they are notorious for this kind of thing. I just sent them another letter and fax, in the hope that I can prevent them from erroneously reporting me for a late on my credit report.

What a mess.

:mad:

[fortyfeetunder]

1. Send copies to your state's Attorney General

The AG needs to know about messes like these.

[gardenista]

2. That is the plan.

The opening of the Visa account was definitely a predatory lending practice. I saw nothing about that in the materials I read when I filled out the application, or I would not have applied.

[dEMOK]

3. M*cy's is now a bargain basement enterprise - just like Walmart...

Customer service takes a back seat to their bottom line.

[lildreamer316]

4. Just be glad you didn't WORK there. It is almost worse.

I used to work for Hecht's; which was a subsidary of Macy's until they decided to just change them all to Macy's about 2-3 years ago. If you worked there; you HAD to open an account because that was the only way to get the employee discount (yes, it's bullshit, but what do you do?). I foolishly did so because I thought it was the thing to do, but after the first two purchases realized that there was a monthly fee /service charge they tacked on.
After three years of employment I left. Cancelled the card. Did not have any ANY purchases on the card in the last two years I was there,and had paid off the ones I had made; which totalled about $70.
When I left and closed the card, they said I owed $150. It was ALL service charges.
Since my credit was already screwed, I told them to go take a flying leap.
Sorry you had to deal with that crap.

[gardenista]

5. That is plantation stuff

They are, I believe, on the verge of illegal lending practices. How horrible for you and the people working there.

[flamingyouth]

6. Ugh!

I had a horrible experience with them (Federated Dept. Stores) when our store was still The Bon Marche back in the mid '90s and I had a card there. I bought some pants for my husband and had to return them because they didn't fit. They didn't credit my account properly and *even though I had all the receipts* they kept calling and harassing me, accusing me of being a deadbeat. I will never shop there again or even set foot in one of their stores. So believe me, I hear you!!!

[gardenista]

7. So insulting to get those calls

Especially since I had to beg to to get the statement sent to me!

I struggled with debt for a long time over ten years ago, and used to get those calls when I really did owe the money. I think it touches some place in my psyche that really messes with my head when I get a call on my home number from "Mr. Jones" telling me that I am basically a liar, and that I couldn't possibly have made that payment, because it doesn't show on their records.

If this gets reported on my credit record, I know that I'm in for another round of horror as I try to get it removed.

The people on the other end of the phone- they must know that they are creating a big problem.

[ellisonz]

8. GAP does the same...it's fucked up.

I got it reduced by threatening to never shop there again and tell everyone I know not to buy their products either, oh and my father threatened to dump the small amount of gap stock he owned.

Commercialism is evil.

:mad:

[gardenista]

11. I guess the lesson is- no dept store/store credit cards

They seem to be the worst. I've never had this kind of problem with bank cards, though we operate on a cash basis, and use only our debit card now.

Oh why, oh why did I stray?

never again!

[Catshrink]

9. Here is a great place to go to find out what to do:

www.creditboards.com

The posters there are experts on dealing with collection agencies, have sample cease & desist letters, etc. I used their advice when I had to deal with someone calling my home repeatedly for someone else.

[gardenista]

10. Great resource! Thanks!