After a divorce I was trying to rebuild my credit. I got a credit card through Direct Merchants Bank. Remember, I was trying to rebuild my credit. So, I assumed that I would be abused. But little did I know the level of abuse that Direct Merchants Bank would stoop to. I am a minister so I do try my best to be fair and honest.
Sometime after getting their credit card I had open-heart surgery. I had three heart-attacks and a number of heart procedures. I had to apply for Social Security Disability and of course I had a six month waiting period befor receiving the benefits. During that period I still worked hard at paying my monthly payment to DMB and others. So of course I would run late. DMB was charging me a late fee of 34.00. Eventually, only being able to pay the minimum payment which was less that their 34.00 fee, the fees accumulated until I was then over 500.00 limit on the credit card. Now I was being charged a 34.00 over the limit fee in addition to the late fee of 34.00 for a total of fees of 68.00 per month. I was still only able to pay the minimum amount.
The fees have accumulated to the point where I now have a balance on the card of 1370.00. Realize that I have not been able to charge a penny on the card for quite a long time. Not since their fees accumulated and put me over the limit. I am still trying to investigate what I had actually charged on the card versus what I now owe as fees. But I would put the amount that I owe as fees only of about 1000.00 of the 370.00. I have tried repeatedly to work something out with them. After trying to explain my situation to them, their customer service representative at that time basically said..."tough luck." I still continued to call them. Only various occasions they would agree to try to work something out.
They would say that they would talk with a supervisor and to call them back. I would call them back and they would conveniently forget my previous conversations with them. On one occasion, one of the representatives told me that they could do nothing but if I would let the account get over 90 days late then it would go to Charge-off status and then they might could work out some kind of settlement.
I didn't want to do this because I didn't want to ruin my credit. Needless to say, the fee-hole got deeper and deeper. Unbelievable, from about 400.00 to nearly 1400.00 all in fees. This would be the same as a common criminal, a thief stealing a thousand dollars from my wallet. Not that I have a thousand dollars in my wallet. If I did, I would have never gotten to this point with Direct Merchants Bank. I now see there is a class action suit against them. If anyone has any suggestions or help. Please let me know.
God bless,
Rev. David Parker
David
Jasper, Tennessee
0 comments