As most people know Southeast Texas was hit by Hurricane Rita and did extensive damage through out the area. Most of us were without electricity and water for days, (some still do not have power in the county next to us), we were unable to purchase gas for generators for those fortunate enough to have one. Many people in Polk County as well as many other counties have experienced trees laying in the homes, mobile homes split down the center, multiple trees uprooted everywhere, power lines were down in almost every community, which in most of our areas we are on rural water systems which meant no way to obtain water either.
We were declared a disaster area. The Red Cross came to our rural communities to offer ice, water and food to those of us that had no other way of obtaining these so precious commodities.
Our damn at Livingston sustained damage in the Hurricane and those of us below the damn were asked to evacuate in fear of the damn breaking which would have been catastophic.
During this period many companies were trying to help, some deferring payments for their customers. I for one called capital one and ask for a 30 day deferrment on my loan with them. I actually have more than one account with them and have NEVER made a late payment, most accounts have been paid in full, still open with $O balances. The gentleman I talked with (George) stated to me that Capital One in trying to help hurricane victims were deferring payments for 90 days, no late fees no adverse effects on my credit. Wow, that was a great help.
This past week I received a late notice from Capital ONe on this account that I thought (and was told was deferred) I thought, okay just an error. I called Capital One and was asked several questions. Was I without power and water after the storm. Answer Yes. Did I have to evacuate. Answer Yes. Did we receive damage to our property. Answer Yes. Okay, George did not summit my deferrment claim but would be done this day and should not be a problem.
Now each morning I get a harrassing phone call from Capital One. I was told this morning that our zip code was not effected by Hurricane Rita and they wanted an immediate payment. Of course I explained again the damage that Hurricane Rita caused in our area, but was told again that WE WERE NOT EFFECTED by Hurricane Rita.
What right does a Credit Card Company have to tell us in this area that we were not effected. Why were we declared a DISASTER AREA, can someone please answer that for me. As a matter of fact we are still cleaning up trees in our yard, still picking up shingles that were ripped off in the 117 mph winds that we received in our area. My husband broke his arm yesterday cutting up trees that were uprooted in our yard by this hurricane that did not effect our area.
Am I going to pay my bill, Yes, and at the same time I will close any account I have with this company and also plan on running an editorial in the local paper here in my county of Polk and in the surrounding counties that were NOT affected by hurricane Rita because Capital ONe says we were not.
Those of you who are still in the surrounding areas without shelter, without power, without water, in our federally declared Disaster Area, remember Capital ONe says YOU were not affected by Hurricane Rita.
Maybe Capital One should send someone down to our area to help clean up the distruction left.
Thank you all for reading this and I hope you all did not ask Capital ONe for any help during you hard times after a Hurricane that DID NOT affect our area.
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