PayPal Buyer Credit's scam begins with the assumption that payments can be made using PayPal's payment service.
They cannot, but the company makes sure to foster the obvious assumption that you can. That way, it maximizes late payment rates and the associated penalty fees. Many aspects of the service are designed with this aim in mind.
When I discovered that PayPal could not be used to pay PayPal Buyer Credit, I was overseas with no US checks to post. I telephoned and spoke to one of their "customer service" representatives in India. I agreed to pay the balance before the due date printed on the invoice and told them to close my account.
The next day, GE Money's collectors started calling my US home and harassing my elderly parents.
I decided to take action.
I telephoned GE Money again and demanded to speak to a manager in the US. I informed that person that GE Money must a) provide a fax number and b) immediately cease telephoning my home. I recorded the conversation (and informed the manager the call was being recorded). He refused on both counts.
I then wrote to say the agreement was in abeyance and that I disputed the late fees and interest on the balance. I filed a complaint with the Texas Attorney General's Office, the FTC, and the Internet Crime Complaint Center. I may expand this list to include the attorneys general of Florida, where GE Money also has an office and accepts payments, and Maryland, where I live.
I also wrote to the credit reporting agencies informing them that the debt was in dispute.
The company could have avoided dispute and got paid just by behaving in a civil fashion. Instead, it has a nasty fight on its hands. This is corporate sleaze at its absolute worst.
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