I had a long-standing Sears credit card. I closed the account and did a loan consolidation through my credit union. I called for a pay-off amount, good through a certain date two weeks out. My credit union mailed a check in that amount the next day.
About a month later I received a bill with a $29 late fee and a minimum interest charge on a $0 balance. I called, and they said the credit union check arrived one day after the pay-off amount expired, so the late fee was valid. I told them it was highly unlikely it would take two weeks to receive, and I had them check the postmark, which was the day my credit union said they mailed it, about two weeks before the deadline. They said to put it in writing, so I did. I mailed that right away.
Several weeks later I received a response in the mail, and all it said was "We find the charges valid." Then I received a bill for over $60, which included a late fee for the late fee! These people are crooks. Do NOT let them get you into their system, you will never get out!
Sears and Kmart are great companies that will end up going under because of these predatory practices at Citibank. All perfectly legal, I am sure, and all perfectly underhanded. Shame on all involved. I am boycotting both stores until they dump Citibank and find a company that is more in line with the values and fairness that I believe the stores still have. Wake up, retailers!
0 comments