I decided to try this fuel card for my business because it offered the flexibility of use at any gas station that accepted Mastercard, rather than a specific brand card. Thankfully, I did not close my previous fuel account as I wanted to see how this worked out for awhile. Obviously it did not, which is why I am writing this post.
As someone else reported, paperless statements are sent via email two days after the account month closes. You are then given 12 days until the due date. The problem is that for some reason it takes 10 days for them to post payments to your account, which means you only have 2 days to make the payment, and it will barely arrive on time... 2 days!
I sent a payment directly from my bank on May 11 that was due on May 18. That left a full week for the payment to be received and posted. We pay alot of bills, all on time, and none take as long as a week to be received and posted, except this one. As I mentioned before, it took 10 days. Keep in mind that this is sent from a bank to a bank, so it should be able to be done electronically in a day. Certainly a week should suffice.
When I received my next statment, There was a late charge of $427.75! When I called to ask for an explanation and a credit, they refused. I asked to speak to a supervisor, and was told the supervisor would tell me the same thing. I insisted, and received a phone message two days later.By this time I already sent the payment in full minus the bogus late fee, or else I would risk being late again before I even received a response. I responded to the phone message immediately, pleading my case once again to a voice mail system, and never received another call.
The following month I received a statement with a $90.00 interest charge on the unpaid late charge. I immediately sent an email this time, again pleading my case, to which I received no response yet again.in the interim, I was informed my account was changed to a "Universal Premium Fleet Card" with new cards and account number issued, and told my previous account was closed. I thought good, the other company was a problem anyway.
Today two of my employees cards did not work when they purchased fuel, and were forced to pay cash from their own pockets to satisfy the bill. When I contacted the company for an explanation, I was told it was because my old balance was not paid.insenced and incredulous, I closed the account and turned to the internet to see if others had suffered the same fate. I was certainly not surprised to find that they have.
We have been in business for 22 years and have excellent credit. If I screwed up and sent a payment late, I would certainly pay the charge, even as ridiculous as this amount is. If it's my mistake, it's my mistake. I firmly believe this company is either sandbagging payments to force late charges as a source of revenue, or their accounts receivable department is incompetent, neither of which is acceptable. They insisted they post all payments when received, and blamed it on the post office. If that is the case, why would it only happen with payments sent to them, and on more than one occasion? Something isn't right, and I wanted to write this today with the hope that it saves others from falling victim to their scam. Rest assured I will not pay their fee, and will certainly not do business with them again. I will however pay any remaining fuel purchase balance in full, and on time as always.
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