Complaint Review: FCNB

On February 18, 2003 I called to get a payoff amount to close my account. I was told the amount and to avoid a late fee it would have to be paid at an Eddie Bauer store by the 20th or I could do a pay by phone. I explained that one of the checks, which was an enormous amount, is from a financial institution so that was not possible.

On February 19 I again called to reconfirm the previous information. I was told the same exact information.

On February 20 I went to the Eddie Bauer store and was told that I could not use the bigger check because Eddie Bauer registers do not accept checks in a high amount and I would have to mail in my payment. I asked the store manager to call FCNB to explain the situation so that I would not be charged a late fee. Mrs. Peterson, the company representative, told me that I would not be charged a late fee if the payment was received by March 14.

I mailed that check that day.

February 25 I called to be sure my account balance was zero. They tacked on a late charge of $37.00. I was told to mail in a letter to dispute it. They sent me a letter, in short, it says they want the $37.00 and if I want to continue to dispute it send them another letter. I did.

I get a bill 3 days ago saying now I owe them $37.00 and a finance charge of $5.19.

Today, March 27, I get a letter stating the following, "While FCNB did not resolve this billing dispute to your satisfaction, please be assured that FCNB performed a reasonable investigation of your dispute and we considered all of the relevant information that was available to us."

In other words, they want money that I was told I would not be charged for.

Lisa
Westville, New Jersey
U.S.A.