Complaint Review: GE Capital Cons Cardco Aka Care Credit

I did not have time to sit in the Dentist's office and read the 12 pages of fine print about the GE Capital Cons Credit Card/aka Care Card (revised 8/8/02). The Dentist had just informed me that my portion of the bill would be $1,200 above what Cigna Dental Insurance would paid. They wanted their money before they began the work. I was told there would be no interest if I paid the bill within 6 months (not a full year).

I have been paying this bill at the rate of $200 or $220/month, electronically from my bank. Then the January 2003 statement came in with a $29.00 late fee. The bill was due 1/11/03 (a Saturday)and I instructed my bank to pay $220.00(EFT) on 1/08/03 from our checking account. Since our bank showed it only took 2 days for processing of payment, I thought that was safe.

However, GE Capital Cons Credit Card did not post this payment until 1/12/03 and charged $29.00 for being one day late. When I called their 800 number and explained this payment was made through my bank's electronic funds transfer, I was told by Francis in GE's Customer Care Dept., they were not online and could not receive EFT payments.

She said my bank had to make out a check and mail it to Louisville, KY, which might take 3 to 5 days to be credited to my account. Then she bragged that, "...you get to speak to a real person when you call us and not to a machine." Well, the privilege of speaking to a "real person" cost me $29.00 for my payment being posted one day late.

What a rip off!!! And to imagine there are people who just accept this as Standard Operating Procedures. I am continuing to make payments of $220.00/month to get this bill paid off within the 6 month period, just to get rid of these people!! Wonder what method they will come up with next to get additional money out of me since I am not paying any finance charges? They will find a way to get additional money out of everyone trying to pay off their bill as quickly as possible. Since the date they posted this bill was on a Sunday (1/12/03), why couldn't they have posted it on Saturday when it was due? This was done deliberately, -- no, they wouldn't give me a credit for the late charge!

Barbara e
34450, Florida
U.S.A.