GE Moneybank/CareCard Charged LATE fees for paying TOO EARLY El Paso Texas
Between myself and my best-friend we have 6 horses, 9 dogs, 5 cats, 1 ferret and 1 rat. Learning about the CareCard during one emergency vet. visit seemed like such a blessing! In May and twice in July we had minor emergencies. My friend used the card and promptly divided the total into bi-monthly payments in order to have the card paid off before the no-interest time frame ended. Payments were made 2-3 times a month above the minimum amount due. My friend made the payments through her bank.
When the monthly bills actually arrived at my house (which was not consistent) I filed them away knowing the payments were being made. In January my mortgage insurance went up 102%. I freaked! I pulled my credit report and discovered GEMB had charged 4 late fees and and had me down as 60-90 days late!. I tried to call my friend who was at work and couldn't get through. I called GEMB and they insisted the August payment was late. At the time I didn't have an on-line account so I took her word for it (DUMMY ME) and settled for $100.00 with one late fee being reimbursed.
I got a hold of my friend who showed me her payment dates and I was p^**$#! 1 payment in May, 2 in June, 2 in July, 1 in August, 3 in September, and 2 in October. All of which added up to the total amount due. I called GEMB and after waiting on hold for over an hour, spoke with Nate. Nate essentially told me it was my fault the payment was made too early for the August due date. Basically the SECOND JULY payment was too early to be applied to the AUGUST due date and the August payment was 2 days after the due date. I asked him WHY it couldn't be applied to the August payment and he would not give me an answer. I said, "essentially you are PUNISHING me for being a good paying customer who always paid early or on time." And again he said it wasn't their fault I paid too early. I DON'T GET IT. I never paid late. Paid the total amount due in the time allowed. ALWAYS paid above the minimum due and I got fined $139.00. Late fee for August, which lead to late fees in Nov., Dec., and Jan., that I was UNAWARE of. I didn't receive a call. Nate SAID they called me Jan. 21st but it was me who called THEM!.
Our boy Nate was one of the most rude, dis-respectful individuals I have ever encountered. When I asked to speak to someone above him, he said there is no-one. APPARENTLY our NATE is the CEO of GEMB.
I have filed with the BBB, FTC, and the Indiana Attorney General's Office.
Totallyticked
Westfield, Indiana
U.S.A.
8 Updates & Rebuttals
Laurie
Haslet,Texas,
U.S.A.
did you file complaints with the FTC and OTS as recommended?
#9Consumer Comment
Fri, March 06, 2009
I am speaking from experience with GEMB.
They removed my mailing address from my account and then posted $100 in fraudulent charges to my JC Penney account.
GEMB refused to even address the issue once they sold it to a collection agency.
The Office of Thrift Supervision worked on my complaint and made GEMB
remove the account from collections.
Correct my credit report
removed the fraudulent charges, late fees and interest
fully reinstated my account - does not matter I have no intention of using that credit card ever again
GEMB IS GROSSLY INCOMPETENT AND CAUSE PROBLEMS FOR ALL THEIR CUSTOMERS
Laurie
Haslet,Texas,
U.S.A.
did you file complaints with the FTC and OTS as recommended?
#9Consumer Comment
Fri, March 06, 2009
I am speaking from experience with GEMB.
They removed my mailing address from my account and then posted $100 in fraudulent charges to my JC Penney account.
GEMB refused to even address the issue once they sold it to a collection agency.
The Office of Thrift Supervision worked on my complaint and made GEMB
remove the account from collections.
Correct my credit report
removed the fraudulent charges, late fees and interest
fully reinstated my account - does not matter I have no intention of using that credit card ever again
GEMB IS GROSSLY INCOMPETENT AND CAUSE PROBLEMS FOR ALL THEIR CUSTOMERS
Laurie
Haslet,Texas,
U.S.A.
did you file complaints with the FTC and OTS as recommended?
#9Consumer Comment
Fri, March 06, 2009
I am speaking from experience with GEMB.
They removed my mailing address from my account and then posted $100 in fraudulent charges to my JC Penney account.
GEMB refused to even address the issue once they sold it to a collection agency.
The Office of Thrift Supervision worked on my complaint and made GEMB
remove the account from collections.
Correct my credit report
removed the fraudulent charges, late fees and interest
fully reinstated my account - does not matter I have no intention of using that credit card ever again
GEMB IS GROSSLY INCOMPETENT AND CAUSE PROBLEMS FOR ALL THEIR CUSTOMERS
Laurie
Haslet,Texas,
U.S.A.
did you file complaints with the FTC and OTS as recommended?
#9Consumer Comment
Fri, March 06, 2009
I am speaking from experience with GEMB.
They removed my mailing address from my account and then posted $100 in fraudulent charges to my JC Penney account.
GEMB refused to even address the issue once they sold it to a collection agency.
The Office of Thrift Supervision worked on my complaint and made GEMB
remove the account from collections.
Correct my credit report
removed the fraudulent charges, late fees and interest
fully reinstated my account - does not matter I have no intention of using that credit card ever again
GEMB IS GROSSLY INCOMPETENT AND CAUSE PROBLEMS FOR ALL THEIR CUSTOMERS
Totallyticked
Westfield,Indiana,
U.S.A.
Well, half-way there...
#9Author of original report
Fri, March 06, 2009
I received one response stating that GEMB Care Card would NOT refund my money but they would remove the derogatory remark from my credit. I received ANOTHER letter stating that they WOULD refund my money and that the remark had already been removed. BUT - I checked my credit and the report states a 30 day late pay (down from 61-90 late pay) but I wouldn't call that "removed" and I haven't received any refund or credit to my account, yet. But I am still working on it.
Totallyticked
Westfield,Indiana,
U.S.A.
Can't find billing cycle dates anywhere!
#9Author of original report
Wed, February 18, 2009
JG Shrugged, I have read my statements and bills and can't find billing cycle dates anywhere. All I KNOW is when the monthly payments are due. Either the 15th, 16th, or sometimes the 17th of each month. It does state clearly to avoid late fees pay on or BEFORE the due date. A Sept. 2nd payment covered the Sept. 16th bill. Two weeks early. A Sept. 30th payment covered an Oct. 16th bill, 16 days early. And an Oct. 24 payment covered the November 16th bill - THREE weeks early. But the July 21st payment was too early for the August due date. So how do I know when the billing cycle begins and ends? During the time frame of 6 months, 11 payments were made, with the minimum amount over $40.00. I'm sorry. This does NOT make me a credit risk, or a dead-beat, or a slow pay, or late pay, or a no pay, but that is how I was treated. All I asked was that GEMB refund the August last fee in which I would then NOT owe late fee's on that one late fee and that debt would have been paid as agreed.
J G Shrugged
Austin,Texas,
U.S.A.
Actually you admitted basically that you probably paid late....
#9Consumer Comment
Tue, February 17, 2009
Plus you never checked the statements.
Paying early on a monthly installment agreement (credit card) is the same as paying twice or more on the previous cycle. You have to make sure that at least one payment arrives between the cutoff date and the due date each month.
Laurie
Haslet,Texas,
U.S.A.
FILE COMPLAINTS WITH THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION AND OFFICE OF THRIFT SUPERVISION
#9Consumer Comment
Tue, February 17, 2009
GEMB rips off it customers. I have read hundreds of similar complaints about Care credit. ITS SCAM TO ADD INTEREST AND LATE FEES
GEMB WILL NOT FIX THEIR MISTAKES unless you get the office of Thrift Supervision involved. they ignore you.. THEY CANNOT IGNORE THE GOVERNMENT