Juniper Bank / Barclay's Late-Fee Rip-Off Scam Wilmington Delaware
On March 3, 2008, I logged into Juniper website to pay-off my account. The balance on my card was $666.19. I payed exactly $666.19 at 3:10 pm.
I then called the 866-408-4070 phone number and requested my card be canceled. He confirmed that I had paid the appropriate amount and was said that he could see the transaction and it would post the next business day. My due date for my bill was not until March 12, 2008. So there should have been ample time. I informed him that I wanted my credit history report to reflect that I closed the account and the account was paid in full. The person I spoke to on the phone said, "Not a problem" (were his exact words).
I did not receive any further statements until April 21, 2008. The statement closing date reflected April 17, 2008. It also reflected a balance due of $42.02. This of course baffled me. I noticed a late fee of $39.00 and a previous balance of $2.02.
This is not possible. I have been trying to call everybody imaginable the first person I spoke to was John. He said he could not do anything , so I asked to speak to a supervisor. He said he could not get a supervisor but assured me he would give him a message.
I then looked up the corporate office on the Internet and recieved several phone numbers that said they were for the office in Willington Delaware. I called the number listed and was routed to Arkansas. I spoke to a Cassie who said she could do nothing for me and could not get me supervisor nor would she give me an I.D.#. I tried another phone number and pressed 0 to speak to a receptionist I hoped could route me to the right person. She did not answer but rather a recording has continued to pick-up that says it is Mary Ann O'Brian. I have left several messages and have heard from no one.
But the interesting thing is this. As I am looking on the internet for any new contact information I come across a website (one of many) called "Rip-Off Report", who have numerous BBB complaints and Complaints to the Media about this company and their business practices. What I find to be even more telling is that almost all of these complaints state the exact same problem with this company as I have had. Many people are calling for a class action lawsuit against them. Personally me, I'm not a huge fan of Torts and such. I am a conservative, but I must say, all things considered, if even a fraction of these are true, these people kind-of have it coming to them if they don't right these wrongs.
I have requested to have my account cleared immediately and a corrected statement sent out via mail. Needless to say I do not want anything else to do with them ever again, but if these crooks don't fix it... I have but one final declaration, "Where do I sign-up and who is our attorney?"
Deanna
Katy, Texas
U.S.A.
3 Updates & Rebuttals
Nikki
Coconut Creek,Florida,
U.S.A.
This is what probably happened.
#4Consumer Suggestion
Wed, April 23, 2008
They should really explain things better to people.
You stated that you made your payment on March 3, based on your statement from around February 17. Since the $669+ was your balance on February 17, you didn't account for the interest accrued between February 17 & your payment March 3. Since that interest does not post until your next statement (around March 17), the guy from Juniper told you your balance was zero because his computer showed a zero balance.
On or about March 17, you should have been sent the next statement with a balance of $2.02. You may have either not received it (because of the mail) or you may have received it, but not looked at it, figuring you paid it off.
When you didn't make that $2.02 payment by the April 12 (or so) due date, you were assessed a late fee on the April 17 statement.
Keep trying to fight the charge, but if it gets too close to the May 12 (double check) due date, you may want to just pay it and be done with it. If you don't, they will assess another late fee. They mislead you into thinking your account was paid in full, however the $39 fee is worth paying to not have this follow you around. It's not worth a charge off on your credit report and they will wait a few months until the amount gets larger. Then they will keep adding the fee, every month, for years.
We all learn things the hard way, usually at a cost. Lucky for you the cost is minimal. Just remember, the next time you pay off a credit card, remember there will be interest added between the last statement date and the posted paid date. All credit card companies work this way, as do mortgage companies, other loans, etc.
Nikki
Coconut Creek,Florida,
U.S.A.
This is what probably happened.
#4Consumer Suggestion
Wed, April 23, 2008
They should really explain things better to people.
You stated that you made your payment on March 3, based on your statement from around February 17. Since the $669+ was your balance on February 17, you didn't account for the interest accrued between February 17 & your payment March 3. Since that interest does not post until your next statement (around March 17), the guy from Juniper told you your balance was zero because his computer showed a zero balance.
On or about March 17, you should have been sent the next statement with a balance of $2.02. You may have either not received it (because of the mail) or you may have received it, but not looked at it, figuring you paid it off.
When you didn't make that $2.02 payment by the April 12 (or so) due date, you were assessed a late fee on the April 17 statement.
Keep trying to fight the charge, but if it gets too close to the May 12 (double check) due date, you may want to just pay it and be done with it. If you don't, they will assess another late fee. They mislead you into thinking your account was paid in full, however the $39 fee is worth paying to not have this follow you around. It's not worth a charge off on your credit report and they will wait a few months until the amount gets larger. Then they will keep adding the fee, every month, for years.
We all learn things the hard way, usually at a cost. Lucky for you the cost is minimal. Just remember, the next time you pay off a credit card, remember there will be interest added between the last statement date and the posted paid date. All credit card companies work this way, as do mortgage companies, other loans, etc.
Nikki
Coconut Creek,Florida,
U.S.A.
This is what probably happened.
#4Consumer Suggestion
Wed, April 23, 2008
They should really explain things better to people.
You stated that you made your payment on March 3, based on your statement from around February 17. Since the $669+ was your balance on February 17, you didn't account for the interest accrued between February 17 & your payment March 3. Since that interest does not post until your next statement (around March 17), the guy from Juniper told you your balance was zero because his computer showed a zero balance.
On or about March 17, you should have been sent the next statement with a balance of $2.02. You may have either not received it (because of the mail) or you may have received it, but not looked at it, figuring you paid it off.
When you didn't make that $2.02 payment by the April 12 (or so) due date, you were assessed a late fee on the April 17 statement.
Keep trying to fight the charge, but if it gets too close to the May 12 (double check) due date, you may want to just pay it and be done with it. If you don't, they will assess another late fee. They mislead you into thinking your account was paid in full, however the $39 fee is worth paying to not have this follow you around. It's not worth a charge off on your credit report and they will wait a few months until the amount gets larger. Then they will keep adding the fee, every month, for years.
We all learn things the hard way, usually at a cost. Lucky for you the cost is minimal. Just remember, the next time you pay off a credit card, remember there will be interest added between the last statement date and the posted paid date. All credit card companies work this way, as do mortgage companies, other loans, etc.