- Report: #1032436
Complaint Review: AT & T Universal Card - Jackson Florida
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AT & T Universal Card
Jackson, 32231 Florida, U.S.A.
Phone:
800-423-4343
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AT & T Universal Card Rip-off False Promises on reducing my interest rate said they would, now refuses to do so Jackson Florida
I pay all my bills via online payment and for my Feb 2002 payment I failed to send enough to cover the mininum payment. I realized what I had done and sent a 2nd payment, which was posted 12 days after the due day.
Because of the one late payment my interest rate was raised from 10.79 % to 24.99 %. I called at the time to try and get it lowered and they refused so I closed the account. In July/August 2002 I received a notice in the mail from AT&T Univerisal letting me know that since I've been making my payments that they would be lowering my interest rate on the next statement. I got real excited about this.
However, on the next statement, the did lower my interest rate, but only on FUTURE balances. Not much good since my card is closed. I called to complain and was told that the entire reason my interest rate was raised was not because I was late paying my complete monthly payment, but because I had completely missed a payment. I knew this didn't sound right so I had them mail me some missing statements and I researched this. I discovered that I had not missed a payment, but was only the 1 payment 12 days late.
On Oct 23, 2002 I called AT & T Universal Card and spoke to a customer service representative. I explained the situation and said that 12 days late was not a valid reason to place my account in default, which is why my interest rate was raised so much. He explained that this was a mistake of the company. offered to remove the default status from my account and lower my interest rate back to 10.79 % on my existing balances but that it might take a statement or two for it to show up. He also stated that he could not refund me the difference on the interest charges that I had paid. He apoligized for the inconvience. Happy ending, right? WRONG!
Recently I got my Jan 2003 statement recently and realized that I'm still paying 24.99 % on my existing balances. Calls to customer service tell me that because my account is closed they can't help me. I got transfered around many times and even hung up on and had to call back. Finally I spoke with a customer service supervisor who told me that the gentleman I spoke to in October was incorrect. That my account was correctly placed into default as I was late on the payment and that there was no way they could lower my interest rate on my existing balances. She refused to let me speak to her supervisor or the supervisor of the person I spoke with in October.
I don't think this is fair. I feel that even if what they told me was not company policy that since a customer service representative told me he would do something that they should do it. They say that since I don't have the conversation in writting that they can't help me. I was told that they only randomly monitor and record phone calls and even if they had recorded mine from October that it still wasn't in writing and they couldn't honor it. To me this is a bunch of crap. If you go anywhere, say to buy a new car, and are told something they honor the oral agreement. Besides, how many times do you get what a rep tells you in writing?
Michele
Dallas, Texas
U.S.A.
Because of the one late payment my interest rate was raised from 10.79 % to 24.99 %. I called at the time to try and get it lowered and they refused so I closed the account. In July/August 2002 I received a notice in the mail from AT&T Univerisal letting me know that since I've been making my payments that they would be lowering my interest rate on the next statement. I got real excited about this.
However, on the next statement, the did lower my interest rate, but only on FUTURE balances. Not much good since my card is closed. I called to complain and was told that the entire reason my interest rate was raised was not because I was late paying my complete monthly payment, but because I had completely missed a payment. I knew this didn't sound right so I had them mail me some missing statements and I researched this. I discovered that I had not missed a payment, but was only the 1 payment 12 days late.
On Oct 23, 2002 I called AT & T Universal Card and spoke to a customer service representative. I explained the situation and said that 12 days late was not a valid reason to place my account in default, which is why my interest rate was raised so much. He explained that this was a mistake of the company. offered to remove the default status from my account and lower my interest rate back to 10.79 % on my existing balances but that it might take a statement or two for it to show up. He also stated that he could not refund me the difference on the interest charges that I had paid. He apoligized for the inconvience. Happy ending, right? WRONG!
Recently I got my Jan 2003 statement recently and realized that I'm still paying 24.99 % on my existing balances. Calls to customer service tell me that because my account is closed they can't help me. I got transfered around many times and even hung up on and had to call back. Finally I spoke with a customer service supervisor who told me that the gentleman I spoke to in October was incorrect. That my account was correctly placed into default as I was late on the payment and that there was no way they could lower my interest rate on my existing balances. She refused to let me speak to her supervisor or the supervisor of the person I spoke with in October.
I don't think this is fair. I feel that even if what they told me was not company policy that since a customer service representative told me he would do something that they should do it. They say that since I don't have the conversation in writting that they can't help me. I was told that they only randomly monitor and record phone calls and even if they had recorded mine from October that it still wasn't in writing and they couldn't honor it. To me this is a bunch of crap. If you go anywhere, say to buy a new car, and are told something they honor the oral agreement. Besides, how many times do you get what a rep tells you in writing?
Michele
Dallas, Texas
U.S.A.
1 Updates & Rebuttals
Michele
Dallas,Texas,
U.S.A.
Resolution!
#2Author of original report
Fri, January 31, 2003
After reporting company to several local TV stations consumer affairs divisions, The Better Business Bureau, the Federal Trade Commission, and the FCC I sent a certified letter to AT&T Universal Explaining the situation, who I reported to, and what I wanted as a resolution. I didn't really expect much, but I got it. Not only have they agreed to lower my interest rate on my existing balances as initially promised, but I have been credited the difference in the finance charges. I am very happy with the results. They didn't admit fault, but gave me the resolution that I wanted as a "show of good faith".
