Peedoff
Perry,#2Consumer Comment
Sun, May 13, 2012
your stuck with this, it clearly states on your statement when the charges of interest are gonna be charged. you need to read, and pay your bills.
GECapital
United States of America#3UPDATE Employee
Thu, May 03, 2012
**To expedite a response, please provide Reference code DM 050312_ror_handbuild**
Im sorry you are having problems regarding your account. Wed like to speak with you and assist. Please email me at [email protected] with the following information:
- The full name associated with the account
- Mailing address associated with the account
- Your contact phone number
For your security, please do not include your account number in your email.
Regards,
Nicole
GE Capital
MovingForward
Palm Beach Gardens,#4Consumer Comment
Wed, May 02, 2012
From your post it sounds like you read the agreement, or at least part of it, in the beginning. You sort of indicate that you read it by saying that you knew this was a "promotional" offer.
So you really had several errors: 1) Not reading the offer in full or not understanding the offer if you did read it and 2) setting up automatic payments and then not checking your account for two full years and finally 3) making minimum payments on an outstanding debt.
If you had done the simple calculations right from the beginning, you would have known that the program is designed to extract the maximum amount of interest from you by having the accrued interest amount post when the promotional period was finished. GE Capital discloses the terms in their Terms and Conditions when you get the loan. This is a very common tactic with lenders for all types of items throughout the country.
Am I defending GE? No. But I read the terms and conditions before I sign up for something. If it says "promotional" anything - I am looking for the hook. If it says "free", I am looking for the catch. And, I never use automated payments because it lulls you into inattention to your accounts. If you had taken the time to review your account monthly - like you should - you would not have been caught by this well known interest trap.
If you made your own payments, rather than letting your banks bill pay make them, you would have caught this issue well before the end of the promotion period because you would have been actively monitoring your account.
I'm sorry this happened to you. But you did it to yourself by not paying attention to both your initial agreement when you took the loan and then the payment balances during the course of the loan.
MochaG
Springfield,#5Consumer Comment
Wed, May 02, 2012
"I was not informed that I had a two year limit on paying the bill."
What does that mean? Is it the transfer debt from one source to the card? If so, I doubt that they never told you about 2 years limit. In any advertising, they might not mention, but in writing they do. There is no such a card that allows 0% interest for the balance transfer forever.
"was also given the option by their online payment system to pay a minimal amount which I did."
In your point of view, it is a good deal because you pay little. Pragmatically, it is likely to get you into a deeper hole because you (include many people who have similar problem) do not understand how it works. The minimum payment would help IF AND ONLY IF you never use the card again and keep paying off the balance. If you ever add any new charge to it, you are increasing the interest & the balance will never decrease because the new charge has an interest automatically.
"I was never given notice in writing that a payout option in writing before the promotion ended?"
There is no such a notification for that type of promotion. When the card holder sign the contract, the card holder is responsible for the payment time line. You have 2 years to completely get rid of your balance, you chose not to whether or not you know it. You should dig up the contract you signed and look for this part in the contract. Or you could post the whole contract on here, so someone could point out where you missed. Either way, it is your responsibility.
"Also without notice, I am being charged a 26.99% APR on my balance."
That info should be in the contract (after 2 years of 0% interest).
Seriously, are there any credit companies that give 0% interest for balance transfer forever? They already gave quite a long times to you (2 years) to pay it off, but you didn't. Now they charged you with steep rate interest and you complaint? You have their goods for free for 2 years and say nothing. It is time for you to pay for what you have been ignored.
coast
USA#6Consumer Comment
Tue, May 01, 2012
You agreed to pay the accrued interest when you signed the agreement.