Complaint Review: Orchard Bank - Salinas California

 Yes that's why I posted like I did. I wasn't sure. Thank you for your advice. I have not been late. I just bought a home and I'm working very hard to not ever be late. I'm sure that you right and they will not offer me anything in return for being wrong, but I need to see this for peace of mind. Your so right they were off sure. I never yelled at the girl but she filed a complaint with upper management on my behalf because she couldn't explain anything.

Basically having another review of the account. I only have 5 credit accounts. Mortgage, 2 credit cards, 1 store card, and one car payment. I'm pretty much on time of them because it was a total nightmare fixing it. I know that I can look for another card that is better, which I will eventually, I was/ still am, trying not to extend my credit just yet. Thank you for your advice! You were the only one to respond!

 The bad thing about these posts is we only have what is posted to go off of.  The way you came off it sounded like you had zero clue of how to even look at your account, nor the amount of time you have been doing this.   But with that said...most of what I said as suggestions still apply.

But there are some other things to be aware of.

First if you are asking for anything such as a Credit Increase or Interest Rate reduction, relalize they are a Sub-Prime card and generally won't approve it because they figure they "got you" and there is no need for them to do this.  You also are probably talking to some minimum wage off-shore person who barely speaks English and may actually be just trying to make up a reason as to why they won't give you a decrease...hoping you will go away.  But even if that your "late" payments turn out to be a mistake..they still are under no obligation to issue you a Interest Rate reduction.

Another thing to look at is if they are considering the increase, they have the right(per the terms of your card) to review your credit report.  It may be possible that the late payments were not with Orchard, but with another company.   But if you truly have had this card for 4 years, have never had a late payment in those 4 years, and all of your other credit is good.  It should have improved and there should be no reason why you couldn't go out and find a "better" card on your own that may not only have a lower interest rate, but a higher limit and no annual fee.

 Thank you for your response. I am not sure if you are responding to help me or insult me? I am well aware of the type of care I have. I got it when rebuilding my credit after losing my job. Next I am making much more than my monthly payments, as they are only $25 a month. I make a $50 payment every two weeks faithfully as I do all my other card until the amounts are paid off. I do review my statement and I have looked on-line. I have not made a late payment a number of years. None of the statements showed late fees in the statements at that time. When I called to see if I could have a rate reduction, I was told there wasn't one available with no other reason. Furthermore the rep told me that this happened in 2011, so the statements aren't there. They have been ordered. Next I stated 2 - 4 days, before it hits my account at my bank. I give them more than enough time to process payments, not to mention I am well ahead therefore my payments should never be late. In the meantime I get a text message letting me know they have receieved my payment. It doesn't matter when they post the payment to my account there is always a payment made two weeks before and it is more than the mininum and in some cases there are 3 payments. Therefore, that should take care of the mininum due by my due date. I have been paying this way for over 4 years and have not had a problem. They are stating that there was a problem for 4 random months in 2011 now, that wasn't the case then. Nothing before and nothing after I have continued to pay as normally do and they are saying my payment history is good now. I haven't changed up my style of paying, so yes, I am waiting for the floor manager to call so they can explain where this came from.

 Why do people who have the least knowelge of credit seem to make things the toughest.  Orchard is a Sub-Prime Credit Card for people who either have no credit, or have a negative history. 

The first thing you have to know that the number of payments you make a month mean nothing, if you don't pay at least the minimum due by the due date.  So for example if you have a minimum payment due of $75 on the 20th of the month.  If you pay $25 on the 10th, $25 on the 15th, and $25 on the 21st of the month..you are LATE because you did not pay $75 by the 20th.  So first just simplify it for you and just make 1 payment a month making sure you get it to arrive BEFORE the due date.

Next, you don't need anyone to "walk you through" anything.  Just like just about every other credit card, Orchard allows you to access your account on-line.  This includes viewing past statements.  If you are late, just taking a look at the statements to find out when your payments were received is all you need.   While it is impossible to say for sure, but my guess is that with your multiple payments you occasionally "missed" making the full minimum payment by the due date. 

Now as to your on-line payments.  It appears you are making the payments from your bank's on-line payment system.  If that is the case you are most likely very mistaken about the posting time and have things reversed.  With just about every bank, your payment is "posted" when it is withdrawn from the account(the payment date you set)..not the date is received by the payee.  It could still be another 1-7 days AFTER that point to reach the payee, it all depends on how the payment is sent.   You also need to make sure your payments are sent in plenty of time.  You seem to indicate that if it does take 2-4 days you are fine if it is 2.  But what about 4?  Even with on-line banking you should be sending your payments 7-10 days in advance to be sure.  This is another advantage of going directly to Orchard Bank's site.  Not only can you review your statements, but you can make a payment that will post to your credit card on a speific date...you could even make it for the same day if you wanted to.

There are other things that are a bit odd.  First of all if you read your statements every month, if you were assessed a late fee it would have been on the statements, and there should be no mystery as you would have seen it.  If you don't review your statements every month, then how do you know how much your minimum payment is?  Perhaps you are not paying what you need to be doing.