Victory is mine!!
I now declare victory over the Lane Bryant Credit Card people.
I left work early friday, feigning sickness, and before going to pick Steven up, stopped by Lane Bryant in the Deerbrook Mall to take advantage of summer fashions and low, low prices. When I went to pay, the sales girl had to call in to authorize my (brand new-that-I-havent-even-used-platinum) card. The rain had caused the system to run slow, so she called. While on the phone, the guy on the other end asked to speak to me.
CREDIT VULTURE: Hello, Ms. Berk. I'm sorry to interrupt your shopping experience today, but it seems you have a past due payment on your card.
ME:....huh? Really? But I haven't even received a bill...and it's not due until the 15th.
CV: Well, it looks like you haven't paid your June bill.
ME: That's cause they didn't send me a June bill.
CV: (Not giving a shit) Well, if you'll agree to make a $10 payment in store today, I can authorize your card.
ME: Fine.
SALESGIRL: You know, you're the 4th person today who's said they haven't received their bill.
I paid the stupid late fee and went on my way. Today, I called the credit card company to bitch about not wanting to pay a late fee for a bill they didn't send me. I talked to an OBVIOUSLY-American-and-TOTALLY-NOT-Reading-From-a-Script customer service representative. After a lot of arguing:
[OAATNRFASCSR: You consented for paper-less billing.
ME: Nuh-uh.
OAATNRFASCSR: Yuh-huh.]
We reached a point where she finally understood what I was saying and said she'd waive half of the late fee because I should still have to be penalized for missing a payment. I explained that it's still not my fault cause I didn't receive a paper bill OR an online statement, and I used to get both.
HER: "We don't do that. It's one or the other."
ME: Well, did that change recently, cause that's how they've ALWAYS sent it until now and I've had this card since June of last year.
HER: *Pause* Good question! Let me check.
ME: *On hold, reading Kathy's journal, getting ideas for this one...like the quoting and renaming of people.*
HER: Ok, it looks like they stopped sending both paperless and paper statements at the beginning of this year, which is why you haven't received a bill, so I'm removing the late fee of $25 and your finance charge of $1.75.
Hell yeah.
And I didn't even cry. This is a big deal for me. I have NEVER EVER been able to complain to customer service and not cry. One thing I didn't inherit from my father was his ability to cuss people out over the phone and get stuff done. But it looks like I'm growing! I kept my cool and didn't cuss her out!
I'm awesome.
I left work early friday, feigning sickness, and before going to pick Steven up, stopped by Lane Bryant in the Deerbrook Mall to take advantage of summer fashions and low, low prices. When I went to pay, the sales girl had to call in to authorize my (brand new-that-I-havent-even-used-platinum) card. The rain had caused the system to run slow, so she called. While on the phone, the guy on the other end asked to speak to me.
CREDIT VULTURE: Hello, Ms. Berk. I'm sorry to interrupt your shopping experience today, but it seems you have a past due payment on your card.
ME:....huh? Really? But I haven't even received a bill...and it's not due until the 15th.
CV: Well, it looks like you haven't paid your June bill.
ME: That's cause they didn't send me a June bill.
CV: (Not giving a shit) Well, if you'll agree to make a $10 payment in store today, I can authorize your card.
ME: Fine.
SALESGIRL: You know, you're the 4th person today who's said they haven't received their bill.
I paid the stupid late fee and went on my way. Today, I called the credit card company to bitch about not wanting to pay a late fee for a bill they didn't send me. I talked to an OBVIOUSLY-American-and-TOTALLY-NOT-Reading-From-a-Script customer service representative. After a lot of arguing:
[OAATNRFASCSR: You consented for paper-less billing.
ME: Nuh-uh.
OAATNRFASCSR: Yuh-huh.]
We reached a point where she finally understood what I was saying and said she'd waive half of the late fee because I should still have to be penalized for missing a payment. I explained that it's still not my fault cause I didn't receive a paper bill OR an online statement, and I used to get both.
HER: "We don't do that. It's one or the other."
ME: Well, did that change recently, cause that's how they've ALWAYS sent it until now and I've had this card since June of last year.
HER: *Pause* Good question! Let me check.
ME: *On hold, reading Kathy's journal, getting ideas for this one...like the quoting and renaming of people.*
HER: Ok, it looks like they stopped sending both paperless and paper statements at the beginning of this year, which is why you haven't received a bill, so I'm removing the late fee of $25 and your finance charge of $1.75.
Hell yeah.
And I didn't even cry. This is a big deal for me. I have NEVER EVER been able to complain to customer service and not cry. One thing I didn't inherit from my father was his ability to cuss people out over the phone and get stuff done. But it looks like I'm growing! I kept my cool and didn't cuss her out!
I'm awesome.