HSBC Horror Stories

RR in Minnesota reports: “This has happened twice in the last year but I only have the last one documented. I have a Herberger’s card and use it only rarely and only to get extra discounts on purchases and always pay it off when receiving the first statement. On Aug 8 2007 I purchased a total of $194.74 at Herberger’s. I never received a statement until Sept 20 and this statment included $36.32 for “finance charge, late charge, debt cancellation charge and prior cycle finance charges”. I sent a check and letter that day for the total of the purchases I made but not any of the extra charges and explained that I had never recieved a statement prior to that one. They denied my request so the next statement showed $38.25 past due. I took this with my letter into my local Herberger’s and they issued a credit to clear my account but I still think HSBC has a scam going and I have destroyed the card.”