HSBC Watch News Release Forum Index
Forum Name: - Best Buy
Topic Title: Payment sent 10 days early, Late fee charged
Mon Aug 15, 2005 8:50 pm
I'm *beep* at these people. In July I received a statement that charged me a $35 late fee for a payment that was sent in 10 days before it was due. The woman at that time said the check cleared 2 days late and that was their fee. I explained that the industry usually offers to remove one late fee from your account if you have only one, and she agreed to remove it. I thought "O.K. send in next payment even earlier and all will be good" WRONG !!!
Enter Aug 8th payment...Sent in on the 23rd to remove any chance of problem and I was also going to be gone for 10 days vacation. Well you guessed it, No payment received as of today 8/15.
I called them and talked to first girl...very sick almost hoarse, so I asked for a supervisor. Talked to Tonya. Explained the problem and she said that I probably forgot to send it in and to check my papers. Slowly I fumed and explained that every other check that was sent that day cleared except them.
Got the Fax number for complaints and address for retail services for HSBC. Still unhappy I asked to talk to her boss, Steve Damiano, THE MANAGER, as he informed me. What a *beep*. This guy immediately dove into me and asked, "Was the real problem I could not pay my bills?” I told him to check the account and check that every payment is either 200 or 300 dollars on a 3000 interest free account until 2/07.
With a balance of 1500 I am ready to pay these people off but remain confused as to how to do it. I fear if I send in check they will "lose it", and if I send balance to my low interest MC account they will send me unwanted account as others have posted. Can anyone provide me with guidance here? Tomorrow Best Buy Corporate gets a fax and phone calls full of my displeasure. Thanks for listening!
Mon Aug 15, 2005 9:17 pm
If you have the funds available, you should pay the account off as soon as possible. With HSBC/RS showing 2 late payments, the interest free promotion has probably been cancelled.
The card/loan agreement for many of the HSBC accounts stipulate that payments made by credit card (debit card) or balance transfer WILL NOT be accepted. (We have had reports of payments being refused and returned resulting in more late charges) For information on how to make a balance transfer work for you, check out this link: http://www.householdwatch.com/thor/viewtopic.php?t=620
If you plan on paying the account in full and your next statement shows interest charged, pay that much more than what is shown as the full balance. (Balance due + interest accrued the previous month).
Use the United States Postal Service "Delivery Confirmation" to mail the payment. That method can be tracked on-line and provides proof of when it was mailed and when it was delivered to the recipient. DO NOT require a signature at the destination. The person picking up the mail (for HSBC) will not always stop at the "call window" to sign for certified mail.
You may write to HSBC/RS and file a billing error dispute regarding the late charges and interest if applicable. They may not remove the charges, but they will have to respond to your letter.
If you wish to close the account, write to the HSBC/RS customer service address provided on your statement. Stipulate in your letter that the account be closed at the customers request. Keep a copy of all correspondence to and from the company.
We monitor customer trends for possible violations of Regulation Z and other possible illegal actions.