I'ma choke somebody over $5.26

    I owe Bank of America $5.26.

    Why?

    Because they assess finance charges by the day or something. So, even though I paid off the balance of my credit card last week, they didn't assess some finances charges until the last day of the cycle, or something.

    So, I still owe $5.26 on my credit card.

    Ok, I know that's nothing and I know that I probably lose that much money a month dropping change, buying snacks or sticking money in parking meters. But for some reason, when I looked at my balance and saw that little amount of money, I nearly went ballistic.
    Last week my balance was $0.00.
    Today, it's $5.26 and I didn't do anything.

    I called and asked for an explanation. I got the one that I sorta understood and paraphrased above (but I wasn't really listening because when I asked "Why do I still have a balance?" it was a rhetorical question).
    I was like, "I'm not cutting y'all a check for $5.26 so you need to put someone else on the phone I can discuss this with." Old girl refused.
    I hung up.
    I sat at my laptop fuming.

    Man!

    Can't a customer catch a break?! They've made large amounts of money off me in the last few years, and I can't believe that they have the audacity to squeeze another $5 outta me.

    I know I should just calm down. I paid the card off -- what's another five bucks? I should just brush that dirt of my shoulders, pay it and let it go. But I'm going to try one more time to get a human on the phone who has the authority to actually make a customer satisfied and see if I can get this straightened out. I understand that they've got all their rules and what not that they make impossible for people to find or understand, but people are legally bound by them anyway. Got it.
    But $5.26?
    Is somebody's kid not going to college if I don't pay that? Geez.

Comments

[Nine Circles]

Wow. I don't blame you for going ballistic. If it's any comfort (it wouldn't be for me if I was in your position), I think this is one of the practices that credit card companies use that has just been made illegal with the legislation that recently passed. Of course, I'm sure it's not in effect yet, so unfortunately you still have to pay. But soon they won't be able to zing people this way.

[Single Ma]

This is either a case of average daily balance or dual cycle billing, the latter of which is now illegal. Either way, it seems weird to assess additional charges AFTER the card is paid off. I hope you get an answer soon and it works out in your favor. If not, I would use this experience as motivation to never carry a balance again.

[Single Ma]

Ok, I've said what I really wanted to say, so can I laugh now? LOL! I've never seen you angry or sound so aggressive before. LOL Watching you choke someone would be a sight to see. HA HA HA

[Fabulously Broke]

I would too. Seriously, it's not the $5.26. It's the PRINCIPLE of the matter

[luxuryoption]

The exact same thing happened to me - the additional amount was $5.27!!!

As Single Ma said - ' I took it as motivation to never carry a balance again' Bank on it!! LOL

Just think how much has been weaseled out of you via finance charges without you even knowing.

[tiredofbeingbroke]

I closed my american express card because of this. It was not the oldest card so I did not care. After paying off the balance I got a bill for less than $2. When I called customer service I got a long ass explanation and they refused to budge. By the time someone came on the phone to drop the charges, my mind was already made up.

[todd]

that's insane isnt it? discover used to do that back in the day. i sliced up almost every one of my cards, never open dept store cards and use my amex anywhere it will be taken.

[Flexo]

That same thing happened to me a while ago, when I had a card to pay off. I was still getting charged interested between the time they sent the statement and when they received the payment. So I found myself owing a little bit more interest that showed up on the next statement. It was tricky because I *thought* I paid off the bill...