DiscoverCard changed due date on account so I was late?

[NellaBean]

I have had a discover card account for years....and it was always due on the 18th. I have a balance on this account that I am slowly paying down. I have an automatic payment set for the 16th of every month so I don't miss it or forget.....

Well I get my bill this month and apparently Discover changed my due date to the 14th now so my last payment was late (2 days). Now I have a $40 late fee and have gotten kicked off my special offer (0% apr) because of the "late payment", so have a bunch of interest due as well.


Does this just seem ridiculous? Yes I'm sure my statement said the new due date but as it has always been the same and this was an account I was just paying down, I do not pay much attention to it.

Why would they even change a due date other than to trick someone into paying late fees and interest? I have paid 1-2 days before due date for years........now all of a sudden I'm "late" because they bumped my due date up 4 days. Can they even bring your due date forward?

It just seems so bizarre and.....underhanded? Now of course my minimum payment has almost doubled plus the interest is 50% of the minimum every month.....what a joke!

I will call them tomorrow during business hours but what a crock.......anyone else had this problem with Discover?

I have other cards where the due date moves around a bit. Maybe the 5th one month, 6th the next, back to the 5th, to the 7th, etc. This card has ALWAYS (back to 2007) been due on the 18th.

 

[JennsPeeps]

Credit companies are pulling all kinds of crap. Calling them will help immensely. Don't take 'no' for an answer. Push until you get all your pre-change deals back.

 

[imtc]

yup...I would call and complain too. You shouldn't have a problem getting them to remove that late fee especially if they see you've been faithful to pay it on time for years. That would tick me off though. I'd be VERY persistant too...DON'T let them tell you no and escilate it up if you have to. Good luck.

 

[crtrlovr]

This is classic credit card co. behavior. They're just pulling it more often now than before since the squeeze for credit is on. My sister had an account for years with Wachovia bank. NEVER missed or was late on a payment; had an interest rate of about 9%, I think. One day she got a statement that said her interest rate had been raised to 29%. When she called and asked why, they told her, "oh, we didn't single you out, we did that to all our customers."

(like that makes it right???) We had an issue with one of our credit card companies ( a dispute over a fraudulent charge) and didn't pay the full payment on time. Our Diner's Club (which we had held for nearly 30 yrs.) sent us a cancellation letter. We'd NEVER been late or missed a payment with them. When we called to ask them what was the deal, they said it was b/c of the other company. When we asked what that had to do with DC, they said nothing; that it was their right to cancel and they were going to do so. That's when we decided enough is enough. We canceled every credit card we carried, and we now use cash, checks, or debit cards ONLY. We are so much happier now...

I use Paypal for online purchases, or my debit card which works just like a cc, but without the fees and interest. A win-win, in my book.

 

[NancyDz]

I would think they would have to send you a written notice to change your due date.. not just put it on your statement. I would definitely question them onthe legality of that. Ask for specific clause in the rules that say they can change the date without giving you sufficient notice. Do not just take their word.. tell them you need to see it in writing and if they cant provide it.. tell them you want to talk to management. Also stress the fact that you have been a loyal customer and always pay on time previous to this incident.


Good luck!

Nancy

 

[ams3651]

my ex has always had the problem with them that when the bill arrives in the mail he only has 9 days to get the payment to them and its half way across the country. He wont do it on line so thats his problem but still, they dont give much time to get the payment to them.

 

[cassie]

I would NOT pay the late fee and keep pushing until you get someone who can/will help you.

 

[TennesseeTruly]

I think its rotten that they did that. I would fight it too. Hubby and I have had a Visa for years and years. Actually it was his before it was mine. We've had a low APR...like 9% for years. They jacked us up to 29%. We were furious. We're never late with payments. Almost always pay in full although there are a few instances when we don't.

They too told us they did it to all their customers. We decided that we were done with credit cards. Six months ago we cancelled all our accounts and cut up our credit cards. Yes, it'd affect our credit rating if we were going to buy anything on credit but the heck with it. Its just not worth it anymore.

Laurie

 

[EweSheep]

<----credit card companies

It is another tactic they are pulling off. Call and complain and threaten to change credit card companies if they dont back down!

 

[EweSheep]

Quote:
Yeah like if you need a loan or something like that, you would need credit! I think it is going to be useless by now since alot of people are forgoing paying their credit cards and no one would be able to get a loan because of the situation we were all on. I sure hope there will be a bigger crack downs on banks doing that!