Stupid me. 1 day late.
Now my interest rate went to the default rate of 28.99%. That's almost TWENTY NINE PERCENT. I'm so pissed and yes, that includes at myself for screwing up and making the payment a few hours later than I should have (didn't show up until the next business day).
And again, I can blame myself for not paying full attention to the terms and conditions. It's true, I signed the papers I signed and nodded yes, etc.
With those disclaimers out of the way, WTF? I called to have my rate lowered and the woman on the phone said they review it every 12 months. In other words, I'd have the possibility to have it lowered in a year.
I asked her why they don't offer a one time exception (hell, once a year), or why the penalty is so God Damn high (why not charge a fee or increase the rate by 1%). I added that her corporation doesn't care about the individuals and the bad economy (that they in part helped to create), they care about increasing their profits as they are legally obligated to have as their top priority. I said it was absurd and unacceptable.
Her response? "We do care and that's why we offer so many payment options. Would you like me to share those with you? You can pay by phone or online or do automatic debits from your account".
My response: No, they don't care, otherwise they would offer a ONE time exception or they would make the penalty significantly less strict. We aren't talking about someone not paying their card for months and or paying way after the due date.
Finally she asked "do you have any other questions"?
I said "yes, how do they sleep at night"? (Silence)
I added that they probably sleep fine, because they're raking in money hand over foot and they live in a nice, safe bubble of private schools and luxury cars and other wealthy friends who don't understand what it means to have a credit card rate go up to 28.99%. And I apologized and said that I know SHE doesn't set up these rules and that she is just the messenger. But I added (paraphrase) that I hope she understands deep down when she goes home from work that her company is screwing good, hard working people trying to make an honest living.
Then I told her politely to have a good weekend and that was that. Maybe I was too harsh. Again, I did NOT swear or say anything about her, I said "they" or "corporations" or "your company". And again, I said twice that my issue wasn't with her personally and that she was just the messenger.
PS---This is totally unrelated but I also wanted to share the 3 Facts That Could Change This Election.