Comments on: HOWTO: Get Rid of Late Fees? Just Ask! http://www.stopbuyingcrap.com/credit-related/howto-get-rid-of-late-fees-just-ask/ Over Five Years of Personal Finance, Consumer Spending, Crazy Products and Boring Blog Posts. Good grief. Sat, 11 Feb 2012 21:36:21 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Spiffy Ways to Reduce Your Expenses » MyMint http://www.stopbuyingcrap.com/credit-related/howto-get-rid-of-late-fees-just-ask/comment-page-1/#comment-25104 Spiffy Ways to Reduce Your Expenses » MyMint Fri, 30 Mar 2007 00:24:14 +0000 http://www.stopbuyingcrap.com/2006/04/06/howto-get-rid-of-late-fees-just-ask/#comment-25104 [...] with a fee? Bounced a check? Ask the bank man nicely and they may reverse the fee. Of course, don’t expect them to be nice if [...] [...] with a fee? Bounced a check? Ask the bank man nicely and they may reverse the fee. Of course, don’t expect them to be nice if [...]

]]> By: tanyetta http://www.stopbuyingcrap.com/credit-related/howto-get-rid-of-late-fees-just-ask/comment-page-1/#comment-14468 tanyetta Wed, 08 Nov 2006 21:03:54 +0000 http://www.stopbuyingcrap.com/2006/04/06/howto-get-rid-of-late-fees-just-ask/#comment-14468 Cap for president! woot woot! Cap for president! woot woot!

]]> By: James http://www.stopbuyingcrap.com/credit-related/howto-get-rid-of-late-fees-just-ask/comment-page-1/#comment-8546 James Fri, 25 Aug 2006 13:36:26 +0000 http://www.stopbuyingcrap.com/2006/04/06/howto-get-rid-of-late-fees-just-ask/#comment-8546 Hey I just wanted to say that your advice worked. I got slapped with a $25 late fee for my condo association fee this past month. Evidently, the fee was due on the first of the month. I called *today* explaining that I have been pretty much gone the entire month of August and that I had never received any formal documentation indicating when or where to drop off the check. After that I all I had to do was politely ask if they could waive the fee this time and if it would be alright to pay two months' fees come September 1. So thanks, Cap, you saved me $25. Hey I just wanted to say that your advice worked. I got slapped with a $25 late fee for my condo association fee this past month. Evidently, the fee was due on the first of the month. I called *today* explaining that I have been pretty much gone the entire month of August and that I had never received any formal documentation indicating when or where to drop off the check.
After that I all I had to do was politely ask if they could waive the fee this time and if it would be alright to pay two months’ fees come September 1.
So thanks, Cap, you saved me $25.

]]> By: MyMoneyBlog http://www.stopbuyingcrap.com/credit-related/howto-get-rid-of-late-fees-just-ask/comment-page-1/#comment-1999 MyMoneyBlog Sun, 09 Apr 2006 23:37:51 +0000 http://www.stopbuyingcrap.com/2006/04/06/howto-get-rid-of-late-fees-just-ask/#comment-1999 <strong>Carnival of Personal Finance...</strong> I had a tough time deciding on how to host this week's Carnival. Honestly, I haven't read (or submitted to) one in weeks. As Carnivals get larger, the host tends to get overwhelmed and all your really get is a long list of links. If you're lucky you... Carnival of Personal Finance…

I had a tough time deciding on how to host this week’s Carnival. Honestly, I haven’t read (or submitted to) one in weeks. As Carnivals get larger, the host tends to get overwhelmed and all your really get is a long list of links. If you’re lucky you…

]]> By: Cap http://www.stopbuyingcrap.com/credit-related/howto-get-rid-of-late-fees-just-ask/comment-page-1/#comment-1976 Cap Sat, 08 Apr 2006 12:58:50 +0000 http://www.stopbuyingcrap.com/2006/04/06/howto-get-rid-of-late-fees-just-ask/#comment-1976 lol, don't worry about the long post, it was a good one! Aggressiveness definitely can work, if you're good at it. I'm in the case of your husband, a little bit too timid for my own good. I use to have the problem of <a href="http://www.stopbuyingcrap.com/2006/03/03/phone-customer-service-scared-cap/" rel="nofollow">backing down too easily</a>, but after many practice I'm a lot better at holding my position against phone reps. Good story, thanks for the post. I'll have to agreed with Providian too, they're subprime so perhaps the service are along the same lines, might get better once WaMu overhauls them. lol, don’t worry about the long post, it was a good one! Aggressiveness definitely can work, if you’re good at it. I’m in the case of your husband, a little bit too timid for my own good. I use to have the problem of backing down too easily, but after many practice I’m a lot better at holding my position against phone reps.

Good story, thanks for the post. I’ll have to agreed with Providian too, they’re subprime so perhaps the service are along the same lines, might get better once WaMu overhauls them.

]]> By: Elena http://www.stopbuyingcrap.com/credit-related/howto-get-rid-of-late-fees-just-ask/comment-page-1/#comment-1974 Elena Sat, 08 Apr 2006 04:48:43 +0000 http://www.stopbuyingcrap.com/2006/04/06/howto-get-rid-of-late-fees-just-ask/#comment-1974 I have been a bad ass to all banks and credit card agencies ever since I learned to speak English fluently (I am Russian). But I usually do it over the phone because that way I can judge how aggressive I can be by listening to the tone of the service rep’s voice.. So far I have a record of getting all charges reversed (saved us hundreds of dollars!). It is frustrating to me that my husband, who is American, can never hold his ground with them, he always tries to be super nice and polite, and as a result he rarely gets charges taken off. When he talks to them, he sounds like, “Well, I am not sure but I think we sent it over a week ago… yes, of course, yes I understands, oh, we are trying to be on time, I know it is important for the score…. yes, we will keep that in mind next time… it’s ok, no big deal…” Uhhh! :( When _I_ handle this, it sounds like "Hey, I did not miss anything, you guys screwed up, I sent it to you 17 days ago, I have a receipt. That’s your policy? Well, I think you should consider changing your policies. I have not had any problems like that with any of my other credit cards. I would like to speak to a supervisor, please. Sure, I will hold. Yes I am still here. No, I do not think I could be mistaken, if you need a receipt I will mail it to you. Listen, we are overall happy with the card, but we are not going to pay $40 because you guys didn't bother to open your mail for a week. I sent it 17 days ago. Or, if you insist, we will pay you 40 bucks, but we will very likely close the account and never recommend your company to anyone again. Yes, just taking it off would be very nice of you. Thanks, I am very satisfied and I don't need anything else at the moment. Oh, by the way, can you make sure it does not lower my credit score by some chance? No, I think everything else is ok. Have a wonderful day!" One time I found out that I was actually mistaken and we did send the payment later than I thought, but it was too late by then, they already reversed the charge. Oops. I actually felt bad. The best way to go, of course, is to send everything on time and keep records. But even when you screw up, letting them know that some understanding would go a long way with you usually will do the trick. The only company that is (or was) really bad about customer service is Providian. Good thing we paid them down, now I can always tell them, “Ok, be that way, but you won’t get a penny more of our business, believe me.” Feels liberating. :) (Sorry for the long post) I have been a bad ass to all banks and credit card agencies ever since I learned to speak English fluently (I am Russian). But I usually do it over the phone because that way I can judge how aggressive I can be by listening to the tone of the service rep’s voice.. So far I have a record of getting all charges reversed (saved us hundreds of dollars!).

It is frustrating to me that my husband, who is American, can never hold his ground with them, he always tries to be super nice and polite, and as a result he rarely gets charges taken off. When he talks to them, he sounds like, “Well, I am not sure but I think we sent it over a week ago… yes, of course, yes I understands, oh, we are trying to be on time, I know it is important for the score…. yes, we will keep that in mind next time… it’s ok, no big deal…”

Uhhh! :(

When _I_ handle this, it sounds like “Hey, I did not miss anything, you guys screwed up, I sent it to you 17 days ago, I have a receipt. That’s your policy? Well, I think you should consider changing your policies. I have not had any problems like that with any of my other credit cards. I would like to speak to a supervisor, please. Sure, I will hold. Yes I am still here. No, I do not think I could be mistaken, if you need a receipt I will mail it to you. Listen, we are overall happy with the card, but we are not going to pay $40 because you guys didn’t bother to open your mail for a week. I sent it 17 days ago. Or, if you insist, we will pay you 40 bucks, but we will very likely close the account and never recommend your company to anyone again. Yes, just taking it off would be very nice of you. Thanks, I am very satisfied and I don’t need anything else at the moment. Oh, by the way, can you make sure it does not lower my credit score by some chance? No, I think everything else is ok. Have a wonderful day!”

One time I found out that I was actually mistaken and we did send the payment later than I thought, but it was too late by then, they already reversed the charge. Oops. I actually felt bad.

The best way to go, of course, is to send everything on time and keep records. But even when you screw up, letting them know that some understanding would go a long way with you usually will do the trick. The only company that is (or was) really bad about customer service is Providian. Good thing we paid them down, now I can always tell them, “Ok, be that way, but you won’t get a penny more of our business, believe me.” Feels liberating. :)

(Sorry for the long post)

]]> By: Cap http://www.stopbuyingcrap.com/credit-related/howto-get-rid-of-late-fees-just-ask/comment-page-1/#comment-1919 Cap Thu, 06 Apr 2006 22:24:47 +0000 http://www.stopbuyingcrap.com/2006/04/06/howto-get-rid-of-late-fees-just-ask/#comment-1919 yeah, don't just let it slide. I use to just eat the fees and pretend it's not there.. you generally can get away with a few once in awhile. $40 is definitely worth an email. yeah, don’t just let it slide. I use to just eat the fees and pretend it’s not there.. you generally can get away with a few once in awhile. $40 is definitely worth an email.

]]> By: Nick http://www.stopbuyingcrap.com/credit-related/howto-get-rid-of-late-fees-just-ask/comment-page-1/#comment-1902 Nick Thu, 06 Apr 2006 17:29:41 +0000 http://www.stopbuyingcrap.com/2006/04/06/howto-get-rid-of-late-fees-just-ask/#comment-1902 You. Are. Awesome. I am never paying any sort of "fee" again without fighting it first. You. Are. Awesome.

I am never paying any sort of “fee” again without fighting it first.

]]> By: LAmoneyguy http://www.stopbuyingcrap.com/credit-related/howto-get-rid-of-late-fees-just-ask/comment-page-1/#comment-1901 LAmoneyguy Thu, 06 Apr 2006 17:01:29 +0000 http://www.stopbuyingcrap.com/2006/04/06/howto-get-rid-of-late-fees-just-ask/#comment-1901 Been there. I did <a href="http://itsjustmoney.blogs.com/its_just_money/2006/03/i_got_nailed_wi.html" rel="nofollow">the same with MBNA</a> Good job getting it reversed without even talking to someone. It's funny, even if I call to say, "Hey, I screwed up, and did not pay you on time..." they still throw in, "by the way, I noticed that you don't have credit guard insurance..." Been there. I did the same with MBNA

Good job getting it reversed without even talking to someone. It’s funny, even if I call to say, “Hey, I screwed up, and did not pay you on time…” they still throw in, “by the way, I noticed that you don’t have credit guard insurance…”

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