Dell complaints

[sportygee]

I have had a Dell Preferred Acct since Feb 2006. I know I should have put it on another credit card but dopey me figured that since my entire family were using Dell and were happy with them I'd give them a chance.

2 years and happy sailing. Paid the acct faithfully online since I never write checks for anything as paying online saves me time and there is never a chance for snail mail to screw up and get the payment in late.

Suddenly about 2 weeks ago I get a call from IFC a collection agency stating that I am 53 days late and that DFS has referred my account to them. Mind you I have never received a call from DFS stating that my payments were a problem. Why you ask, did you miss a payment. Went back 6 months to see if I was late or missed something since I moved from California to Washington and might have missed something but no, every month payments made on time and much more than the miinimums.

To stave off the harrassing 2 to 5 calls a day from this collection agency I paid them the amount they claimed I owed and said screw it gets my balance down further, I will call Dell direct and straighten out this mess.

Didn't need to wait for that as DFS called the next day stating my account was 19 days past due and now owed them $17 more dollars. Explained the payment made with collection agency and gave them confirmation number name of person who took the payment and her direct line. Unforntunately it was like talking to a robotron whose skills with the english language was sketchy at best. Since she did not even understand me as I read my account number to her I asked for her supervisor. The heifer proceeded to hang up on me. In the meantime I made my payments via DFS/checkfree and still the nightmares continue. Since April first I have had at least 3 calls a day from DFS by agents in the Phillipines, India and 2 from US agents and each one tells me that I am varying days late on my payment. So needless to say I spend an hour a day going over the same nonsense because none of these idiots read the customer service notes of the other one.

I blew my stack this morning as I was taking my Fiance to the ER for a work related injury the DFS legions were again calling to tell me I am 7 days late. They got a payment on the 7th, 9th and another will post on the 16th of April. Each one after a lengthy conversation agreed my account was fine and in fact with the payment posting on 16 April I will be clear until 6June. Mind you not one could find where I had missed a payment to even prompt the collection company they referred the account. I escalated the call to a supervisor after I threatened to report that their tactics are bordering on a violation of the Fair Credit reporting act since my account was not past due at anytime and their collection tactics were bordering on harassment.

I don't know what is up with DFS and would appreciate it if anyone could tell me what I could do to stop the nonsense. I could see it if I was a deadbeat and didn't pay my bills but funny thing is none of my other credit cards, utility companies nor any other creditor has a problem with me. Have a credit score that most people would kill for and these boneheads are messing with it.

Any and all suggestions would be appreciated.
_________________
If you are not living on the edge you are taking up too much space

[HellResident]

DFS are somewhat less honest than your local crack addict . What they likely have done is assessed you a fee for using online payment. Then taken that as a late payent every month until now ( or similar) . They are well known for this, and the people calling dont give a crap. Do yourself a HUGE favour. Close your DFS account. Yep they will charge you to even do that. But it's way better than ever having to hear from them again.

HellResident

[Rocke_T_Sinetist]

See above, especially the first sentence.

Dell Financial is below zero ethics. Once they've got your 'number', they WILL abuse it. Hardly a day goes by here where we don't hear another bizarre story about what DFS does.

A regulated financial instution, or any one you could walk into in person, would never do what DFS does. No one would tolerate it, and the government mostly outlaws it. But DFS has the offshore script monkeys to tell you they can't solve your problem. With no restraint or oversight whatsoever, they gouge whenever the opportunity arises, and even create the opportunities, like charging you for stuff you didn't buy or charging you 'late fees' on auto withdrawals.

Reread the first sentence above, save me from having to repeat it. At least a streetcorner drug dealer speaks English.
_________________
Rocke T Sinetist
as in, 'it doesn't take a...'

[sportygee]

Seems the consensus is to pay off the balance in full and tell them to kiss my shiny black ass. Not sure what you mean that they will charge me for paying off early as they get the money due to them per my current balance so how can they charge me more than what is due. I'm a bit confused on that.
Let's see if this works. Thanks for all your replies.
_________________
If you are not living on the edge you are taking up too much space