credit card company debited my account too much

What is the name of your state? Michigan

One of my credit card companies called me one day and made me an offer to reduce my payments and freeze my interest if I would allow them to debit my bank account. We agreed on 85 bucks a month on the first of every month. September went fine, but on october 2, I get a call from them saying "oops we debited your account twice, can you go make a deposit to cover it?" I said NO I cannot, I have to pay other bills and don't have it. We agreed on 85 per month so put the money back. They said ok we will take care of it. Well, I go to cash a check on the following saturday and my bank said I was minus $130 so I cannot have any money. My check was for less then that so I said some things to the teller I shouldn't have and pealed out of the bank. I called my credit card company and they again apologized and said it would be taken care of. That day I get a letter in the mail from the credit card company that says I verbally authorized them to debit my account and it was returned and they are going to charge me for the return. I am pretty darn mad by now. Monday I call them again, they say the same things, but three days later I get another letter saying on the 7th they tried to run it through again and again it bounced. Now I call my bank and I have to go in and file a complaint about unauthorized charges. The credit card lady is really nice and wanted to talk to my bank manager about the mistake, but my bank won't talk to anyone because of privacy even though I said they could. I am so frustrated. Meanwhile, the credit card company is sending me letters saying I am bouncing checks to them and they are adding all these other fees! They really suck. Who should I complain to about this company and what are my rights. I have had this card for seven years and I cannot find my original account terms. The card changed companies about 5 years ago and I moved twice so I cant find my stuff. Who do I complain to and what are my rights... how can I stop the madness. I am not wealthy yet and I really could use my money back now.

[I AM ALWAYS LIABLE]

My response:

My Great-Aunt died this past January.
CitiBank billed her for their February and March monthly service charge on her credit card, then added late fees and interest onto the monthly charge. (The balance had been $0 and now was somewhere around $60.00)

I placed the following phone call to CitiBank:

Me: "I'm calling to tell you that my great-aunt died in January."

CitiBank: "The account was never closed,
so the late fees and charges still apply."

Me: "Maybe you should turn it over to collections..."

CitiBank: "Since it's 2 months past due, it already has been."

Me: "So, what will they do when they find out she is dead?"

CitiBank: "Either report her account to the frauds division
or report her to the credit bureau... maybe both!"

Me: "Do you think God will be mad at her?"

CitiBank: "...excuse me...?"

Me: "Did you just get what I was telling you....
the part about her being dead?"

CitiBank: "Sir, you'll have to speak to my supervisor!"

(Supervisor gets on the phone)

Me: ''I'm calling to tell you, she died in January."

CitiBank: "The account was never closed,
so the late fees and charges still apply."

Me: "You mean you want to collect from her estate?"

CitiBank: ".....(stammer).... Are you her lawyer?"

Me: "No, I'm her great nephew." (Lawyer info given... )

CitiBank: "Could you fax us a certificate of death?"
(Fax number given)

Me: "Sure."

( After they get the fax. )
CitiBank: "Our system just isn't setup for death..."

Me: "Oh..."

CitiBank: "I don't know what more I can do to help..."

Me: "Well... if you figure it out, great!
If not, you could just keep billing her... I suppose...
I don't really think she'll care...."

CitiBank: "Well...the late fees and charges do still apply."

Me: "Would you like her new billing address?"

CitiBank: "That might help."

Me: "Odessa Memorial Cemetery #### Hwy 129
(city and plot number given)

CitiBank: "Sir, that's a cemetery!"

Me: "What do you do with dead people on your planet?!!"


IAAL

[Ladynred]

There's only one SURE way to 'stop the madness' - don't use credit cards !!

You didn't get anything in writing, that was your first mistake. Your second was in giving a creditor or collection agency your banking information. You can likely kiss that money goodbye, you're never going to see it again and the extra charges you're racking up in bounced checks and interest from the dumbazzes at the CC company have eaten away your $85.

The only other thing you can do is close the bank account and open another one - preferably at a different bank. You're still going to have to pay the payment that's currently due PLUS all those charges !

[dequeendistress]

Ladynred is SOOO right again! (evidently this is a habit of hers) ANYWAY, CLOSE that bank account, get a different account number, NEVER ever no matter how much guilt they lay on you give them your account numbers, I had agreed to a $400.00 payment once and guess what they TRIED $4000.00 no kidding...AlSO write a letter to your bank and request that they not honor phone or automatic transfers/withdrawls from your account, at least that is what I did. Before I did that, the Credit card jerks took two payments out a month. Horrible. What killed me was they would say "we need $$(LOTTAMONEY) today, give us your account number and we will set up payment...and when I would say "NO" they argued, threatened, belittled etc...and then I would check my mail...same credit card company letter received with an offer to settle for $2500.00 instead of the complete balance of $5000.00. As if...anyway...
Don't put off the credit card companies payments though, interest rates jump up, late fees, over-the-limit fee, returned check fees...you are paying for NOTHING. Make your payments when they are due and send a check or money order in sufficeient time to reach the Credit Card Company. I am guessing you were behind and they called demanding immediate payment=bank draft.

You asked who to complain to?

I hope someone can give you an answer...I got a lawyer and filed bk because it was too much for me...your situation may be different, since you state it was because they overdrafted the authorized amount not that you cannot pay your debts. Good luck!

[Skylyn]

IAAL,

That was the funniest thing I've read today! Great stuff. I wish you were my estate attorney (my estate attorney is good, just no sense of humor)...

My bank is going after them for fraud I guess. I only authorized one payment per month not two. Yes I was behind a bit. I wonder if they would be more willing to settle if I said I would file bk. hmm**************

IAAL,
that reminds me of when my man's father died. We assumed the loan on the house and the loan company kept selling his name to mailing lists so the phone kept ringing for him, the AARP couldn't understand why he did not want to join, and the real kicker was the county jury board kept calling him for jury duty. I called them and said you do know this man passed away three years ago, right here in this county? Now, keep in mind there are only like 50k people in the whole county.

She is like oh, can you send the letter back with a note on it?

Me: yes sure

A week later a threatening letter from the jury board comes. I laughed, called them again and said look, if you want to hold him in contempt that is fine. He was a drinker and a lot of people did.

She wanted me to then find the death certificate and I told her : you are right there in the building, I am 25 miles away. You want it so bad walk down the hall and get it.

Funny, I never heard from them again until I got called for jury duty...