     Heather Holmes-Israel (Hbr) | Monday, April 24, 2000 - 10:26 am 
I got a money order from wells fargo to pay my Citibank Visa bill. Ten days later Citibank still had not received the money order, so I stopped payment on it. Wouldn't you know it, Citbank actually received my payment a couple of days later. Since I did not still have possession of the money order, Wells Fargo would not issue me a new money order for 30 days. I did not have other money besides the funds tied-up in the money order to pay my Visa bill, so I ended up being 60 days late paying it. I do not think my late payment was my fault. I also do not think it was Citibank's fault, except insofar as they put the 60-day-late notation on my account despite the fact that I told them several times over the phone why I had not paid yet. I called Citibank, and they said they can not take the notation off the account, period. If it was their fault they would put that fact on my credit report, but the 60-day-late notation would still remain. Is there any way I can have this negative notation deleted? I know I can have my explanation of the 60-day-late notation inserted on my credit report, but I also know that in many situations, creditors consider these kind of statements irrelevant. |
| Christine Baker (Admin) | Monday, April 24, 2000 - 12:09 pm
There is nothing you can do. I don't know why they have to be such jerks at Citibank, guess that's the result of being so "prestigious."
Don't bother with the dispute statement on the credit report. I suggest you close that Citibank account unless you absolutely need to have it.
Bill paying rule #1:
Never EVER pay with cashiers checks or money orders!
Pay by check and make sure your bank doesn't keep the checks for you. I'm paying $2 per month right now just to receive my cancelled checks.
Banks claim that the microfiche copy of the check they keep is as good as your cancelled check. It is NOT!
I nearly went to jail over that and have a collection on my credit because the microfiche copy was not good enough for Pacific Bell's (Cal. phone company) collection agency.
Also, I really like Quicken, I have used it to pay my bills for many years. I never had a problem and it's a tremendous time saver. I can pay my bills from any location with a phone line and it costs under $5 per month.
If the Quicken check gets lost in the shoddy US mail service or at the creditor, you actually have PROOF of sending the payment.
There are also several new on-line services for bill payment I haven't checked out yet. |
| Morgan Appel (Downinsocal) | Monday, April 24, 2000 - 12:31 pm
Christine--
Pac Bell are a bunch of %^*^%. You almost went to jail? How so? Just curious.
Morgan |
| Christine Baker (Admin) | Monday, April 24, 2000 - 04:08 pm
I posted my "nearly arrested" experience under "Links and my 2 cents," it definitely is one of my most memorable credit experiences. |
