Monday, December 1, 2025

Bye Bye Bean

 

   


     So you can just forget about those dewy-eyed golden retriever puppies splayed all over your L.L. Bean catalogues. Or maybe continue to order, but beware of any credit card offers linked to them.


          Good ole L.L. has some slimy folks handling their company credit cards.


          My account with them goes back before umpteen generations of those puppies and I’ve never had a moment’s problem. However, now that I no longer receive hard copy statements in the mail, it’s a cold, cruel world.

          In September, while out to lunch, I decided to use my Bean credit card, the one I only use when I place an order with them, but I carry the card with me in case of emergency.

          So, $26.98 was charged to the card.

          At the end of October, just before the weekend, I received a warning email from the Bean bean-counters that I needed to pay right away or I’d incur a late-fee charge. I have never, ever been late on any credit card payment, so I thought ‘Hmm, that’s weird. Why didn’t I know about this? Let me set that payment up right now.”

          Using the Bill Pay function with my checking account, I scheduled the first possible payment, which, because it was the weekend, wouldn’t get to them till one day late. Oh well, what could happen? An extra $4 or $5 next month?   

          On November 3, $26.98 left my account and went to Beanland.

          This past Wednesday, the day before Thanksgiving, another warning email. I was busy whooping it up with travel and turkey, so didn’t notice it till Saturday.

          Now I owed $28.98. WHAT?

          I called the Beanland bean-counter HQ where a pleasant lady agreed that yes, I did send $26.98 on November 3, and yes, now they needed $28.98 by Dec 1.

          So apparently, having been one day late, they took my money but then slapped on  $2 in interest and recycled the charge all over again.

          I canceled my card.

          Oh, and the transfer to cover the latest charge can’t get there before Dec 2, a day late.

          I dare them to send the BeanBoys here to collect anything more.