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.
Appalling. Like they don't make enough profit already, they have to gouge people like that. Good for you for cancelling the card.
ReplyDeleteIt certainly was freeing in several ways.
DeleteWhat?! That's insane. They charged you the same amount AGAIN, in full, plus a $2 penalty? That can't be legal.
ReplyDeleteI was dumbfounded.
DeleteI would have cancelled the card too. How dare they recycle the original amount? They new charge should have been just the late fee. Sneaky things like this happen too often now. I'm glad I pay with cash.
ReplyDeleteI can’t wait to see what happens when this latest payment lands one day after it’s due.
DeleteSo you just sent them $2 right? They fully expected you to pay twice for being one day late? I haven't ordered anything from them in decades. Won't start now.
ReplyDeleteI consider myself a loyal customer of LLBean. This would end things pretty fast. I hope they wise up and send you an apology.
ReplyDeleteGreat idea - but you and I know that'll be the day!
DeleteThat's messed UP!
ReplyDeleteAaack, they should have given you a break based on your long service.
ReplyDeleteAgreed. We're talking decades and decades.
Delete