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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsI was rude over the phone to someone at "cardmember services." Now I feel awful about it.
I get way too many phone calls from various marketing, political, and credit card people. 99 percent of the time, all they want is my money for something I don't need. It's almost never anything urgent or requiring my immediate attention. So when I found a message on my answering machine from "cardmember services" telling me I needed to call them about my credit card account, I assumed it was another marketing call about "lowering my interest rates."
I called the number.
The woman who answered told me I was late on my payment. Now, I always pay on time, and I always pay the balance in full. So I thought she was full of it, and I treated her like some drone in a boiler room, trying to scam me. In other words, I probably sounded like some asshole Republican.
After I hung up, I went through my bills and I discovered -- oh my god -- that hubby had mislaid one of the credit card bills. The woman on the phone was right, and I was wrong. I was a jerk.
This is just a reminder that even though most of the time those phone calls are scams, every so often there's a live person on the other end who's just doing her job. Who's trying to tell you you need to pay attention. Who's trying to help you.
I called the number back to apologize, but the lines are all busy and I didn't get her name anyway. So even though I know she's not reading this post, I just want to say I'm sorry. You were trying to do your job. And I made this a bad day for you.
gateley
(62,683 posts)But I know, I'd feel bad too.
southernyankeebelle
(11,304 posts)be bothered. Now when they call I just hang up. Don't fall for the lower the interest rate. I nearly did it and had a hell of a getting out of it. I had to write my credit card company and they were able to get their charge off my bill. If it sounds to be good to be true DON'T DO IT. Its a come on.
RebelOne
(30,947 posts)slampoet
(5,032 posts)Everyone in the USA has had a late credit card bill and you fell for the "Rachael at cardholder services scam"
If you gave them any information on your cards, you better start cancelling.
ANY credit card company is Required to identify themselves first.
mainer
(12,013 posts)And she turned out to be right.
Big surprise.
HERVEPA
(6,107 posts)slampoet
(5,032 posts)Maybe you should do a Google search before you post
the first 50 hits on Google say it's a scam.
https://www.google.com/search?q=Rachael+from+Cardholder+Services&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US fficial&client=firefox-a
Seriously WTF makes you think this is REAL?
Give Proof or go away.
REP
(21,691 posts)We pay in full each month before the due date, as do many many credit card holders.
Liberalynn
(7,549 posts)A lady called right after I had received about 5 spam calls, this was before "do not call, and my having caller ID" so when I answered the phone and she was stumbling over how to say my last name, I just assumed she was another one.
I lit into her which is normally unlike me, but I had just had it. The poor woman was actually just calling to confirm my registration for a computer class that I had indeed signed up for.
I felt horrible. So just know you are not alone and thank you for reminder to be kinder.
1StrongBlackMan
(31,849 posts)Call her back and admit your error. It'll prove that you aren't some asshole Republican; rather, you are a human being.
mainer
(12,013 posts)and there are multiple people working that number. I think the lesson here is that we never know when the things we do will have negative ripples that hurt people we don't even know.
NMDemDist2
(49,313 posts)ask the next customer service person to contact her with your apology.
PuppyBismark
(593 posts)You did the right thing. Keep it up.
Card Member Services is a rogue credit repair company that keeps calling everyone I know once a week or more. I have reported them to the FCC as violating the Do Not Call list over and over again. If you wait to talk to someone and ask them the name of the company calling, they know they have been found out and just hang up on you.
This pest needs to be exterminated and now. If anyone gets a call go to the link below to report them:
https://esupport.fcc.gov/ccmsforms/form1088.action?form_type=1088B
progree
(10,864 posts)years.
Did you not read post #4 and carefully read the OP where she says she was specific about which credit card, and she was right about the missed payment?
I've gotten many dozens of calls from Rachel at Card Member Services or variations thereof, or somebody else telling me about lowering my interest rate - those are always the scam.
But I've also gotten a few about potentially fraudulent charges which were indeed on my statement when I checked it online.
It's a shame that these scammers are making it difficult for the legitimate card service people from doing their jobs or making it much more difficult and unpleasant. When in doubt, I ask them specific questions about the account.
mainer
(12,013 posts)I feel sorry for anyone whose job involves calling people who are suspicious of you right off the bat.
progree
(10,864 posts)about having a cardiac event or stroke or somesuch, not to mention probably worrying the neighbors (I live in a townhouse). So usually in the last couple of years I've tried to keep my temper in check and play along with them (whatever telemarketers are calling) to get some more information out of them about who they are etc., but still I end up screaming at the end a few times.
MiniMe
(21,676 posts)It is always a "lower your interest rate" call. So I don't blame you for wondering if you were being scammed. They should change their name from "cardmember services" to bank name card services.
slackmaster
(60,567 posts)My card issuer is very effective at monitoring accounts for suspicious activity. They've saved me from grief several times over the last five or so years.
The only down-side is they do try to up-sell me. It takes about 5-7 business days to replace the card; they always offer to get it to me in two days for $30.
progressivebydesign
(19,458 posts)I tell the person, assuming it's a legit company, "I know that this is not your fault. I'm not angry at you personally. I'm upset at the situation and corporate America. So if I sound mad, I'm sorry.. but I need to vent for a minute" Usually they laugh, and say that's fine and that they usually agree with me. I've had so many great convos with phone people for various credit cards, etc. One time got a call from a guy doing a push poll, (this is true,) and we started talking and I convinced him to go back to community college to get some type of training, so he didn't have to do such a shitty job.
progree
(10,864 posts)do such a shitty job"
LOL. Good for you for keeping the lid on and even making the calls interesting and productive. I've accused more than one of living in his mother's basement. I can't recall if I've gone on to suggest additionally that the extent of his social life has been getting pity sex from his mother. I think I might have once or twice.
I should add that I only get nasty when its the 3rd or more call from some organization that I've long ago politely asked to put me on their do not call list. (Even though I'm on the national do not call list registry, I do get legal calls from exempt groups like charities and political organizations). Or if its an out and out scam.
On edit" added last paragraph
mainer
(12,013 posts)We spoke about his military experience, and how tough it was doing his job (this was during the height of the Iraq War) and how no one wanted to sign up in our lefty part of the country. As we hung up, he thanked me for being kind to him because so many other moms had told him to go the hell away.
GeorgeGist
(25,294 posts)MineralMan
(146,192 posts)and explain that you mislaid the bill and want to pay right away. If you have the money in your checking account, they can take the payment that way instantly. As long as you call the number on the card, you're safe in doing that. Ask them to please not record a late payment and that you simply mislaid the bill. If you normally pay on time, they'll do that for you just fine.
treestar
(82,383 posts)I got a call once from a credit card company asking me if I was in France, because my card number had been used to buy plane tickets there. So they caught some fraud for me before it showed up on my bill. I was impressed they were on top of things like that.
Maybe you can get them to waive late fees and such, with a good history of paying on time and it can happen to anyone that a bill gets mislaid.
sfpcjock
(1,936 posts)this just came my way totally by accident and I thought I'd share it with you
Turborama
(22,109 posts)Empathy for you having empathy with them.
Empathy is a trait Liberals/Prgressives/etc share and CONservatives are devoid of.
Bless your sweet heart.