Phyllis Tilton on fri 1 aug 03
The following came to me as a 'joke' but I think it is relavant to some os the stories regarding credit cards that potters are experiencing.I have no idea if it is true or whom the original sender was-BUT I do believe it could happen. Steve B. did it hit the Newton news?
A man living in Newton, Massachusetts received a bill on his as yet unused credit card stating that he owed $0.00. He threw it away. In April he received another and tossed that one, too. The following month the credit card company sent him a nasty note stating they were going to cancel his card if he didn't send them $0.00. In retrospect, he probably should have let them do that. Instead he called the company and was informed that (are you ready for this?) the problem was the result of a computer error. They told him they'd take care of it. The following month he reasoned that, if other charges appeared on the card, then it would put an end to his ridiculous predicament. Besides, they assured him the problem would be resolved. So he presented his card for a purchase. It was declined. Once again he called. He learned that the credit card had been canceled for lack of payment. They apologized for (here it is again) another computer error and promised they would rectify the situation.
The next day he got a bill for $0.00 stating that payment was now overdue. Assuming that this bill was yet another mistake, he ignored it. But
the following month he received yet another bill for $0.00 stating that he had ten days to pay his account in full or the company would take
necessary steps to recover the debt. He gave in. He mailed in a check for $0.00. The computer duly processed it and returned a statement to the effect that his account was paid in full.
A week later, the man's bank called him asking him why he wrote a check for $0.00. He explained the problem at length. The bank replied that the $0.00 check had caused their check processing software to fail. The bank could not now process ANY checks from ANY of their customers that day because the check for $0.00 caused a computer crash. The following month the man received a letter from the credit card company claiming that his check had bounced, that he still owed $0.00 and, unless payment was sent immediately, they would institute procedures to collect his debt. This man, who had been considering buying his wife a computer for her birthday, bought her typewriter instead.
Who said, "To err is human, but to really mess things up, it takes a computer."? Computers may not be the root of all evil, but some days I'm convinced they come close.Phyllis Tilton
---------------------------------
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pdp1@EARTHLINK.NET on fri 1 aug 03
Hi Phyllis,
Really, this sort of absurdity is not far from the truth in
many situations now in which no one in an organization may
claim the power to either think, or to make decisions based
upon doing so, or grow themselvess some gamete makin'
appendiges or appurtenances..
I recently had a situation with 'allstate' insurance.
Two years ago nearly, I had formally requested them in
writeing and in a 'phone call to change the policy I had on
a Truck to 'inactive', meaning the vehicle was to remain
insured, but was not going to be used for some time. The
change in cost was from 42.00 a Month to about '10'...
It was on that basis paid in advance for about two years.
Well...it turns out they merely cancelled the policy for
non payment at some point when the 42.00 a Month rate had
used up the advance I gave them.
No one can fix it...I spent several days on the 'phone
talking to all points...
I was about to contact the state Attourney General and the
Insurance Comission when Allstate elected to give me a
'policy'...'as-if' nothing had gone askew, that is, at the
same rate it would have been if it had not been interrupted.
(Rather than as say, the 'drunk' rate, the 'teenage-girl'
rate, the 'who-the-hell-are-you?' rate they had offered). I
accepted the same-old 'rate', but with less pleasure, as I
had been with Allstate since the early 'seventies, and now I
'read' like some schmuck that just walked in and got a
'policy'.
In all those years and I suppose better than a half million
miles or so...I had never cost them a dime.
Their helplessness has to do with automated methodology and
no decisions by Agents or officers as could help this
matter. I was hot on the trail of getting the unlisted
'numbers' of their key 'underwriter's-offices' which I will
say freaked out the corporate 'allstate' officers, when I
told them I was now about to get those 'numbers' and I
damned well was going to make my own 'deal'... as the
allstate officers had told me it is IMPOSSIBLE to speak with
the underwriters and so on...
Anyway...
...sheesh...
They can rot in hell...
Phil
Las Vegas
----- Original Message -----
From: "Phyllis Tilton"
To:
Sent: Friday, August 01, 2003 6:36 AM
Subject: Tale of a Computer Error
> The following came to me as a 'joke' but I think it is
relavant to some os the stories regarding credit cards that
potters are experiencing.I have no idea if it is true or
whom the original sender was-BUT I do believe it could
happen. Steve B. did it hit the Newton news?
>
>
> A man living in Newton, Massachusetts received a bill on
his as yet unused credit card stating that he owed $0.00.
He threw it away. In April he received another and tossed
that one, too. The following month the credit card company
sent him a nasty note stating they were going to cancel his
card if he didn't send them $0.00. In retrospect, he
probably should have let them do that. Instead he called the
company and was informed that (are you ready for this?) the
problem was the result of a computer error. They told him
they'd take care of it. The following month he reasoned
that, if other charges appeared on the card, then it would
put an end to his ridiculous predicament. Besides, they
assured him the problem would be resolved. So he presented
his card for a purchase. It was declined. Once again he
called. He learned that the credit card had been canceled
for lack of payment. They apologized for (here it is again)
another computer error and promised they would rectify the
situation.
>
> The next day he got a bill for $0.00 stating that payment
was now overdue. Assuming that this bill was yet another
mistake, he ignored it. But
> the following month he received yet another bill for $0.00
stating that he had ten days to pay his account in full or
the company would take
> necessary steps to recover the debt. He gave in. He mailed
in a check for $0.00. The computer duly processed it and
returned a statement to the effect that his account was paid
in full.
>
> A week later, the man's bank called him asking him why he
wrote a check for $0.00. He explained the problem at length.
The bank replied that the $0.00 check had caused their check
processing software to fail. The bank could not now process
ANY checks from ANY of their customers that day because the
check for $0.00 caused a computer crash. The following month
the man received a letter from the credit card company
claiming that his check had bounced, that he still owed
$0.00 and, unless payment was sent immediately, they would
institute procedures to collect his debt. This man, who had
been considering buying his wife a computer for her
birthday, bought her typewriter instead.
>
> Who said, "To err is human, but to really mess things up,
it takes a computer."? Computers may not be the root of all
evil, but some days I'm convinced they come close.Phyllis
Tilton
>
>
>
>
> ---------------------------------
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> Yahoo! SiteBuilder - Free, easy-to-use web site design
software
>
>
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claybair on fri 1 aug 03
Phil,
HA .......
Try dealing with any health insurance company.
Gayle Bair
Bainbridge Island, WA
http://claybair.com
-----Original Message-----
From: pdp1@EARTHLINK.NET
Hi Phyllis,
I recently had a situation with 'allstate' insurance.
Two years ago nearly, I had formally requested them in
writeing and in a 'phone call to change the policy I had on
a Truck to 'inactive', meaning the vehicle was to remain
insured, but was not going to be used for some time. The
change in cost was from 42.00 a Month to about '10'...
It was on that basis paid in advance for about two years.
Well...it turns out they merely cancelled the policy for
non payment at some point when the 42.00 a Month rate had
used up the advance I gave them.
No one can fix it...I spent several days on the 'phone
talking to all points...Snip>>
David Hendley on sat 2 aug 03
Here is my credit card story:
I gave my teenage son my VISA card for some on-line purchases. He had taken
care of his own finances for years and was always responsible.
Well, this time he was not, and he didn't pay the bill (I just handed him
the bill when
it came, since his charge was the only one on it).
I was shocked when, the next month, that charge, interest, and a penalty
were
on the new bill.
He said he forgot to pay it last month and would send a check immediately.
He did indeed send the check (I saw the envelope), but the company never
received it.
The next month, I got a notice that my credit limit was being reduced to $0
and
all balances had to be paid immediately.
I called and told the credit card company about the lost check and sent them
full payment.
That was five years ago.
For five years now, I have been receiving statements (not every month, but
several times a year) which read:
Purchases: $0.00
Interest: $0.00
Payments: $0.00
Minimum Payment Due: $0.00
Credit Limit: $0.00
A return envelope is included for my convenience.
I know I could probably call and put an end to it, but at this point, I am
enjoying the amusement seeing how long they will continue carrying my
account with a credit limit of $0.00.
(Please, don't write to tell me that I am damaging my credit rating. I still
get at least 4 or 5 offers a month for new credit cards).
David Hendley
david@farmpots.com
http://www.farmpots.com
----- Original Message -----
>
> A man living in Newton, Massachusetts received a bill on his as yet
unused credit card stating that he owed $0.00. He threw it away. In April he
received another and tossed that one, too. The following month the credit
card company sent him a nasty note stating they were going to cancel his
card if he didn't send them $0.00. In retrospect,
Milla Miller on sun 3 aug 03
In a message dated 8/3/2003 7:58:46 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
hendley@TYLER.NET writes:
> (Please, don't write to tell me that I am damaging my credit rating. I still
> get at least 4 or 5 offers a month for new credit cards).
>
>
Dear David,
Yes, despite the credit card offers , you may well be ruining your credit.It
may not mean anything now, but if you wish to purchase an auto or finance
realestate of any sort or get a business loan [like after a disaster to rebuild]
your duckkies had bettered be in the row.I know you probably think that may
never be a problem, but don't be certain.Life can be darned unpredictible and
it's best to keep on top.
I might suggest you pull a credit report from the 3 agencies to inspect and
file a correction to be in your file.It is said you can get a free one using
this episode but also it is suggested we all need to view these records
periodically to check on these.I had my mail stolen and missed a payment to a local
clothier who immediately filed it without calling me and that spoiled a buying
opportunity on a loan I needed to secure a commercial property that was being
sold as residential at the time.We paid that bill the next month when we got
that one and had no other late payments,but that's all it took.
Margaret.
Good luck.
Catherine White on sun 3 aug 03
I was told that even if our credit cards are all paid promptly each month,
and even if we have no balance on them, that their total amounts are
considered as potential debt when applying for a bank loan. Can't swear to
the accuracy of that tip, but it makes sense in their evaluating our ability
to pay back a new loan.
Regards,
Catherine in over-heated Yuma, AZ
ncwhite@adelphia.net
My inability to emulate occasionally results in originality.
----- Original Message -----
> In a message dated 8/3/2003 7:58:46 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
> > (Please, don't write to tell me that I am damaging my credit rating. I
still
> > get at least 4 or 5 offers a month for new credit cards).
> >
Earl Brunner on sun 3 aug 03
I don't think this should be a problem. For 5 years now, this account
has been current with no late payments. I think it is more likely that
it will be viewed as an inactive account and history will show that it
hasn't been late in 5 years.
But the offers you get in the mail really aren't an indicator, because
when they process an application is when they determine how much credit
(and at what terms) they are going to give you. Often they will make a
good offer, but the fine print will say something to the affect that you
are guaranteed credit, but it may in fact turn out to be something like
a 500.00 dollar credit limit with a high interest payment.
-----Original Message-----
From: Clayart [mailto:CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG] On Behalf Of Milla
Miller
Sent: Sunday, August 03, 2003 5:16 AM
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Subject: Re: Tale of a Computer Error
In a message dated 8/3/2003 7:58:46 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
hendley@TYLER.NET writes:
Dear David,
Yes, despite the credit card offers , you may well be ruining your
credit.It
may not mean anything now, but if you wish to purchase an auto or
finance
realestate of any sort or get a business loan [like after a disaster to
rebuild]
your duckkies had bettered be in the row.I know you probably think
that may
never be a problem, but don't be certain.Life can be darned
unpredictible and
it's best to keep on top.
I might suggest you pull a credit report from the 3 agencies to inspect
and
file a correction to be in your file.It is said you can get a free one
using
this episode but also it is suggested we all need to view these records
periodically to check on these.
Earl Brunner on sun 3 aug 03
Open lines of credit are often considered because the perspective lender
has no control over you going out tomorrow and maxing everything out.
Generally they look at your income to debt ratio. That is, your income
in relation to the monthly payments. So what they might do is take a
look at your credit limit and consider what your payment might be if it
was maxed out and then compare that to your ability to pay.
I might be off a few percentage points, but if I remember right, your
debt ratio should be less than 30-35% of your income. That is, your
debt or debt potential shouldn't be more than about 30-35% of your gross
income. I always kind of laughed at their figures, because they
sometimes bear no relationship to my own personal financial obligations,
(they don't figure your contributions to your church or other charities
for example, or your kid's tuition at college....).
-----Original Message-----
From: Clayart [mailto:CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG] On Behalf Of Catherine
White
Sent: Sunday, August 03, 2003 10:46 AM
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Subject: Re: Tale of a Computer Error
I was told that even if our credit cards are all paid promptly each
month,
and even if we have no balance on them, that their total amounts are
considered as potential debt when applying for a bank loan. Can't swear
to
the accuracy of that tip, but it makes sense in their evaluating our
ability
to pay back a new loan.
Regards,
Catherine in over-heated Yuma, AZ
ncwhite@adelphia.net
My inability to emulate occasionally results in originality.
Lois Ruben Aronow on sun 3 aug 03
>I might suggest you pull a credit report from the 3 agencies to inspect =
and
>file a correction to be in your file.It is said you can get a free one =
using
>this episode but also it is suggested we all need to view these records
>periodically to check on these.
It is important to request a copy of your credit report every year
from all 3 agencies. By law, they must supply one report free per
annum. (You have to request it, though, they don't just send it to
you). After that, they can charge you unless there has been an
episode.
Even if you think your credit is excellent, it is important to look at
your report to see if there are any cards you forgot you had, and
credit that has been applied for (even if you didn't take the card),
and requests for your report. By law you must authorize someone to
see your report, but there are various ways around it. For instance,
did you know that when you take a new car for a test drive, they ask
you to leave your drivers license as collateral. Oftentimes, they
will run a credit check against that license to determine what sort of
financing to screw you for. Yes, it's illegal. Sometimes it's not -
it's in the fine print.
The number of times your report has been requested is one of the "
points" on which they rate your credit. These days, computers check
points to determine your credit rating. People don't look at it
anymore to determine if you are a good risk. =20
************
www.loisaronow.com
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