4 ms·

I'm losing faith in our system of government. Citibank did this to me on a credit card I had with them: 1. I stopped using the card for several months. 2. I t

I'm losing faith in our system of government. Citibank did this to me on a credit card I had with them: 1. I stopped using the card for several months. 2. I then used it once on a small purchase. 3. They stopped sending me an e-mail reminders for my bill. (An "error" in their system disabled e-mails for my account specifically) 4. I racked up about $100 in late fees and interest charges. 5. I called them up and they said they'd waive the fees and interest charges. 6. They did not waive the fees and interest charges. 7. At this point, I had to give up and pay it because it was about to go to collections and damage my credit rating. What recourse is there for this kind of thing if the GOP doesn't allow us class-action lawsuits?

x2f10 9y ago
I have an identical situation with Verizon Wireless. I pre-ordered the Pixel 2 and cancelled the order 4 days prior to the release date. I called AGAIN to verify the order was cancelled. I'm told yes. Verizon shipped the order, charged my card for it, and tells me "Sorry - our mistake. Please return the phone for a refund." Since it was 'cancelled', I don't have the ability to print my own return label. I'm told one is coming in the mail. Nothing arrives. I call and inquire: "It was sent. FYI, if you don't return the phone in a week, you'll be outside the return window."
- nrmitchi 9y ago
  If this was charged against a credit card, you can likely look at issuing a chargeback through your bank. Even if it wasn't a credit card, you should see if there is anything your bank can do. While I don't typically support a liberal use of chargebacks, a situation where you actually didn't purchase the thing you were charged for, and the vendor is not cooperating, is kind of what they are meant for.
creaghpatr 9y ago
Elect a Democratic congress, like the first Obama administration, who incidentally did not allow class-action lawsuits either? At least this time a bill made it to a Senate vote.
- s73ver_ 9y ago
  The rule in question was put in place by the Obama administration.
- wavefunction 9y ago
  I guess you're glossing over the fact that without the Obama administration creating this bureau, there never would have been a lawsuit in the first place. Anyways, later.
- moonka 9y ago
  The bill passed by 50 (plus a VP tiebreaker) votes. Take a look at the breakdown of who voted against it.
cryoshon 9y ago
only now do you start to lose faith? only now? not after failing to enact meaningful comeuppance for the financial crisis, not after endless spying on the public, not after any of the last billions of abuses, but now?
Skeletor 9y ago
You should file a complaint with https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ (CFPB.) It will get Citibank's attention and you will get to their escalated support team which will hopefully get a better result. They will take a CFPB complaint very seriously and respond. There are existing regulatory systems in place to push back against the shady practices you mentioned.
- tehwebguy 9y ago
  Closing down the CFPB is on the administration’s short list, so hurry.
okreallywtf 9y ago
Is it our system of government though that is the problem? There are problems that allow the GOP to have a disproportionate level of control but overall they've been very consistent on consumer protections (being against them that is), they are doing exactly what anyone paying attention to what they do expects. People bicker over politics and make false equivalencies and compare the parties but then complain about this issues like this as if they have no choice. The democrats have their issues, but rather than becoming part of the solution we sit back and complain and generally do very little while the GOP eats your lunch. I'm not saying this describes you, but I think that we find ourselves too easily divided when its pretty clear (to me) which party actually cares more about my interests than the other.
- aaronbrethorst 9y ago
  I want to echo this and also add that you should either have a ballot at home, or an opportunity to vote at a polling place coming up in a couple weeks. Vote. If you feel like your government doesn’t represent you, then start changing it.
  - Frondo 9y ago
    More than that: make it your second job to persuade your friends and loved ones to pay attention to this stuff and vote, too. The whole "never discuss politics or religion" trope is one of the things that gets society in a place where a few people have a disproportionate voice in how the place is run.
    - okreallywtf 9y ago
      I don't know why you got downvoted, you aren't saying that people have to be ideologues or be obnoxious. Politics is how problems get solved because politics is how society communicates on issues, it may not be working right but thats what it is, it is our sole way of governing our society. Hens, please stop electing foxes.
- noobermin 9y ago
  You not mentioning the issues regarding voter suppression, gerrymandering, money in politics that keeps a party which has a minority of actual votes at time in power.
ashurbanipal 9y ago
How would this situation qualify for a class action? You don't seem to be a member of some large class of people to me.
- emodendroket 9y ago
  Is this notification issue entirely localized to one person?
gowld 9y ago
You should go to small claims court for that. They never sent you a bill, then they lied to you. Slam dunk case. Or just refuse to pay, and realize that a $100 charge from one vendor doesn't harm your ability to obtain credit.
buckminster 9y ago
I've been in similar situations and I've resolved them by writing an old fashioned letter to the company. It feels like a chore but it's much less stressful than interacting with telephone support. And letter handling departments seem to have more clueful employees.

x2f10 9y ago

I have an identical situation with Verizon Wireless. I pre-ordered the Pixel 2 and cancelled the order 4 days prior to the release date. I called AGAIN to verify the order was cancelled. I'm told yes. Verizon shipped the order, charged my card for it, and tells me "Sorry - our mistake. Please return the phone for a refund." Since it was 'cancelled', I don't have the ability to print my own return label. I'm told one is coming in the mail. Nothing arrives. I call and inquire: "It was sent. FYI, if you don't return the phone in a week, you'll be outside the return window."

nrmitchi 9y ago
If this was charged against a credit card, you can likely look at issuing a chargeback through your bank. Even if it wasn't a credit card, you should see if there is anything your bank can do. While I don't typically support a liberal use of chargebacks, a situation where you actually didn't purchase the thing you were charged for, and the vendor is not cooperating, is kind of what they are meant for.

creaghpatr 9y ago

Elect a Democratic congress, like the first Obama administration, who incidentally did not allow class-action lawsuits either? At least this time a bill made it to a Senate vote.

s73ver_ 9y ago
The rule in question was put in place by the Obama administration.
wavefunction 9y ago
I guess you're glossing over the fact that without the Obama administration creating this bureau, there never would have been a lawsuit in the first place. Anyways, later.
moonka 9y ago
The bill passed by 50 (plus a VP tiebreaker) votes. Take a look at the breakdown of who voted against it.

cryoshon 9y ago

only now do you start to lose faith? only now? not after failing to enact meaningful comeuppance for the financial crisis, not after endless spying on the public, not after any of the last billions of abuses, but now?

Skeletor 9y ago

You should file a complaint with https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ (CFPB.) It will get Citibank's attention and you will get to their escalated support team which will hopefully get a better result. They will take a CFPB complaint very seriously and respond. There are existing regulatory systems in place to push back against the shady practices you mentioned.

tehwebguy 9y ago
Closing down the CFPB is on the administration’s short list, so hurry.

okreallywtf 9y ago

Is it our system of government though that is the problem? There are problems that allow the GOP to have a disproportionate level of control but overall they've been very consistent on consumer protections (being against them that is), they are doing exactly what anyone paying attention to what they do expects. People bicker over politics and make false equivalencies and compare the parties but then complain about this issues like this as if they have no choice. The democrats have their issues, but rather than becoming part of the solution we sit back and complain and generally do very little while the GOP eats your lunch. I'm not saying this describes you, but I think that we find ourselves too easily divided when its pretty clear (to me) which party actually cares more about my interests than the other.

aaronbrethorst 9y ago
I want to echo this and also add that you should either have a ballot at home, or an opportunity to vote at a polling place coming up in a couple weeks. Vote. If you feel like your government doesn’t represent you, then start changing it.
- Frondo 9y ago
  More than that: make it your second job to persuade your friends and loved ones to pay attention to this stuff and vote, too. The whole "never discuss politics or religion" trope is one of the things that gets society in a place where a few people have a disproportionate voice in how the place is run.
  - okreallywtf 9y ago
    I don't know why you got downvoted, you aren't saying that people have to be ideologues or be obnoxious. Politics is how problems get solved because politics is how society communicates on issues, it may not be working right but thats what it is, it is our sole way of governing our society. Hens, please stop electing foxes.
noobermin 9y ago
You not mentioning the issues regarding voter suppression, gerrymandering, money in politics that keeps a party which has a minority of actual votes at time in power.

ashurbanipal 9y ago

How would this situation qualify for a class action? You don't seem to be a member of some large class of people to me.

emodendroket 9y ago
Is this notification issue entirely localized to one person?

gowld 9y ago

You should go to small claims court for that. They never sent you a bill, then they lied to you. Slam dunk case. Or just refuse to pay, and realize that a $100 charge from one vendor doesn't harm your ability to obtain credit.

buckminster 9y ago

I've been in similar situations and I've resolved them by writing an old fashioned letter to the company. It feels like a chore but it's much less stressful than interacting with telephone support. And letter handling departments seem to have more clueful employees.