Credit Card question. Calling Rossman!

[RossMAN]

Since you can't speak with a live operator, why not do this:

1) Sign up for their online banking by entering in your credit card details underneath "Need to Enroll?"

2) Take a screen print of your recent card activity, edit out any sensitive details (such as your name, address and cc #) then upload the screen print and host it here.

After looking at your account activity I'm sure that it will be VERY easy to understand why your balance appears to be $513 when it should be closer to $0.

 

All right, Gobadgrs. If your intent isn't to max out your credit, then cool.

As for getting an operator: I meant you should go through the automated service. Pretend you wanted to check your current balance. Then press that option or press another option close to bill/statement related issue. When you're done listening to the automated service, they will likely give you an option saying to speak to a representative, press so and so. It doesn't come automatically. You have to go through one of the automated options. Sorry if I haven't conveyed my message well enough.

 

[GoingUp]

Originally posted by: RossMAN

Originally posted by: Gobadgrs
So I have a starter Visa card. I am trying to build up credit by charging everything. It has a $500 limit on the card.

First month, I max it out. Then I pay the entire bill off 2 weeks early. Now here in the second month, it shows that my balance is $513 and I have $61 more in available credit. WTH? Did the credit card company raise my limit because I paid so quickly? Just curious....

Is it a problem that I am over my limit by $13 at the moment?

I may have the answer to your dilemma but have a few questions first:

1) Why haven't you called and asked them, isn't that what their job is as your financial services provider? If you wanted to know your bank account balance do you ask on ATOT or call your bank?

2) When you say "it shows that my balance is $513", what is it? Online, phone call or monthly statement? If it's your monthly statement, does it show anywhere on there the $500 payment you made 2 weeks early? If not, what could have happened is you made your payment after the statement print date. Your statement does NOT provide accurate up to the minute account information. If you want to know your current account details you should always check your account activity ONLINE or call them.

3) I doubt your credit limit was raised but it is possible, what does your monthly statement/online information show? $500 limit or higher?

I think the confusion is, your payment was made after your statement printed and you're not looking at accurate up to the minute account details.

1. Called but cant get through to an actual person.

2. Its my online statement. My payment shows up that I made a while ago.

3.. Still shows that my limit is $500. Says that I have $61 of available credit left... which would mean that my new limit is $575ish. I am lookin at my online statement right now. I knew I was gettin close to my limit so I havent charged anything in the last few days.


Here is a cut and paste from the website about my statement.

Account Summary

Credit Limit $500.00
Current Balance $513.29
Available Credit $61.00
Cash Available $38.50
Amount Overlimit $13.29


Statement Summary

Payment Due 08/15/2003
Min. Payment Due $0.00
Past Due Amount $0.00
Last Statement 07/21/2003
Last Payment 07/23/2003

 

[GoingUp]

Originally posted by: luvly
All right, Gobadgrs. If your intent isn't to max out your credit, then cool.

As for getting an operator: I meant you should go through the automated service. Pretend you wanted to check your current balance. Then press that option or press another option close to bill/statement related issue. When you're done listening to the automated service, they will likely give you an option saying to speak to a representative, press so and so. It doesn't come automatically. You have to go through one of the automated options. Sorry if I haven't conveyed my message well enough.

There just seems to be no way to talk to a rep. I even tried to goto the billing dispute option, but they just automatically say theyll mail a form to your billing address and then they give you the address to mail it back to.

GGRRR I think this company is run by robots.

 

[RossMAN]

Ok now we're getting somewhere.

Over the limit and late fees can really add up quickly and deducts from your available balance.

How many and how much in FEES do you have?

Can you copy/paste all the recent transactions or just PM it to me?

If your limit is $500, you paid it off 2 weeks early and now you're over the limit by $13.29 something is wrong.

 

[GoingUp]

Originally posted by: RossMAN
Ok now we're getting somewhere.

Over the limit and late fees can really add up quickly and deducts from your available balance.

How many and how much in FEES do you have?

Can you copy/paste all the recent transactions or just PM it to me?

If your limit is $500, you paid it off 2 weeks early and now you're over the limit by $13.29 something is wrong.

PM sent.

 

Sorry about that. Maybe they aren't such a good company, after all. Actually, it works, Gobadgrs. Try this: Call again. Then choose English, then enter your account number. When you're done, choose one of the options. Press the pound key repeatedly, say three times. It will finally transfer your call to a representative.

If it's saying you're $13 over the limit, then your credit line has not been increased. The available credit may just be a pending charge. Or did you overpay your previous balance by $61?

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: luvly
Sorry about that. Maybe they aren't such a good company, after all. Actually, it works, Gobadgrs. Try this: Call again. Then choose English, then enter your account number. When you're done, choose one of the options. Press the pound key repeatedly, say three times. It will finally transfer your call to a representative.

If it's saying you're $13 over the limit, then your credit line has not been increased. The available credit may just be a pending charge. Or did you overpay your previous balance by $61?

Good minds think alike, I just suggested that to him.

Told him to:
1) Call the 800 customer service phone number
2) Follow the prompts, select English, enter in your complete account number, verify yourself with your SSN or zip code (whatever it asks - answer correctly).
3) After you're in the VRU system either HOLD forever don't press any options or pound on 0 and # repeatedly ... someone SHOULD answer the phone.

You really should get a better cc which has actual customer service like MBNA, First USA, Chase, Citibank, BOFA, etc.

 

[GoingUp]

Originally posted by: luvly
Sorry about that. Maybe they aren't such a good company, after all. Actually, it works, Gobadgrs. Try this: Call again. Then choose English, then enter your account number. When you're done, choose one of the options. Press the pound key repeatedly, say three times. It will finally transfer your call to a representative.

If it's saying you're $13 over the limit, then your credit line has not been increased. The available credit may just be a pending charge. Or did you overpay your previous balance by $61?

the pound pound pound trick worked. Thanks... talkin to the minimum wage morons now

Edit: should have said, on hold with the morons...

 

[GoingUp]

OK. Here is the situation.

The $61 in available credit is a glitch. I really am over by $13. My statement gets mailed out tomorrow, so I can go into CC and pay off my bill in full like I planned to do. Then my account balance goes to zero, and I don't get charged any fees for being over my limit. Then once the payment goes through and my account goes back to a 0 balance, I can enquire about getting my limit raised. Thanks to everyone for their help.

 

[RossMAN]

I'm glad that you got it resolved and I would strongly suggest following luvly's advice.

Also DO NOT charge everything to your cc, use it responsibly. If you think max'ing out your cc every month up to $500, paying it off (early or on time) and repeating this cycle makes your credit look better? Wrong.

If anything you have HURT your credit right now because you are OTL (over the limit) by $13 which may not seem like a big deal but it is.

Only charge large expenses with your cc, otherwise use cash, write a check or use your bank's debit card which deducts straight from your checking account.

This yo-yo effect you're having is really going to hurt you in the long run, use your credit card in moderation.

 

[Zombie]

I don't think requesting credit limit increase within 2 months of signing up is a good idea, that too with 1 over the limit incident.

Credit cannot be built overnight it takes time and I doubt they will care how much you spend as long as you use it regularly and pay your bills regularly.

I have rebuilt my credit and I never went over 20% of my credit limit and seems to have worked(took me about 2.5 years to get to $682+ fico score).

 

[dxkj]

Thats mean to call them morons just because they work taking calls.... after all, you were the one who overcharged their card, jeesh... Im glad its all worked out, but the market sucks right now. Most of these "minimum wage morons" are really good at their job, and do the best to help you out. If the choice was no job or that job, I would take it.... Im glad to see you are above all of that with your new credit card with the 500 limit! Go you!

 

[Orsorum]

Originally posted by: dxkj
Thats mean to call them morons just because they work taking calls.... after all, you were the one who overcharged their card, jeesh... Im glad its all worked out, but the market sucks right now. Most of these "minimum wage morons" are really good at their job, and do the best to help you out. If the choice was no job or that job, I would take it.... Im glad to see you are above all of that with your new credit card with the 500 limit! Go you!

Someone's a bit touchy.

 

[dxkj]

Originally posted by: Orsorum

Originally posted by: dxkj
Thats mean to call them morons just because they work taking calls.... after all, you were the one who overcharged their card, jeesh... Im glad its all worked out, but the market sucks right now. Most of these "minimum wage morons" are really good at their job, and do the best to help you out. If the choice was no job or that job, I would take it.... Im glad to see you are above all of that with your new credit card with the 500 limit! Go you!

Someone's a bit touchy.

Heh, maybe a bit. Every once in a while I find the need to defend people. In this instance a less than clever individual overchared his account, couldn't keep track of his finances enough to know exactly how much was on his card, and then proceeded to call the people who explained everything to him over the phone, morons. I couldn't really pass that up.

 

[GoingUp]

Originally posted by: dxkj

Originally posted by: Orsorum

Originally posted by: dxkj
Thats mean to call them morons just because they work taking calls.... after all, you were the one who overcharged their card, jeesh... Im glad its all worked out, but the market sucks right now. Most of these "minimum wage morons" are really good at their job, and do the best to help you out. If the choice was no job or that job, I would take it.... Im glad to see you are above all of that with your new credit card with the 500 limit! Go you!

Someone's a bit touchy.

Heh, maybe a bit. Every once in a while I find the need to defend people. In this instance a less than clever individual overchared his account, couldn't keep track of his finances enough to know exactly how much was on his card, and then proceeded to call the people who explained everything to him over the phone, morons. I couldn't really pass that up.

How about the fact that the representative I talked to had the intelligence of an 8th grader and could barely speak coherant English. When I explained her the problem, she mumbled something and then put me on hold.

 

[GoingUp]

Originally posted by: RossMAN
I'm glad that you got it resolved and I would strongly suggest following luvly's advice.

Also DO NOT charge everything to your cc, use it responsibly. If you think max'ing out your cc every month up to $500, paying it off (early or on time) and repeating this cycle makes your credit look better? Wrong.

If anything you have HURT your credit right now because you are OTL (over the limit) by $13 which may not seem like a big deal but it is.

Only charge large expenses with your cc, otherwise use cash, write a check or use your bank's debit card which deducts straight from your checking account.

This yo-yo effect you're having is really going to hurt you in the long run, use your credit card in moderation.

So say my limit stays @ $500. What would be the problem if I charged $400 on the card every month, and then paid it all off early?

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: dxkj

Originally posted by: Orsorum

Originally posted by: dxkj
Thats mean to call them morons just because they work taking calls.... after all, you were the one who overcharged their card, jeesh... Im glad its all worked out, but the market sucks right now. Most of these "minimum wage morons" are really good at their job, and do the best to help you out. If the choice was no job or that job, I would take it.... Im glad to see you are above all of that with your new credit card with the 500 limit! Go you!

Someone's a bit touchy.

Heh, maybe a bit. Every once in a while I find the need to defend people. In this instance a less than clever individual overchared his account, couldn't keep track of his finances enough to know exactly how much was on his card, and then proceeded to call the people who explained everything to him over the phone, morons. I couldn't really pass that up.

I'm with dxkj on this. As the account holder it's Gobadgrs's responsibility to keep track of his transactions. The fact that he's over the limit by $13 is his fault and no one else's. However in his defense it sounds like he isn't 100% certain how credit cards work and it doesn't help matters much that getting a live CSR on the phone almost requires an act of congress.

I seriously hope Gobadgrs doesn't intend on requesting a credit limit increase just 2 months after opening the account esp with an over the limit occurence. It's not necessary to charge EVERYTHING until you reach your limit of $500, pay it off completely and repeat, that is NOT a good idea.

I have worked in credit card customer service and I agree that most of the CSR are low income morons, but that was a great starting point in my banking career. You learn A LOT about credit and customers which definitely benefits your personal understanding of financial matters. Since I have worked as a CSR I have every right to call them morons because most of them are and don't know a per diem if it hit them in the ass

 

[GoingUp]

Originally posted by: RossMAN

Originally posted by: dxkj

Originally posted by: Orsorum

Originally posted by: dxkj
Thats mean to call them morons just because they work taking calls.... after all, you were the one who overcharged their card, jeesh... Im glad its all worked out, but the market sucks right now. Most of these "minimum wage morons" are really good at their job, and do the best to help you out. If the choice was no job or that job, I would take it.... Im glad to see you are above all of that with your new credit card with the 500 limit! Go you!

Someone's a bit touchy.

Heh, maybe a bit. Every once in a while I find the need to defend people. In this instance a less than clever individual overchared his account, couldn't keep track of his finances enough to know exactly how much was on his card, and then proceeded to call the people who explained everything to him over the phone, morons. I couldn't really pass that up.

I'm with dxkj on this. As the account holder it's Gobadgrs's responsibility to keep track of his transactions. The fact that he's over the limit by $13 is his fault and no one else's. However in his defense it sounds like he isn't 100% certain how credit cards work and it doesn't help matters much that getting a live CSR on the phone almost requires an act of congress.

I seriously hope Gobadgrs doesn't intend on requesting a credit limit increase just 2 months after opening the account esp with an over the limit occurence. It's not necessary to charge EVERYTHING until you reach your limit of $500, pay it off completely and repeat, that is NOT a good idea.

I have worked in credit card customer service and I agree that most of the CSR are low income morons, but that was a great starting point in my banking career. You learn A LOT about credit and customers which definitely benefits your personal understanding of financial matters. Since I have worked as a CSR I have every right to call them morons because most of them are and don't know a per diem if it hit them in the ass

I will admit my fault in going over my limit. It was the $61 in available credit that confused me. In the end, it ended up being a computer glitch. I guess I dont need a limit increase, as my recent move is now done, so costs and other items should be at a minimum. I am also workin at weanin myself away from HD forums.