PSA: Payments made using westernunion.com are cash advances

[Viper GTS]

I'm an idiot, & didn't even think about this.

I sent $200 to someone who via WesternUnion.com. It wasn't PIN based, so I didn't even stop to think that it might be considered a cash advance.

I now have $227 in cash advances sitting on my credit card that won't drop off until EVERYTHING else is paid. I have never used cash advances before, & never intended to - I could have just as easily taken the cash to a WU site & handed it to them, but stupid me thought online would be convenient.

I suppose in the grand scheme of things it's an incentive to pay down my CC debt as quickly as possible, but goddamn it's going to piss me off seeing that on my bill every month until I'm debt free. Essentially all my debt is on one CC (at a pretty decent interest rate), so this is going to haunt me for a while.

:|

Apaprently it's in my cardmember agreement, which they're sending me a copy of. I have to wonder, how long before they start doing the same thing with PayPal/Neteller/etc.?

Viper GTS

 

[FoBoT]

so you got ripped off from a seller in nigeria? or you just made a mistake that will cost you more interest charges?

 

[Viper GTS]

Originally posted by: FoBoT
so you got ripped off from a seller in nigeria? or you just made a mistake that will cost you more interest charges?

No, I didn't get ripped off. I knew who I was sending money to & received what I paid for.

I'm just going to pay $50 a year interest on it until I pay off every bit of my debt.

Viper GTS

 

[Peetoeng]

Yep, payment is credited toward charges with lower interest first.

If you have a high credit rating, you could easily apply for a new cc that will offer balance transfer with no transaction fee. Even, if it says it charges transaction fee, call their representative (and work your magic), they may waive the fee.

Good luck!