I have sent this message to the Better Business Bureau, the PA Dept. of Banking, Gap, Old Navy, and ConsumerAffairs.com
I have all paper backup for my report.
On 11/6/01, I forwarded a payment of $50.00 for my credit card account to Old Navy. The payment was never credited, I was turned into a collection agency, and charged late fees. I forwarded a copy of my cancelled check, and after numerous frustrating letters and phone calls, the late fees were reversed as was the report to the collection agency; however, I was told the $50.00 would not be credited to my account and I had to contact my credit union for tracking.
Nor-Car has tried to track the check, and this is what their letter to me states, "our research into this matter has gone through our check processing company in Harrisburg and the trail leads through two banks and finally comes to a halt in Minnesota. The problem in tracing the credit transaction stems from the numerous bank mergers that have occurred over the past 24 months. The surviving bank either does not have its merged partners records or computer information. To make matters worse, none of the surviving banks will take any responsibility for this error. It is obvious that someone did cash the check. I think your only/best effort to resolve this would be your contact with Old Navy. The Credit Union is at the end of the lien in this whole process. You mailed it, Old Navy cashed it but didn't give you credit and all Nor-Car did was receive the final product of their banks boo-boo!!!"
They go on to suggest I try and resolve this 18 month old matter with Old Navy, although after going around and around with them earlier, Old Navy just tells me the check was not cashed by a banking institution used by Monogram Credit Card Bank of Georgia.
So, I am out $50 as I had to pay my Old Navy account or they wouldn't have reversed the late fees and collections report. I have been around and around and no one will take responsibility for cashing this check which was payable to Old Navy.
What can I do? Imagine if I owed them the $50!!!
Christine
Hellertown, Pennsylvania
U.S.A.