In late 2001/early 2002, I paid for some emergency dental work with the GE Capital Consumer/CareCredit Card. They offered a special "12 months same as cash" deal which I took advantage of--paying in full on time in January 2003.
In January 2002, I considered using the card to make a $700 payment to my dentist, changed my mind, paying the dentist $700 cash instead. The Dentist (another rip-off artist) charged my GE Capital Consumer/CareCredit card $700, pocketing my $700 in cash as well. It took some months for me to figure this out since GE Capital made numerous mistakes on my monthly billing thereby obscuring and adding to the problem.
Eventually, however, I discovered the $700 double-billing error, immediately informing GE Capital (July 2002--well in advance of my final payment date of January 2003). It took many months before GE Capital deigned to respond to my letters. I stopped phoning them after getting the runaround umpteen times. I would usually have to hold for 20+ mins at a time, after which time I would often be cut off without a word.
Once, after waiting 20 mins on hold, their customer rep hung up on me, screaming "state your business," simply because I complimented her on her name after she'd she finally picked up my call, asked my acct # (which I'd already entered by phone keypad but was ready to give her again after my initial greeting/compliment). I had to call back twice, placed on hold 20+ mins each time, before finally getting through to a supervisor--who promised to send me a dispute form which never arrived!
After 18 months of letter writing and $200+ in certified postal fees, Pat Dearth of GE Capital abruptly informed me that because the Dentist says I owe them the $700, GE Capital has "exhausted their dispute rights in the matter" and now I owe them not only the $700--but all the interest/late charges as well--bringing the grand total to a staggering $2,200.00!!! That's right! $2,200.00 for a simple $700 double billing error! And the total grows by $100+ each month.
Pat Dearth reported me to all 3 major Credit Bureaus as delinquent and is in the process of ruining my credit and passing me to a collections agency now. I requested some sort of explanation as to GE Capital's investigation into my problem, after providing them with many documents supporting my claim (cancelled checks, voided receipts, GE Capital's own statements from the time of the error--clearly showing the $700 as being "paid off" and "waived"), but Pat Dearth/GE Capital refuses to answer my inquiries nor even acknowledge receipt of my many certified letters. And last month I got a bill from GE Consumer Credit Co demanding $2,200 for a $700 billing error!
Who needs loan sharks when you got GE Capital Consumer Card Company!
Andrew
Trabuco Cyn, California