Menards big card ripoff Carol Stream Illinois

I have a menards big card and have used it for a couple of years with no trouble. I have never been late or not paid my bill. I have used the defered payment and paid more than the min.until the last payment dec.31 when I paid the card off $284.50, so I wouldnt get charged the back finance charges and I thought every thing was good until I received my next statement with a balance of $581.07 $29.00 late fee $3.78 billed finance charges billed deferred finance charges plus the previous blance of $284.50.

I called the finance dept to straighten the problem out I tried to explain I sent a check in on 12/31/07 they didnt care, all they kept saying they didnt recieve payment. I own my own busniess and have heard all the stories why they cant pay, but I never had someone call me who wasnt paying. I always have to call them. I explained this and tried to tell them I would send my bank statement so they can see I have the funds to pay all my bills. I maintain a $10,000.00 dollar balance all the time and I was willing to prove it. they didnt want any of the information. I told them that it quite suspect that every payment got to them on time until it came to the last one that they can put all these charges on their answer is only that they havent recieved payment. I dont know where it went but I never got it back. I didnt realize I had to start mailing my bills return receipt. I dont know where to go from here

Got screwed
new richmond, Wisconsin
U.S.A.