HRS - Dba RETAIL SERVICES, HOUSEHOLD RETAIL SERVICES Etc. TRIED TO SCAM ME ON A LATE FEE BECAUSE I PAID THE ACCOUNT IN FULL RIPOFF Carol Stream Illinois

I obtained a HRS account when purchasing a 4-wheeler from our local Polaris dealer. I've had this account for approximately three years when I decided to pay the balance in full. Never, not one single time has a payment been late as I have always adhered to their "allow ten days" routine.

Last month I had saved enough money to pay off the account in full and mailed a check for the entire balance due on 6/13/07 (about $3400). I patiently monitored my checking account to see when the check had cleared. To my amazement the payment cleared my checking account on 7/24/07 - exactly one day after the payment due date.

I just received my statement from HRS today with a hefty $39.00 late fee charged to my account. How coincidental is that? Pay off the total credit card balance, mail the payment ten days in advance, and then not have the check deposited until one day after the payment is due? And then get charged a $39.00 late fee!

I immediately contacted HRS and after pushing 20 buttons to get to a real person, I told the person on the other end of the line that I was filing a complaint with the BBB. I walked through the entire timeline and the lady told me she would waive the late fee, that all I had to do was ask.

To her credit she waived the late fee (so she claims) - then I immediately cancelled my account.

This company is a complete ripoff! How many poor consumers wouldn't have invested the time or trouble to contest this practice and just paid the late fee anyway?

My advice, if this happens to you, contact HRS and raise a stink. There is a good chance that if you have a spotless payment record they will backoff the late fee and make things right.

But in reality - that still doesn't make their unethical practices right.

Jerry
garfield, Arkansas
U.S.A.