Please don’t make me call you, ok?!

My apologies for not posting anything lately. Maybe I’m also experiencing the so-called “writer’s block”. But since I don’t consider myself that much of a writer, I guess I am just having some pretty boring days lately and there ain’t much “bloggable” incidents happened to me in the past few days. Later in the afternoon today though, I was able to experience one “bloggable” experience. And so, I’m blogging it out. (Parang redundant na masyado yung word na blog, hehehe!)

My boss’s secretary handed me an envelop a little past 4 pm. I got surprised to receive a credit card billing statement at work since all my personal correspondences are sent to my home address. Well, I just don’t want any of my personal things handled at work. Besides, my home address is a more permanent thing for me than my office address 🙂

When I opened the envelope, I saw that I was billed for the annual fee of that credit card. And so, I immediately grabbed my phone and dialed the credit card company’s hotline number.

At first, I had trouble connecting and so I tried again. On the second time, I was able to speak to one of their customer service representatives. And here is the course of our conversation:

CSR: Thank you for calling _____________. How may I help you?

Moi: Hi Miss! I have a case here. I received a call from your bank and offered me a credit card. I instantly refused but a week later I received the card via mail. I didn’t activate it and now I am being charged with a P1,500-annual fee?

CSR: I’m sorry for that error, Ma’am! Can I first get your card number?

– Other details were asked, too. Credit card inquiry protocol, y’know. –

CSR: Thank you for those information, Ma’am. Can I put you now on hold for a minute or two so I could check on your account?

Moi: Ok, sure.

After a minute or so, I heard the CSR’s voice again,

CSR: Sorry to keep you waiting, Ma’am. It says here that you are being billed with the annual fee.

Moi: (Getting a little pissed off) That’s the reason for my call. Why am I being charged with that?

CSR: Ma’am, if you want you can pay this over 6 months.

Moi: (Really trying not to get pissed off) Miss, I told you I didn’t apply for the card. Why am I being charged for that? Can you just please cancel the card?

CSR: Ma’am, if we offer you waiver, will you instead keep the card? But it will still be subject for approval. And you can call us back next week to know if it gets approved.

Moi: (Got pissed off) Miss, uulitin ko lang at lilinawin ko for you. Your company called me a month ago, offered me a credit card and I said NO. After a week, I was surprised to receive the card. I didn’t activate it. It is not my first time to get a card. A card holder can’t be charged unless the card is activated. So why did you charge me for an inactive card?

CSR: Ma’am, your card is already activated.

Moi: (Got more pissed off) I told you, I didn’t ask to have it activated. Are you trying to tell me your company sends activated cards! That’s wrong! For all you know, anybody can use that card . Can you put that complaint on record?!

CSR: Sorry for that, Ma’am. Yes, I will take note of that.

Moi: Can you just cancel my card?!?! And please make sure that the charges are reverted. I don’t want to get negative records for this.

CSR: Ma’am, don’t you really want to keep and use the card for future emergency use?

Moi: (Got pissed off again) Miss, cancel mo na lang. Nagupit ko na yung card nyo the moment I received it. Again, make sure the fee is cancelled as well.

CSR: Ok, Ma’am. Would that be all?

Moi: Yes. Thank you.

CSR: Thank you, Ma’am.

This call really got into my nerve this afternoon. I know, the CSR was just doing her job to keep their clients. But I really got pissed off with that freaking bank slash credit card company that sent me a something I didn’t apply for and immediately refused. Well, I don’t anymore need any new credit card. I just wanted the card cancelled and the fee reverted asap. You see, I’m really very careful when it comes to financial records. I have been in the lending business in all my professional life and I freaking know how it works. Of course, I wouldn’t pay for that annual fee. And if I don’t have it reverted, my credit record will be doomed for quite some time and it won’t allow me to avail of more important financial assistance (i.e. housing loan, car loan, personal loan, etc.) should I need one.

Sorry for venting this one out. I hope you also take precautions should things like this happen to you.