Question
Citicards changed its online payment module. Prior to September, you could only pay on a same day basis (or next business day, if entered after 1pm). This could be a pain in the neck to remember to login and make that payment a few days before due date.
Then things were enhanced in September, permitting cardholders to select the payment date they desired...except that the dropdown box includes dates going 4-5 days BEYOND the due date! Nor does the due date appear highlighted or otherwise specially indicated, thus encouraging a date selection which is several days late, thus generating a $39 late fee as well as finanace charges.
Other credit card merchants permit cardholders to select a future payment date, but none I know of permit one to select a late payment date--or, if so, they specifically mark the due date very clearly as "date due". Who in their right mind would set up a system encouraging late payment? Could this have been so structured purposefully? That sounds plausible to me.
In my case, I selected a payment date 2 days prior to the last date in the dropdown box which turned out to be 3 days late. I have to believe that I was not the only unsuspecting cardholder caught in this web. Now, mind you, I understand that the due date does appear elsewhere in the statement and that ignorance is no excuse. Furthermore, Citibank did reverse the charges, so let me give the devil his due.
I just find it difficult to imagine that this was not done purposefully, and I find that possibility reprehensible. [Flame off.]
Answer
Its OK. Just call the customer service. Tell them it was a mistake and they will take off the charge. I was once late twice. Second time I had to request their supervisor, but both times late charges were taken off
Answer
"Never ascribe to malice, that which can be explained by incompetence."
--Napoleon Bonaparte
Citi has had a number of f-ups recently. See online discussion about their e-savings account where they were having difficulty properly crediting interest. You would think that's a) something you get working before you market the problem and b) simple to fix if you do have a problem. It hasn't been.
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about NOT to select a date later than your due date.
I cannot side with you as it is strictly cardholder's responsibility to KNOW your due date is. Without this feature I sometimes have to pay the bill way ahead of due date if the due date happens to fall in the middle of our travelling. Now as soon as I finish reviewing the statement I can schedule the payment, make money available to pay on the same date (my bank allows future transfer) and be done with.
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I have to agree that this comes across as a bit of trickery.
I happen to know my due date, and I did see the message about making sure to schedule the payment before then, however, I was very surprised the first time I pulled down the dates and saw that they extended beyond the due date.
The amex system of being able to schedule up until the due date (but not beyond) is definitely better and I think more consumer friendly.
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I am glad that I cancelled my Citi card awhile ago. ^
In AMEX online payment system, there is a pull-down menu as you described above except it also indicates the due date in the pull-down menu. Besides, I have never incured any late fee for one or two days late with AMEX.