I need help dealing with a creditor, can anyone help? advice? about one of my credit cards?

ok heres the situation, i have a credit card with this creditor, well i missed 2 automated payments due to closing a bank account and forgetting to update on their end. well i update on their end, and they charged me late fee of $39 and overlimit fee of $39 . i went overlimit because of the late fee they charged, and wouldnt waive due to having to close a bank account. anyway now, im paying $20 a week to them for the last 3 months and my balance keeps increasing! it went from 375 or so to now 611, because they keep charging me overlimit fees and other assments!! im a student and new to this credit card thing and every time i call them and say hey im paying $80 a month whys my limit keep going up, they run around the bush on me. i dont know what to do, no one there will listen to me and work with me and refund the fees since ive been paying and now its like im paying and my balance keeps going up!! what shouldi do??????? im so upset and worried and they just get snippy and nastyI need help dealing with a creditor, can anyone help? advice? about one of my credit cards?
Welcome to predatory student lending. I have SOOOOO been there.





In reverse order you may have asked to close the account, but if they are still charging additional fees, the account is active. Basically they are allowed the keep the account open as long as there is a balance. This is how they make their money, and this is what they expect you to do. Think about it, the goal is to turn a profit, not to be fair. They don't have to be.





Get rid of the balance ASAP. Find a way to borrow the money from a relative if possible. Even if you have to pay back twice the amount you borrow, it will still be cheaper.





If you cannot borrow the money from a relative, try your local bank, see if you can take out a line of credit loan or open a credit card account with a balance transfer option.





Your local bank will be more accomodating (especially if it's a credit union).





Your other option is to quit paying entirely. Normally, not guaranteed, but normally after about 3-4 months they will write off the account to bad debt with a fixed balance. Once in bad debt you can sometimes negotiate a little (after the first phone call) for a settlement amount.





****BUT BE WARNED THEY CAN AND VERY WELL MAY SEEK A JUDGMENT AGAINST YOU*****





IF they do so, immediately seek out a legal aid service and do NOT ignore the judgment request paperwork. You can possibly get out of the debt entirely, or get the debt reduced if you do appear. If you don't they get what they ask for, and it may be 3-4 times greater than your ';real'; balance.





Oddly, I feel compelled to say that this isn't a legal opinion and you should consult an attorney as this is my personal experience and the lessons that I learned from mistakes I have made.I need help dealing with a creditor, can anyone help? advice? about one of my credit cards?
First, keep one credit card in good standing. As far as this theiving credit card company goes. Tell them that if they do not drop these fees and credit you back, you will not pay them a dime. This amount is so low it is crazy. I would not care what they do to your credit, because you are in the right. They would rather get their money, and if you write them a check and on the check say final payment, by law that is it.
Credit card companies are notorious for this and they especially prey and ignore young college students. Try this link below - they do not charge a fee. Below is an exerpt of what type of help you are looking for. Good luck





http://www.credit-counselors.cc/


When appropriate, we will recommend our Debt Management Program (DMP). Credit Counselors works with unsecured creditors (credit card companies, doctors, lawyers, etc.). We negotiate with your creditors to arrange special considerations, including lowering payments, reducing interest rates, waiving fees, and re-aging accounts. You simply make one monthly payment to Credit Counselors and then we distribute payments to each of your creditors
It sounds like you are doing the right things. Continue to reach out to them on a regular basis, and document your conversations. It sounds like they are still keeping it internal (haven't sent it to a collection agency), so you should be alright. You should draft a letter that someone could easily walk through and understand what happend, when and why... The fact of the matter is this is how the cc companies make money - they charge us interest and fees (and on the other sidem they charge the merchants, too!) - As long as you continue to pay them and document your situation, and stay in touch with them, you are better off (most times) than calling a credit consolidation burreau or bankrupcy or whatever. The deal for them, though, is they want to get paid, and the longer it goes on, the less likely they feel they will get paid. It sounds like they are squeezing you pretty hard. You can agree to pay them a lesser amount - like 75% - in a lump sum (and pay someone back who can front the money to you), or tell them that you will have to look at alternatives like credit consolidation or bankrupcy....No fun, but hope that helps.
Wow thats grounds for a lawsuit against them, harassment, and a host of other things talk with an legal professional. Legal aid can help then check into a hospital for a breakdown.
next time you call, maybe ask for the supervisor or manager ..explain that it is your intention to pay but cannot pay off if they keep charging you the extra $$$





half the time it works and half not