Ranting about corporate America, AKA: Festering Boils of Pestilence

So, I just got the nastiest call from a billing company EVER. Let me just start out by explaining that I have paid my credit card bill every month for over a year, now. I will also admit that outside of making sure that it gets paid, I don't pay attention to my bill. This is where I fucked up, and I know it.

However... (Imagine that ominous movie music here)

I am 150 dollars over my limit. Now, I knew I was very close to my limit line, because I had to use the card for an unexpected expense. I did not, however, know that I was so far over my limit due to late fees and over limit charges. Because, well, the dumbass in me hasn't actually looked at my bills, being thoroughly satisfied that I was paying every month, whether it was just the minimum payment or a little more.

So, how is it, you might ask, that I am getting late fees if I'm paying every month? Well, let me tell you what I found out today. My bill is due on the 2nd of the month. I pay on the 20th, and they get it the 25th. They will not post a payment to a specific month unless it's paid on the 1st or after. So, when I paid my August bill on the 2oth of July, and they got it on the 25th--they posted it as a July payment, and I'm now overdue for my August bill. So, I have exactly a two day window of opportunity to get my payment made. I explained that I have been paying on the 20th of the month for over a year and she said that I'd had late charges for the last seven months. Only she wasn't nice about it. She was somewhat like Cruella DeVille's less nice sister.

So, here's my big question, since I can't really bitch about not knowing this since I don't look at my bill when it comes in. Seven months? What happened seven months ago to suddenly make it not ok to do what I've been doing all along? I, of course, did not think of asking this question until I was off the friggin' phone, but now it's the center of my rage. Never mind that it's an incredibly STUPID policy to not apply my payment I just made to August's bill. Never mind that it's MORONIC to expect anyone not paying by phone (2.95 extra charge that way) to hit a 2 day window. Never mind that this lady had the bedside manner of Dr. Cox on a bad day (We'll call her Cruella DeCoxucker). That shit pisses me off, but it pales in comparison to the more worthy question--WHY SEVEN MONTHS AGO???? I checked my past bills (because despite the fact that I don't look at them, I've been doing a stellar job of filing them), and sure enough, my first late charge was SEVEN MONTHS AGO.

I can't find anything in the bill that says "by the way, this is how we've decided to fuck you over for being such a reliable and profitable credit card holder." I'm their dream. I'm someone who pays every month, but never enough that they can't make PLENTY of money off of me. So, really, they should be putting my dumbass bill pay history up on the walls like little plaques every month reminding them that I am their target market. Instead, they've found a new, inventive way to ensure my continuing financial fumbling and self-esteem. Not to mention what I've been doing to my credit score the last seven months. No wonder I wasn't making any progress on that front.

So much for my relaxing afternoon.