Late Fee Question

I recent made a purchase from Blair Shoppe In Warren Pa. I paid by WFCB Blair credit. I received a late charge because my payment wasn't recieved by 2pm on Feb 12 2009. I paid well enough in advance that the payment should have arrived in plenty of time. I checked my bank records online and found that they deposited the payment on Feb 16. I got another bill from them dated after Feb 16 stating that they didn't receive payment and were charging a $15 late fee
Can I be held responsible because the payment didn't reach them by a certain time on a certain day even though I sent the payment well in advance of the due date? Once I put the check in the mail I can't control when the post office delivers it.

Unfortunately, yes. The best thing to do when dealing with businesses that are poor in their customer service, taking long time to post payments, etc. is to 1. not buy there again, 2. call and ask if the late charge can be waived---they often will if it is the first time and 3. mail the payment WEEKS in ahead---literally. or 4. choose automatic withdraw if available.

Actually, the best solution is to get a credit card or bank account that has billpay facilities. Then if they don't get your payment, the bank that supports your billpay can help you work it out.

These days it is imperative that you use automated bill payment or that you pay well ahead of time. ALWAYS call and complain when you KNOW it should have arrived. Demand that they rescind the increase in interest rate and any late fees. They often back down. They know they are cheating the consumer. If you KNOW it should have arrived, then the chances are good that they won't be able to prove they didn't HOLD THE CHECK. ALWAYS check the date the check cleared your bank. If there is ANY discrepancy between your scheduled payment and the date they FOUND and APPLIED your check, your bank should do the calling with you.

Banks these days are NOT trustworthy institutions. ALWAYS complain and then if they attempt to up your finance rate, tell them you are closing the account. Get another card elsewhere and pay this one off over time. Chances are they will see this as NOT THEIR INTENTION. They WANT your account... but they also want as many fees and the highest interest rate they can get you to pay. Watch out for credit card companies that change their due date by a week from month to month. Then once a year they goose it by two weeks. These companies are just trying to CAUSE you to violate their new date and up your interest. Close the account.

My posting said: 1. not buy there again.

My posting said : 2. call and ask if the late charge can be waived---they often will if it is the first time.

My posting said: 3. mail the payment WEEKS in ahead---literally.
My posting said: 4. choose automatic withdraw if available.

You started your posting by stating "actually" the best course of action for the poster to take was---well, each point I already made.

Thanks--although I'm not sure what the 'actually' was for since you simply restated my posting.

In any regard, BLAIR credit card offers online payment services, so there is no need to switch credi cards. the poster can continue to use their Blair credit card without penalty for payment and still avail himself/herself of the option to pay online (automatic withdraw, as I said).

From the BLAIR credit card home page:

"Q. When will my online payment to WFCB be withdrawn from my bank account?

A. It may take up to two business days to complete your online payment. A successful online payment will cause a debit on your checking account and a payment on your Blair Credit Card Account in the time specified when you submitted your payment".

For other information about your BLAIR credit card, read on: Blair: FAQ Payment/BCC

Actually, the solution is still to do business with a reputable BILLPAY company that also has credit card or banking priviledges.

Surely you have noted that I support some of the advice by Grace, but not all of it. When a bank will NOT rescind a late fee based on spurious dating of the long ago sent/received check, I prefer to let them find another sucker to do business with.

2pm is the banking cutoff for the day. If your credit card company received your payment but chose not to post it until an hour after the banking cutoff for that day, it would be your bank's problem... if your bank was doing a reputable business. But some banks have instituted rules that suit them... and bring in much larger late fees and interest payments. Those are banks that you should NOT be doing business with if you can avoid it. Usually a bank will rescind a late fee... especially if you have a good record and perhaps use the card regularly enough that they get a nice profit from your charges or from your interest... so that they want your continued business.

So get a credit card from a credit union with BillPay ... while they may still have a 2pm cutoff, at least a card where you bank at least occasionally will give you a potential automatic payment with NO TWO DAY DELAY.

But perhaps Grace would concede that she missed the single most effective way to avoid late charges.... using a Billpay.

You are assuming that the company HAS bill pay--they do not participate in BILLPAY services. My bank offers bill pay service that I use, but not every company participates in this service---like my utility company. They do not have bill pay but they DO allow me to go to their web site and make an automatic payment on the day of my choosing---accomplishing the same thing---avoiding the uncertainty of customary mail service, and allowing me to avoid late fees because my payment is posted immediately. Whether this is done through the bank or through the companies online payment service, the result if the same--instant payment, no late fees for late or misdelivered mail.

Many people actually PREFER this type of transaction since they can still determine what day the bill gets paid, so if they have a financial emergency, they can postpone the payment a day or two. This option is not available if you set up automatic bill pay. It is also difficult for some people to remember and monitor that the amount taken out is actually the correct amount. By using the automatic withdraw, there is no wait time, but still allows the customer the ability to choose what day is most convenient for them to pay, as long as they do so before the due date.


What is best for the consumer is subjective--and is their choice. Telling them what is BEST for them is a bit presumptuous. What YOU find works best for you very well may not work for someone else which is why I offered more than one possibility by way of answer because neither you NOR I know which option suits the poster best.

Because it is best for YOU does not mean it is best for the poster. Oh, and----not every bank has a 2 pm cut off. YOURS might. Mine does not.

I made no assumptions, BUT YOU DO... I told her to get a credit card or account in a financial institution that has a BILLPAY application.

Most companies that have a credit card also accept payments from other credit cards... thus it makes sense to add them to the BILLPAY vendors and pay your bills that way.

I'm not interested in your utility company. I'm interested in poster's credit card account being paid ontime. As with any account that charges INTEREST, I always make the determination as to whether I keep the account as to whether they accept my billpay. If they don't, I use a card that does. In my area it is Bergners that lost my credit card business... because I had to go to the store to make a payment... or risk their late fees on a regular basis... because they often failed to send out the bill on a timely basis.... more than ten days before it is due.

You are the only one who suggested that ALL banks have a 2pm cutoff. Why blame me? .... because you don't actually have anything to complain about and just want to keep your mouth open. Just watch out when it rains.

You gave her ONE option--lose the credit card and get another.

I gave her SEVERAL options---and she is free to CHOOSE which one she wants. What works best for YOU --or what works best for ME, in fact, is irrelevant.

Does THIS quote look familiar, Donallie?

How about THIS quote I made: "not every bank has a 2 pm cut off".

Now, tell me again---IM THE ONE who said ALL banks have a 2pm CUT OFF??

YOU did. See YOUR quote?

Surely you cannot be so careless as to "forget" who said what?

READ it. Get it right. These types of stupid errors do NOTHING to offer the poster ANY consolation that you may have a remote chance of knowing what you are talking about.

I guess you aren't used to sarcasm.