Skitten - Why I dislike/distrust/am angry at Wachovia Bank

Why I dislike/distrust/am angry at Wachovia Bank


December 24, 1997

I keep good records of my bills and while paying my bills at the beginning of December, I noticed something odd. I had not received a bill from my Wachovia Visa card in 3 months. Now, as I had been busily paying off and closing credit cards, I was not worried. However, I decided to give them a call and make sure that the card had been paid off and closed.

To my surprise and dismay, the card had not been paid off and closed. Instead, somehow, Wachovia bank messed up my address. How they managed this after sending it to me for 4 months to my new address without a mishap , I will never know. (I had been a customer of Wachovia for 4 years.) Obviously, I was upset. I am -very- good about paying my bills and this had totally shot my clean record.

I asked why they did not call me when my bills suddenly began to be returned stamped "Unknown occupant." I was told quite frankly, "We do not call people about their bills. It is YOUR responsibility to pay your bill." Now, how a person is suppose to pay their credit card bill if they do not receive bill statements stumped me. However, the customer service lady fully admitted that the error WAS on the part of Wachovia Bank and that all late fees would be deleted, all credit reports would be fixed and that this was being "escalated" to the Supervisor. She assured me that the Supervisor -would- call me back within 72 hours.

Did I receive a call from a Supervisor within 72 hours? - No.

Did I receive a bill to pay? - No.

I will tell you what I did receive within the next 2 weeks... Not one but TWO form letters from Wachovia Bank stating that my account was deliquent and that I needed to pay my bill... NOW! I also received a letter from a collection agency, stating that my bill with Wachovia was deliquent and that they had been contacted to collect my payment within 30 days or they would start court proceedings.

I was more than happy to pay the bill. I had the money but, I still had NOT RECEIVED a bill from Wachovia to pay.

At this time, I tried to call Wachovia again and find out what was up. What happened to the Supervisor's call? What happened to the promise that since is WAS -Wachovia's- fault in this, all credit reports would be fixed? I called 4 times and waited in customer service queue for 2 HOURS each time.

Finally, I just gave up. The collection agency was "nice" enough to tell me exactly how much I owed Wachovia and where to send the money. I wrote a letter explaining what happened, added a check for the FULL amount that I owed and told them to close my account.

I told them that since they had treated me so badly, I was going to take my business elsewhere. I also told them that I would post the account of what happen to me to my website and that I would tell everyone I knew NOT to accept their credit card. I also filed a compliant with the Better Business Bureau.

I signed the letter with my full name, address, phone number and account number. I have not gotten a response.

I figure they tossed my letter in the trash.

Then, on 22 December 97, I received a letter from a SECOND collection agency... again stating that my bill with Wachovia was deliquent and that they had been contacted to collect my payment within 30 days or they would start court proceedings.

I tried calling their customer service line again... and again waited 2 hours in the queue before I hung up. I wanted to see if they had gotten my check or not.

I -STILL- have not received a billing statement from Wachovia.


Now. A date line. You tell me what is wrong with this picture.

2 DECEMBER 97 - I notice the missing bill.

3 DECEMBER 97 - I call and find out what the problem is and receive the promises of fixing my account and a call within 72 hours.

7 DECEMBER 97 - First "Pay us NOW" form letter from Wachovia, dated 5 Dec 97.

10 DECEMBER 97 - Call Wachovia customer service and wait 2 hours on the phone.

12 DECEMBER 97 - Call Wachovia customer service and wait 2 hours on the phone.

15 DECEMBER 97 - Second "Pay us NOW" form letter from Wachovia, dated 12 Dec 97. (Identical to the first form letter.)

15 DECEMBER 97 - Call Wachovia customer service and wait 2 hours on the phone.

16 DECEMBER 97 - Call Wachovia customer service and wait 2 hours on the phone.

18 DECEMBER 97 - First letter from a Collection agency, threatening legal action, dated 16 Dec 97.

18 DECEMBER 97 - Call Wachovia customer service and wait 2 hours on the phone.

19 DECEMBER 97 - Write letter to Wachovia and send a check to pay them in full and to close my account! (Also filed the compliant with BBB.)

22 DECEMBER 97 - Second letter from a Second Collection agency, threatening legal action, dated 18 Dec 97.

23 DECEMBER 97 - Call Wachovia customer service and wait 2 hours on the phone.

24 DECEMBER 97 - STILL have not received a billing statement from Wachovia.


The moral of the story? If Wachovia bank offers you a credit card, TURN THEM DOWN. I was a good customer for over 4 years and look what they did to me. If you have a Wachovia Visa/Mastercard Credit Card... pay it off, consolidate it, get a loan... but get rid of it before what happened to me, happens to you.

And just too make sure you get the right Wachovia bank....

Wachovia Bank
4 Piedmont Center
3565 Piedmont Road
Atlanta GA 30305

Good Luck and thank you.


Update - Finally received a bill, totaling $0.00 on January 15th. Asked them to close my account again.

Update - Received a bill, totalling $0.00 on February 15th. Called to have the account closed. Waited in the phone cue for about an hour before I gave up. More than a little frustrated/angry.

Update - 3 MARCH 98 - Was FINALLY able to close my Wachovia account. No apology. No attempts at repairing the damage. No nothing. Good Riddance!



Dec 1997