streamhopper
08-04-2000, 05:12 PM
The message text of the e-mail I sent them tells the tale better than I could - only the names have been removed to protect the innocent:
Dear Sirs:
This letter is in reference to my account that was recently closed by your company. It was an ordinary consumer account, opened in Feburary of 2000, and all the payments were made on time. Of course, when the account was opened I was quite happy - I needed a place to sleep. Then, one day not too long ago, I decided it may be nice to buy a bigger TV. No problem, I'll request a credit line increase on my GE Capital account - I've made my payments on time, they're reasonable people, shouldn't be a problem, right? Not so the case. I request a small credit line increase ($300) and the request is denied. Ok, I can live with that. I go home, make my payments, and resolve to live with it. Well, a few days later, I get a notice. It's from GE Capital, and says that "We're sorry, your account has been suspended..". I call in, and am told that my account is locked, and could be for 1 month to 6 months. I can't make any new purchases on my card, regardless of a spotless payment history. This upsets me a bit, but the operator assures me that the lock will be removed shortly. Life goes on, and I look forward to using my card in the future - but then, a few days after that I get another letter. This one states that "We're sorry, we cannot allow you to make any new purchases on your account...". So, I call in again. This time I'm told, in a snobby high-strung, better-than-you voice that my account has been closed. Regardless of my payment history. That it's a company decision. That I'm basically dirt. That no matter what I do, the account is closed. I'm stunned. The phone hangs up.
This has been a true story.
I'm sure you're all very sorry. Please don't tell me that again, I don't want to hear it. I've seen how sorry you are - you show me by closing an account on a good, paying customer. You've show me by the operators who lie to me and treat me like I'm nothing but low class trash, like a child who, when ignored, will go away. You've shown me that you really don't evaluate a person, you evaluate a computer printout.
You've really shown me all I need to know.
Now it's my turn - I'm sorry that I ever burdened you with a credit request, obviously I'm not worth your time, and my $800 means nothing to a company like yours. Nevermind the other purchases I'll be making in the future, but I'm sure you don't want that money. Well, that's good - I'm sure when I pass this information on to every mailing list, every employee of my school district, every newsgroup I can you won't mind losing thier money, either. I'm sorry that I sound bitter, I can't image why I would - even though I was lied to and dragged through the mud. I'm sorry that I even wanted a bigger TV in the first place.
It looks like we're even at being sorry.
If this letter ever gets to someone in the company, please feel free to offer a response. I'm really curious to hear what you have to say.
Sincerely,
Former GE Capital Customer
Dear Sirs:
This letter is in reference to my account that was recently closed by your company. It was an ordinary consumer account, opened in Feburary of 2000, and all the payments were made on time. Of course, when the account was opened I was quite happy - I needed a place to sleep. Then, one day not too long ago, I decided it may be nice to buy a bigger TV. No problem, I'll request a credit line increase on my GE Capital account - I've made my payments on time, they're reasonable people, shouldn't be a problem, right? Not so the case. I request a small credit line increase ($300) and the request is denied. Ok, I can live with that. I go home, make my payments, and resolve to live with it. Well, a few days later, I get a notice. It's from GE Capital, and says that "We're sorry, your account has been suspended..". I call in, and am told that my account is locked, and could be for 1 month to 6 months. I can't make any new purchases on my card, regardless of a spotless payment history. This upsets me a bit, but the operator assures me that the lock will be removed shortly. Life goes on, and I look forward to using my card in the future - but then, a few days after that I get another letter. This one states that "We're sorry, we cannot allow you to make any new purchases on your account...". So, I call in again. This time I'm told, in a snobby high-strung, better-than-you voice that my account has been closed. Regardless of my payment history. That it's a company decision. That I'm basically dirt. That no matter what I do, the account is closed. I'm stunned. The phone hangs up.
This has been a true story.
I'm sure you're all very sorry. Please don't tell me that again, I don't want to hear it. I've seen how sorry you are - you show me by closing an account on a good, paying customer. You've show me by the operators who lie to me and treat me like I'm nothing but low class trash, like a child who, when ignored, will go away. You've shown me that you really don't evaluate a person, you evaluate a computer printout.
You've really shown me all I need to know.
Now it's my turn - I'm sorry that I ever burdened you with a credit request, obviously I'm not worth your time, and my $800 means nothing to a company like yours. Nevermind the other purchases I'll be making in the future, but I'm sure you don't want that money. Well, that's good - I'm sure when I pass this information on to every mailing list, every employee of my school district, every newsgroup I can you won't mind losing thier money, either. I'm sorry that I sound bitter, I can't image why I would - even though I was lied to and dragged through the mud. I'm sorry that I even wanted a bigger TV in the first place.
It looks like we're even at being sorry.
If this letter ever gets to someone in the company, please feel free to offer a response. I'm really curious to hear what you have to say.
Sincerely,
Former GE Capital Customer