A few months ago, I finally caved and signed up for a Bloomie's credit card, to take advantage of a compelling discount offer. I live right near a Bloomie's - so it is convenient to my house. Having the CC meant I got special coupons and discounts and sales offers. I always pay my CC's off in full each month.

Yesterday, I got a nasty phone call from them, saying I had not paid my bill! They called my cell - *not* my home number - which I thought was strange, and the call was a very bad connection. I could barely hear the woman and to make matters worse, every now and then she'd say "Macy's" card instead of "Bloomingdale's." She kept saying I had not one but *two* accounts... which I found confusing, and terribly worrisome!!

I kept asking her to repeat herself, because of the bad connection. She got ruder and ruder with me. Finally, I got very curt right back, told her that I was going to hang up and call Bloomingdale's directly, because I was suspicious that she wasn't really from Bloomingdale's afterall!

She said (in a huff), "Fine. I'll talk to you again in a minute then."

I called the customer service number on my bill, from my home phone this time, and was connected to a man. The connection was much better. The man was much nicer too.

Anyway, I *still* got confused, because he said I had not one but two accounts. I said, "I am holding the only two statements I've ever rec'd from you... shouldn't I have FOUR statements if I have TWO different accounts?"

After much going around and around, it turns out that the statement has TWO different amounts on it. I was paying one amount in full - not realizing there was a second amount. It is the most confusing credit card statement I have ever seen!!! Or maybe I am missing something???

Anyway, I asked, "How come you didn't just apply 50% to one account, and 50% to the other?"

And he didn't have an answer. See, I pay via online banking. Apparently, to pay this bill properly, I need to send in the paper bill and write directly on it the amount I want applied to each separate account!! This is the internet age, sheesh!! What a waste of trees and stamps!!!

So I had inadvertently only paid off one account, and not the second one. Plus, I have ordered so much online, and had to return and exchange so much, that I was very confused as to how much I'd actually spent - waiting for the dust to clear with the next bill.

The kicker:

They wanted to charge me about $50 in late fees!!!!!!!!

Well, I got really mad and gave the poor guy what-for. (Apologizing as I did so - because I know *he's* not Bloomingdale's - he's only the poor guy on the phone.) I told him that it seemed to me that the BBB might want to see this confusing bill statement.... and might view it (as I am viewing it) as a scam by Bloomie's to make $$ in late charges because people get confused!!

Anyway... all ended up fine: he eventually conceded to wipe out the late fees, I paid the bill in full over the phone, and then asked him to close out the account.

Yes, I will miss the coupons and discounts and special sales offers.... but it's just NOT worth it to me.

I won't say "I'll never set foot in their door again" ... since they are so close to my house... nor will I say "I'll never order from them online again" ... because they do have a nice petite offering... BUT, they have sorely disappointed me as a customer, and my loyalty has worn quite thin as a result of this.

I know retail companies are all suffering.... but scamming innocent customers to make $ on stupid late fees... is beyond the pale to me.

Or is it just me and I've missed something here? I have a slew of retail credit cards... and I have never seen a statement set up quite like this... so I'm not sure.