Consumerism Commentary - Latest Comments in Be Financially Proactive

Re: Be Financially Proactive

Kristen from FiLife — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 20:59:48 -0000

I've had success negotiating credit card rates down and getting phone bills reduced. In all of these cases, I treated the person with respect.

But I've had a lot less luck when I let my frustration get the best of me.

Re: Be Financially Proactive

Harlan Landes — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 02:06:40 -0000

I went all the way to the CEO of Wachovia Securities when they started introducing a $50 inactivity fee. No luck, they said I was notified of the fee and would not reverse it. I moved my money out (paying another fee to do so, though I was reimbursed by the new brokerage) and have not looked back.

I have had much more success with Wachovia Bank (different than Wachovia Securities) in reversing fees. They introduced a fee a few years ago for using "Direct Web Connect" for downloading transaction data into Money/Quicken, and I had some kind of marker on my account to prevent that fee from being charged to me in the future.

Re: Be Financially Proactive

Don — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 23:50:36 -0000

Dinner in a restaurant with the family, I had soup and chicken/rib combo. The table was a little full so I put my side plate under the soup bowl and plate. When I had finished the ribs I put the bones in the soup bowl. These were BIG bones, hanging over the side of the bowl. The Hostess is a friend of mine from years back and she stopped by the table to say hello and see how the meal was. Everyone said it was good and then I said in a low voice "BUT I have a small complaint". She was surprised and worried asking me what was wrong. I replied while pointing to my bowl "there were BONES in my SOUP!" She was instantly relieved and laughed as she took away our dishes. As she was going back to the kitchen she said to the bartender "Customer complaint! There was bones in da soup!" as she showed the bartender the bowl with the rib bones in it. They both laughed, the manager overheard the complaint/response and became very concerned. She rushed out to the bar to find out what had happened, why the customer was mad and as she came out she said to the hostess "Comp the meal!" My friend, the hostess said "no no it's a joke, I know the Guy. look at the bones!" The manager looked, laughed and said "comp the meal". Sometimes it pays to be an idiot! ;)

Re: Be Financially Proactive

Steve — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 14:12:41 -0000

We went to a restaurant and they charged another table's bill to our card. It took a bit of explaining (it wasn't until the manager listed the items on the bill and I denied eating/drinking any of them) but eventually we figured it out. I felt bad, since I assume the restaurant would never be able to collect on that dinner they served to someone, but in the end that's not my responsibility. It was a big difference, since all my table had were a few appetizers, and the other table had a bunch of steaks etc. as well as drinks.

Another time, I had to debate with a manger in person. I tried to exchange a something, and the clerk didn't tell me what I was getting for my return until after the transaction was complete. I was unhappy with the amount so I had her reverse the transaction. However, she didn't do it right, so I walked in and out with the same item but $4 less. I had to go back and explain it to the manager for a good 20 minutes. We both got quite frustrated, but eventually we figured out that he thought I had left with both the old and the new item. Even so, before we realized that he was willing to give me my 4 bucks back just because he was sick of arguing about it!

Re: Be Financially Proactive

Financial Samurai — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 12:22:55 -0000

Definitely.

1) "Lower my credit card interest rate or else I quite." That got me a 5% lower fee.

2) "Match me the interest savings at this other bank." They did.

We just have to ask.