I get a letter in the mail yesterday saying a car payment, due on 2/26, was past-due. If you've ever gotten a past-due notice you'll know they they are generally worded to be scary. The almost always mention how they will report you to credit bureaus and it could effect your credit. As well, they throw on late fees.

I think I've been late on 1 payment over the past decade. At least, one I can remember. It was simply because I either lost the bill, misplaced it, or it never came. But, as soon as the next bill came and I saw it was twice the usual amount, I immediately called and payed via phone. I've worked hard over the years to build good credit, and hate.. nay.. despise it when I get a threatening letter from someone who can easily mar that credit.

Back to the letter. I have all my recurring bills auto-payed by my bank. Every month, they are sent out with plenty of time to make my monthly due dates. That being the case, I immediately looked online to make sure that check was sent. It was, and it was posted on 2/22, four days before the due date. Blood pressure rising, I called the bank. The person who answered redirected my call, then the next person said she "can't look anything up" and was again redirecting me. But, she also doesn't know how to use the phone system, so she hung up on me. I called back, redirected.. got a person.

She was very nice, and I was keeping my cool. I was certainly frustrated, since these letters offend me. I don't get any "Thanks for paying early for the past 3 years! In our appreciation you'll get a new toaster!" No, it's "you're late, we may send this info to the credit bureaus and here's a hefty late fee for you." Problem was here, this is the loan for Suzy's car, so she wouldn't discuss the account with me. This is another thing that bugs me. I hate calling places which won't discuss accounts for my wife. Everyone says it's a "privacy" thing. I've seen her naked, I think you can talk about the car loan with me. This isn't a medical issue where HIPAA is involved, it's about a car payment. I'm not asking to close an account, transfer money or do anything to  the account, just trying to get it straight that I'm staring at posted check from 2/22 and a letter saying it's past due from 2/26.

The woman was still very nice, but was politely telling me to tell Suzy to call, or send something in writing saying they can talk to me about the account. This was pretty frustrating for me. I took her number, and called Suzy for her to call in.

A little over an hour later the bank called back. Without discussing the account "directly", she explained what "would" happen "if" an account had "a mistake". Not this account, per se, but "any account". Basically, telling me what happened with our account without saying it was our account, because she can't discuss this specific account with me. However, I do appreciate her making sure everything was OK with the account, and getting it straightened out. To her, I give my thanks.

But, to the bank for making this mistake, I give a big ole fuck you. Your system had over 10 days to figure out I wasn't delinquent. Over... 10... days. This letter should never have been sent. It caused me frustration I didn't deserve, and wasted time which didn't need to be.

Think I'll get a "sorry, we fucked up" letter? Doubt it. Think we'll get another auto loan from you again? Doubt that too.