While shopping during Christmas holidays I was offered a discount for opening a credit card account. I did so at that time.
I never received a statement, bill, credit card or request for payment. I never received a telephone call regarding this issue.
Last night, 9/24/08, I retrieved a message from my home phone informing me that I had been turned over to a collections company for an outstanding debt to World Market. When I had not received a bill, I assumed that in the flurry and confusion of Christmas shopping, I had forgotten that I had already paid the bill at the counter. I did wonder why I had never received a credit card, but simply forgot about it.
I immediately paid the bill over the phone last night, but my concerns are that I paid way over the amount of the actual purchases due to fees, and that this is going to now adversely affect my credit.
I have called World Market (locally and a national number), and GE Moneybank, all to no avail. No one is able to help me. I have also emailed the credit bureau to attempt to dispute this negative credit reference.
I am completely frustrated at this point. I have been shopping at Cost Plus since they first opened in Phoenix and now feel that I can no longer do so in good conscience.
I have been advised to take advantage of the legal counsel available at my place of employment. I am not sure if it will do any good or not, but I see no other avenues open to me to resolve this issue.
(WM acct 3215...today is the first time I have even had a portion of my account number).
My mailing address has not changed in 22 years. The person at the checkout counter who took the application must have been aware that only street addresses were acceptable on the application, and yet she put it through anyway. The man at the collection agency had both of my addresses and my phone number. Please advise, Jill Potter