Re: Warning Rant about Macy's Credit (formerly Lazarus)

Because of issues like the ones discussed in this thread, I almost
never use a store–specific credit card. I use my Visa card––which
gives TJ's & Marshall's kickbacks––for almost everything.

I was very interested when I saw this post. I live in Chicago and have
been a frequent Marshall Field's shopper– first they were owned by
Target, then May Department Stores, and now it's owned by
Federated/Macy's. I hae not had any problems until recently...
While shuffling through some statements last month, I realized that my
Marshall Field's bill was due very soon; my mom's Marshall Field's bill
was also due around the same day, so I decided to call them and pay the
bills over the phone (it's free bill pay by phone, so I figured it'd be
more convenient than going to the store or worrying about the check
arriving to their credit department by the due date and risking a late
fee). First, I had them access my mom's account and paid that via
phone with her checking account (she hates balances on her cards).
Then I had them access my account and paid that via phone using my
checking account.
Later that week, my mom was checking her checking and savings balances
online and saw that Marshall Field's had cashed two checks under her
account. However, I had done the two transactions separately and given
them my checking routing number, account number, and check number...I
don't know why on Earth they would take the funds from *her* checking
account when the $300 I paid for *my* credit card account was supposed
to be withdrawn from my checking account. I didn't even bother calling
Marshall Field's since I always get re–routed to India, so I just wrote
my mom a check for $300 and we called it even.
There was also a time just this past summer where I called to make a
payment and I got transferred to the department that handles Marshall
Field's accounts. I gave them my info and they said the had to
transfer me to a special department for Regards guests (similar to the
Luxe program at Banana Republic). I got an answering machine and then
pressed "0" for help where, after being on hold for quite a while, I
got a woman. I told her I kept being transferred to different
departments and I just wanted to pay my bill. She looked up my
information and told me I had to call that specific department the
following day since they had closed at 3:00! I said, "so, I have a
check here and am willing to pay my bill, and you won't accept it?" I
thought that was kind of odd, so I just ended up going to the store and
paying it there with no problems whatsoever.
I opened a Marshall Field's credit card account when I worked there in
2001 & 2002 and never had the problems I am having now. From now on, I
am just going to pay my bill in the store– I like having payment
receipts, especially now that Federated has taken over. I figure that
this way, I won't have to deal with the outsourced calls or any issues
with my payment not making it to the address on the envelope and then
my checks mysteriously clearing right after I call them to complain–
the credit department has gotten very sketchy in recent months and I
will continue to keep a close watch on my statements.
I remember when Victoria's Secret (I believe they are still part of
World Financial Network National Bank) was signing credit card members
up for some free trial (in typical bold print at the top of the
statements), but in very fine print it stated, "please call to cancel
within 30 days or your account will be billed monthly for this
service". This is why I like a minimal amount of credit cards and I
tend to stick with companies who have not misled me in the past.
––Laura