Consumer complaint received 2017-10-03
Company: TIDEWATER FINANCE COMPANY, INC.
State: TX
Product: Credit card or prepaid card
Sub-product: Store credit card
Issue: Fees or interest
Sub-issue: Problem with fees

Complaint:
I received the XXXX XXXX Improver card on XXXX XXXX XXXX issued by XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, serviced by Tidewater Finance Company. Made my first purchase that same day in the amount of {$60.00} Received my first bill at the end of XXXX with a due date of XXXX XXXX XXXX. I paid the amount in full on XXXX XXXX XXXX. Made another purchase in the amount of {$68.00} on XXXX XXXX XXXX. Received my statement for XXXX with a {$0.00} balance due at that time. I then received my statement for XXXX in the amount of {$70.00} due XXXX XXXX XXXX. I then called Tidewater Finance to dispute the interest fee in the amount of {$1.00}. Per the XXXX statement, there was nothing due at that time, so how can I be charged interest fees. The representative agreed after speaking with her supervisor and inform me that she would be removing the {$1.00} fee from my account and that I was to pay the {$68.00}. I paid the full amount of {$68.00} on XXXX XXXX XXXX my due date. I then made another purchase in the amount of {$57.00} on XXXX XXXX XXXX. When I received my statement for XXXX XXXX, it was in the amount of {$3.00}. It showed that the {$1.00} interest fee was still on my bill as well as a new interest charge in the amount of {$1.00}. On XXXX XXXX, I called in to dispute these fees stating that the representative informed me that the initial fee of {$1.00} was to be removed. I do n't know and still do n't know where the fee of {$1.00} comes from. They informed that since I did n't make a payment on XXXX XXXX after I got off the phone, that she did n't remove the charge. My bill was n't due until XXXX XXXX, in which I made the payment of {$68.00} per their instructions. I was n't informed that I had to make a payment on that exact day to get the fee removed. I should not have been charged the fee in the first place. That was the whole reason of me calling. I was told that they will not remove the fees totaling {$3.00}. I told them that they are very deceptive in their billing practices because I read their process of " How to Avoid Interest Fees '' It states that, " As disclosed in your Open End Credit Agreement and Truth in Lending Disclosure, no interest charge will be imposed in any monthly billing period, in which there is no balance at the beginning of the billing period. I decided to go ahead and pay the {$3.00} as well as the {$57.00} for my last purchase for a total of {$60.00} on XXXX XXXX XXXX because I did n't want them to hurt my credit report. I then received a statement in the amount of {$26.00} for a late payment. I again called on XXXX XXXX XXXX, to dispute this charge. I paid all my statement bills on time. I was informed that I was being charged for the {$1.00} back in XXXX. I told them that I was not going to pay any more fees to them. I was not late on any payments and I was told that they were going to send this to their supervisor and that I would receive a call with 24 to 48 hours. I have not heard from them. I did n't want them to hurt my credit by reporting false information to the credit reporting agencies, however, they have already reported the late payment to them and my credit score was impacted. The {$26.00} is due on XXXX XXXX XXXX.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation