Consumer complaint received 2016-10-06
Company: CAPITAL ONE FINANCIAL CORPORATION
State: CA
Product: Credit card
Issue: Closing/Cancelling account

Complaint:
Several years ago I had a credit card with Capitol One. For years I would pay my payments until one day I decided that I wanted to pay off my balance and close the account. About 5 years ago I called Capitol One and paid them in full. I then asked to close the account and thought that it was closed. 30 days after paying my balance in full I come to find out that my card was still open and there was a {$30.00} balance on my card. I asked them why there was a balance on my card and why they kept charging me and I was told that there was recurring payments on the card. I informed them that there should be no recurring charges since my card was closed. I even offered to pay the additional charge to bring my balance down to {$0.00} just so I can close my card and prevent any more charges from being placed. They told me that they could n't close the card because of the recurring charges .... 

Since I had no luck with a normal Capitol One representative, I then spoke to a supervisor and wanted to know why they were keeping the card open. Essentially I was told the same thing by the supervisor that the representative told me. I argued that there should be no recurring charges since the card was closed and I argued that regardless of anything going on with any creditors I should be allowed to close down my own card. The supervisor refused.I again disputed the charge and demanded that my card be shut down and that was the last I spoke with anyone at Capitol One. 

Ever since that day I have refused to use credit because of the terrible experience I had with Capitol One. Unfortunately, I no longer have that luxury. 5 years later I check my credit report so I can buy a home and I find out that there is a Capitol One charge off with an {$890.00} balance! Furthermore, it has been sold to a collection agency and so now it 's reporting on my credit report twice! 

I 'm no expert in laws and practices but I 'm sure there is a law somewhere that says a credit card company ca n't refuse to shut down a credit card and and allow recurring charges to pile up simply because they feel like it. How can a balance on a card that was paid off and supposed to be closed get to {$890.00} dollars! That is both malicious and fraudulent! 

Here I am now 5 years later and I find out I ca n't qualify for a home unless I pay this account off. On top of that, even if I do pay it off my credit score will still be damaged because that wo n't remove the erroneous charge off or collection from my credit report therefore I am getting double screwed here! Please accept my apologies on the language. I need your help as I know I wo n't get anywhere with Capitol One since I did n't 5 years ago. 
I am not a bad person and I pay my bills on time. I do n't have any collections and I do n't have any outstanding debts owed. I am simply trying to buy a home and I 'm being told no because Capitol One refused to close an account off and allow charges and I 'm assuming fees to rack up on a card I vigorously attempted to close down. If I have to, I will take this matter to an attorney to file a lawsuit. I will not be held hostage by a creditor who wants to swindle people out of their hard earned money.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation