Questions about Orchard Bank???

[wjnicki]

It has been nearly six months since my discharge. I have had numerous credit card offers, but selected only one. I got an Orchard bank card in April-I charged my groceries and then paid it in full every month, but this month we did not receive the bill- So I called Orchard bank on the 11th of August and they said that they would mail another statement out. Well On the 20th of August I still no bill, so printed one off the internet and mailed the payment in. The payment is due Today. They still have not received. We live in Odenton, Maryland and the payment is sent to Baltimore Maryland Only 20 minutes away. I know even with the "snail mail" it does not take 9 days to get there. What is going on? I went back to the payments that we sent in before and they were processed 2 days AFTER we sent them. I'm getting very angry at this. What are they trying to do? Has anybody had this happen to them?

[Flamingo]

You are depending too much on the US Snail Mail system. Sign up for online payments to come out of your checking account. We also have Orchard Bank and we have never had a problem with a payment being received late due to that. You can actually go on there and choose when you want the payment made, weeks and months in advance. Just because you did not receive a statement from a creditor is not a reason not to pay a bill. You are still responsible and can almost always view your account online to obtain the information you need. Also sign up for online statements - you will receive a notice in a specified email address provided by you that your statement is ready on line and you go view/print out.

[wjnicki]

Please re- read the post. I did send the payment in. I went online on August 20th and printed out a statement and mailed it the same day. My Problem is that they still have not received it and it has been 9 days. It should not take more than 3 days for them to receive and post it to my account, since it is going no more than 20 miles from my house.

[itneverends]

Please re- read the post. I did send the payment in. I went online on August 20th and printed out a statement and mailed it the same day. My Problem is that they still have not received it and it has been 9 days. It should not take more than 3 days for them to receive and post it to my account, since it is going no more than 20 miles from my house.

You would not be the first person to ever had mail lost by the USPS. Flamingo gave you some great advice on how to avoid this in the future. With the options availible to you today, you shouldn't be mailing anything.

[cirnrab]

I do my payments online, and I love it! Last week my hubby screwed up our bank account so I couldn't do my payment online, and I was worried it wouldn't make it there on time, so I sent them a payment Western Union. It may cost $12.95 to make it, but it's a lot more reassuring that they're gonna get that money on time.

[Flamingo]

Please re- read the post. I did send the payment in. I went online on August 20th and printed out a statement and mailed it the same day. My Problem is that they still have not received it and it has been 9 days. It should not take more than 3 days for them to receive and post it to my account, since it is going no more than 20 miles from my house.

OK as to your statements but the issue you are having is them actually receiving the payment through the mail. I think we have all had that issue and the best thing for you to do is sign up online with them and have the payment made from your checking account on the day you specify. You will never be late again unless you don't log in and make the payment or sign up for automatic payments. Too many things can get lost and delayed via the US Mail - I would let them know you sent the payment in and it has apparently be lost in the mail. I would contact your bank and put a stop payment on the check, advise Orchard and give them the number of the cancelled check and your bank's name, and repay the bill ASAP. In the event they should state you are late, you have evidence with all that to back up your argument.

[PaKettle]

Yes, online payment is the way to go; and I also use TWO calendars to remind me when the payment is due. I don't like "automatic payments" so I do it manually online each month. BUT I use 2 calendars to remind me that the payments are due. Also I do NOT allow them to stop sending me bills in the mail. That way I also have a piece of paper in my BILLS box so I know it needs to be paid. And usually I try to just pay it early, as soon as I get the statement in the mail.

[magyar123]

So far, knock on wood, the only late payment - via regular mail - I ever had was during the week of Sept. 11, 2001, when airplanes were grounded.
As far as the original poster's issue is concerned - please remember that some of the credit card payment centers are really poorly staffed, or employees just goofing off, and not all the mail received on any particular day is actually processed that day.
A few years ago there was a big issue with CAPONE - that they were sitting on incoming mail just to burn consumers with late fees.

[sharksfan]

Try signing up for your banks Bill Payer service. The company who runs this operation guarntees payments will be received by the payee on the date you select.

[wjnicki]

Thanks for all of your advice. I have tried to tell my husband that, but he likes the snail mail way. Go Figure. But I did find out what happend. They actually cashed the check on the 28th and posted it to another persons account.

[magyar123]

Thanks for all of your advice. I have tried to tell my husband that, but he likes the snail mail way. Go Figure. But I did find out what happend. They actually cashed the check on the 28th and posted it to another persons account.

I too believe in the snail mail way. The only time I ever pay anything online is when I don't see my check payment posted and it's getting close to the due date. PANIC payment.
Sometimes the check payment and the panic payment are posted the same day. My check payments are usually minimum X 2, and my panic payments are usually just the minimum.