On Saturday February 28, 2009, I mistakenly made an online credit card payment (in full, $3, 200) from the wrong bank account. In this day of electronic (instantaneous) payments, I then made a second payment from the correct account, in order to be sure there would be no bank charges. I attempted to contact GE Money, but was told I'd have to call back on Monday to straighten it out.

On Monday, I learned that it could not be reversed; in fact, they had not yet posted them! (This seemed incredible, as I had a confirmation that I had paid.) Later in the week, after a communication with the CSR's in India, I learned that because my amount was a "huge amount" (their wording), I could only let the balance ride on the books, or submit a formal request for reimbursement, which I did.

Two weeks later, I had not received a check, so I called them to learn that there is a 30 day holding period before the check can be processed! No kidding. I guess GE Money needed time to scrape together the $3200 ("huge amount") to cut a check. And any charges I had made along the way prior the check being cut, would be deducted, too.

So I called them today, March 15, to ask why I had not seen a check, but to learn that it was sent out on March 3, 2009. "Where's my check coming from?” I asked, "It's been 12 days!" They told me it was coming from Florida (I guess by slow boat), but that I should expect to receive it by Wednesday, March 18.

Is this the way all credit card companies treat their customers?