Macy's credit card bill!

LegacyUser

Hi guys,

Saw a similar, more serious thread on a similar subject that has gotten me a bit worried...

(Didn't want to hijack that one so am starting a new one!)

Anyway I would really appreciate advice / insight into this one.

Nearly three years ago now I was over in the States on a study visa, went shopping one day and stupidly signed up for a Macy's credit card.
The single item that I bought with this card was a hair dryer, for about $25, and I even more stupidly never paid it off before coming home.
I have remembered this a handful of times since coming home, logged onto the Macys site a few times and saw the increase accumulating...last I checked it was about $130 or so...and that was over a year ago.
Each time I could not figure out how to pay it off, as I don't have a US bank account (which seems to be a requirement) and haven't visited the States since.

My account is now apparently defunct and I can't access any information on the site anymore. I have tried calling Macys customer service etc in the mean time...to say they were a little unhelpful and borderline clueless is an understatement. I tried contact the actual department I got the card in...same thing.

I am now quite worried. I love the States and hope to visit again, I would even love to live there. I'm terrified this is going to work against me.

I know this is a strange predicament to be in, but has anyone dealt with anything like this before? What should I do?

davmol

Just say you forgot about the bill,you tried to access the site to pay and even called macys to pay but to no avail.write down records of times you tried to call etc,thats evidence youve done your bit.

if they have no contact adress for you id say theyve written off the debt as a bad debt,closed your account and thats that!!

i could be wrong but doubt they'll be sending dog the bounty hunter after you for that amount

prinz

Call them up with your account details and use a credit card -

edit: missed the bit about the US bank account requirement, but I'm sure if you explained the situation they have ways for paying from abroad.

VaioCruiser

Whatever you do - do NOT let this drop. It will come back and bite you in a a major way.

Get on the phone (skype) and find out where their accounts dept is. Find out what company manages their credit card accounts. There MUST be some kind of information on the bill.

Write a letter to them (on paper!) at this company and set out ALL the details. Send it registered if possible.

Follow it up.

All the best.

Hazys

I have a Macy's credit card also and you have to sign up using your SSN which your credit rating is based on.

It will affect your credit rating, by how much i dont know, since it was a small amount but it was never paid for. You can check your credit report at freecreditreport.com. Its a 'free' service meaning its free for the first month then you pay $15 a month after, but you have to ring up within 30 days to cancel the 'free' trial. May have to have a US credit card but there are other sites you can probably use.

As for restricting enter into the country id say its unlikely. Nothing will be checked if your just visiting. If applying for a visa...hmmm dont know if they check your credit rating. I owed the IRS a couple of grand in taxes when i applied for my visa, they didnt check with the IRS as part of the process which i know is different but still. I have paid those taxes off since.

Id say what happened was Macy's sold your debt to an external company or just wrote it off, so its no harm in trying to ring to pay it off. You pay through several different means like Paypal and International Bank Transfer costs $15.