... on the phone with AT&T Universal Card.

Today I called AT&T Universal Card. I had paid my balance in full three days before the due date, according to their statement, but they still assessed a finance charge.

The call was definitely received by an Indian call center. They immediately withdrew the charge without making any expalnation as to why it was there in the first place, and said something about me being a longstanding customer. I suppose they wanted me to think it was some kind of favor, when it was their "mistake." I do have a hard time believing this kind of thing happens by accident.

Then the attendant, Jevi, launched into a pitch for credit card protection. It was an interminably long script and was delivered unintelligibly at parts -- but it was one of those scripts where you have to be rude -- there is no out -- they keep asking why, and is that okay, and, and, -- til I just say I have to go.

I feel like it's a scam -- either you let a finance charge slide or suffer a pitch. I used another card for the rest of the day, but I suppose better punishment is to keep paying the balance in full.