The week started with a letter from a finance company claiming that I owed 1&1 internet money, plus additional costs.
The reality: I couldn't get my credit card details to work on their site, so I sent the money via bank transfer and had emailed the details as specified on the back of their invoice.
1&1 Internet alleged they couldn't find the payment and asked for a reference number. My bank said there was no reference number, only the reference I had given it. 1 & 1 HAD ALL THE INFORMATION I COULD GIVE ( amount, ref., date, sort-code, bank... everything but my bank account number and blood group :) ).
It seems that 1 & 1 couldn't put 2 and 2 together and allocate an outstanding credit on their account which fitted the description of my payment.
Next thing I know a letter arrives from the finance company claiming I owed the original amount (which was less than a fiver) plus the current invoice (which hadn't yet matured past 21 days) plus £15 penalty charge.
That was on Tuesday and the fun really began.... I sent emails attepting to clarify the situation, all marked URGENT - even one which just begged a confirmation that they had received my email.
On Thursday a reply came... and it was as if they hadn't read the previous emails, as if they were unaware of what was actually going on. <sigh> the same interaction I received from their technical support until fixed the problem myself.
I sent another email attempting to bullet point the situation... no reply. I sent another one this morning (Friday).
No reply I've now sent payment via bank transfer for the current invoice (before that went over 21 days!) and cancelled my account.
I don't know what happens next.
I've contacted the finance company and as far as I'm concerned 1&1 Internet have been paid. Looks like a few more sleepless nights until (and if) 1 & 1 Internet get back to me.
The REALLY REALLY fustrating part is that 1 & 1 Internet don't reply to my emails for days, and when they do it's like going round in circles, even when I've tried to make things as clear and simple as possible.
I would phone them, but there's no guarantee that will get through to them either and I don't fancy the cost of the call.
