Get Credit Back After Cologne Purchase Fiasco

There are several reasons why your credit score may have dropped after purchasing cologne, including a missing or late payment, a recent application for new credit, running up a large credit card balance, or closing a credit card. If you want to get your credit back up, you should first identify the reason for the drop and then take steps to improve your credit score. This may include making timely payments, reducing your credit card balance, or disputing any inaccurate information on your credit report. You can also consider contacting the company that sold you the cologne and asking for a refund or chargeback if there was an issue with the product.

Contact the company and ask for a refund

If you purchased a bottle of cologne and it was dropped and broken during delivery, you may be able to get a refund from the company. Here are some steps you can follow to request a refund:

Contact the company

The first step is to reach out to the company and explain the issue. Be sure to have all the relevant information about your purchase, such as the order number, date of purchase, and amount paid. You can usually find this information on your receipt or order confirmation. Contact the company's customer service team by phone or email and explain what happened. It may be helpful to reference any shipping policies they have regarding damaged items.

Describe the issue

Clearly explain the problem with your order. In this case, you can say something like, "I recently ordered a bottle of cologne from your website, and it arrived broken. It appears that it was dropped during delivery." Provide as many details as possible, including photos of the damaged item if possible.

Request a refund

Be direct and polite in requesting a refund. You can say something like, "I would like to request a refund for the damaged item. Can you please process a refund to my original payment method?" If the company offers store credit or an exchange, you can decide if that is acceptable to you. If not, politely decline and reiterate your request for a refund.

Provide supporting documentation

If needed, you can provide additional documentation to support your claim. This may include photos of the damaged item, shipping information, or copies of your receipt or order confirmation.

Be persistent but polite

If the customer service representative is unable or unwilling to help you, don't be afraid to ask to speak with a manager or supervisor. Remain calm and polite throughout the conversation, even if you are frustrated. Remember that the person you are speaking to is likely not responsible for the issue, and they will be more willing to help if you treat them with respect.

Follow up

If you don't hear back from the company or your issue is not resolved, follow up with them. You can send a follow-up email or give them a call to check on the status of your refund request. If you still don't receive a satisfactory response, you can consider contacting their customer support on social media, as many companies are responsive on these platforms.

Remember to keep a record of all your communications with the company, including the dates and names of people you spoke to. This will be helpful if you need to escalate the issue further.

If unsuccessful, contact your credit card company to dispute the charge

If you are unsuccessful in getting a refund from the company you purchased the cologne from, you can dispute the charge with your credit card company. You can do this by calling the customer service number on the back of your credit card or on your statement, emailing customer service, using the financial institution's app, or writing to the address provided on your statement.

When you first notice the error, it is a good idea to write down the dates you make follow-up calls and keep this information together in a file. You should also check your credit card agreement to review your rights regarding unauthorized charges. You can find or request your agreement by visiting your credit card company's website or by visiting the CFPB's Credit Card Agreement Database.

To protect your rights, you must send a written billing error notice to the card company within 60 calendar days of the charge appearing on your statement. After receiving the notice, the company has 30 days to send a letter confirming they have received your billing dispute, unless they have completed the required billing error resolution procedures within that time.

If you have already paid the charge that you are disputing, you can still dispute it, but you probably won't get your money back until the credit card company decides that you were right. If the card company finds that you are correct, the charge must be removed from your bill. If the card company decides that the bill is correct, they must tell you why in writing, including how much you owe and when your payment is due.

Send a notice about a billing error to your credit card company within 60 days of the charge

If you believe there's been a billing error on your credit card statement, you should send a written letter to your credit card company within 60 days of the charge appearing on your statement. This is sometimes referred to as a chargeback.

Your letter should include the following:

• Your name and account number
• The dollar amount of the disputed charge and the type of charge
• The date of the disputed charge
• An explanation of why you think the charge was made in error

You can find the address to send your letter to by looking at your monthly credit card statement or online. The address is usually different from the payment address.

Once your credit card company receives your letter, it has 30 days to confirm receipt. The company then has two complete billing cycles (but no more than 90 days) to comply with the billing error resolution procedures. While the dispute is pending, you are not required to pay the disputed amount or any interest or other charges on it.

File a dispute with the credit reporting agency

If you believe there is an error on your credit report, you have the right to dispute it. This can be done by contacting the credit reporting company (such as Experian, Equifax, or TransUnion) and explaining the issue. You should provide a clear and detailed explanation of what you believe is wrong and why, and include any relevant documents that support your claim. This can include things like a copy of your credit report with the incorrect items highlighted, letters from creditors, court documents, or police reports.

You can submit your dispute online or by mail. If mailing a dispute, be sure to include your contact information, credit report confirmation number, and a clear list of each error you want to be fixed, including the account number for any disputed accounts. You can also request that incorrect information be removed or corrected and ask for a return receipt so that you have confirmation of your letter being received.

Once the credit reporting company receives your dispute, they are required to investigate your claim. They will forward your dispute and any relevant documents to the company that provided the information about you and report the results back to you. This process typically takes 30 days or less.

If the investigation finds that the disputed information is inaccurate or incorrect, the credit reporting company will update your credit report accordingly. However, if they determine that the information is accurate, you can request that they include a statement explaining the dispute in your credit report. This statement will be provided to anyone who requests your credit report in the future.

Contact the collection agency to dispute the incorrect information

If you believe that your credit score has been affected by incorrect information, you can contact the collection agency to dispute the information. Here are some steps you can take:

• Gather information and evidence: Collect all relevant documents, letters, and evidence related to the debt. This includes any correspondence or proof of payment, such as cancelled cheques or credit card statements.
• Communicate in writing: While you may receive phone calls or emails, it is advisable to communicate through writing to keep a paper trail. If you do need to speak over the phone, record the conversation with their permission.
• Request validation information: By law, debt collectors are required to provide you with validation information about the debt. This includes the name of the creditor, the amount owed, and your rights to dispute the debt. You can request this information in writing within 30 days of their initial contact.
• Send a dispute letter: If you believe you don't owe the debt or that it is incorrect, send a dispute letter to the collection agency within 30 days of receiving the validation information. Clearly state that you are disputing the debt and request verification. You can also send a copy of this letter to the credit reporting agencies.
• Provide supporting documentation: Attach any relevant documents or evidence that supports your claim. This could include witness testimonies or any proof that the debt is not yours.
• Keep a record of communications: Maintain a file of all letters, documents, and communications with the debt collector. Make notes of dates, times, and topics discussed. This will be useful if you need to escalate the dispute further.
• Send via certified mail: When sending dispute letters or requests, consider using certified mail with a return receipt. This will provide you with proof that the debt collector received your correspondence.
• Contact the original creditor: If you have already paid off the debt, you can contact the original creditor to obtain confirmation of your payments. This can help strengthen your case and resolve the issue.
• Be mindful of timelines: It is important to act within the specified timelines. For example, you typically have 30 days to dispute a debt after receiving validation information.
• Know your rights: Familiarize yourself with your rights under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) and the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). These laws outline the dos and don'ts of debt collection practices and provide protections for consumers.

Remember, it is important to remain calm and professional throughout the process. Disputing incorrect information on your credit report can help protect your credit score and ensure that any errors are rectified.

Frequently asked questions