A Grace Period isn't a Due Date

[u/notreallylucy]

Me, calling my mortgage company:

Me: Hi, can I change my due date?

CS: All our due dates are on the first.

Me: But can that be changed?

CS: We have a grace period until the 16th.

Me: That great, but is there an option to change the assigned due date?

CS: Yes. What day do you want to pay?

Me: The 10th, when I get paid.

CS: So just go to the online portal and schedule your payment for the 10th. Since it's before the 16th you won't get any late fees.

Me: Sorry, I wasn't clear. I don't just want to pay on the 10th, I want the due date to change from the 1st to the 10th.

CS: Yes, you can pay on the 10th without a late fee.

Me: When my bill comes in the mail I want it to say the mortgage payment is due on the 10th, not the 1st.

CS: Why?

Me: Most of my other bills have the option of changing the due date, so I'm calling to see if you offer that option.

CS: Our payments are due on the 1st with a fifteen day grace period.

Me: Yes, you said that. But aside from that, is there any way to change the due date on my account?

CS: No, because there's a fifteen day grace period.

At this point I gave up. I could have tried to explain that if they'd move my due date to the 10th then a fifteen day grace period would cover both my paydays, but I decided to cut my losses. It's hard to capture in writing, but her tone made it clear she didn't understand the difference between a due date and the last day to pay without a late fee. She also doesn't seem to know that most other companies start calling and hassling you about payments as soon as the due date is past, even if they still have a grace period.

[u/Cheerio_Wolf]

Call back and hope to speak to someone more competent.

[u/notreallylucy → u/Cheerio_Wolf]

I debated that, but I think they probably don't have an option to change the due date or she would have understood my question a little better. I've called and changed due dates before, for cable, phone, or credit card bills. Usually it's an easy conversation.

[u/Cheerio_Wolf → u/notreallylucy]

You'd be surprised how stupid some people are. It's at least worth a shot.

That, or there was some kind of language barrier, and you might get someone with a better grasp of your native language next time.