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(or "How I Almost Went on Vacation Without Access to Money")
Background: When I was on vacay in San Fran last September, I had a problem with my credit card/bank card (it's all one card, tied directly to my bank account). Basically, while I had no trouble using it as a credit card, I could not use it the ATMs for some reason. Which made things difficult, as if I needed cash, I had to convince a bartender or waiter to allow me to run the card for X over, so that I could get some. Yeah, good luck trying that one.
It turned out that the magnetic stripe on my card was a bit damaged. I went to my bank, asked for a replacement, and they said they would send one.
That, my friends, was in January.
I never did get a card. They asked if I wanted them to report the card I never got as lost or stolen, but since it was a different numbered card than mine, and was not activated, I didn't see the point, seeing as I would be getting a new one when my old one expired in June.
Then my friend Cat told me she was getting married in May in SLC, and suddenly I was going on vacation again. With a faulty card. Whoops!
So last week, I went in to the bank, they gave me the Visa number to call, I called it, got a new card set up. Told them I needed it before X date, they said for a rush I would have to contact my bank. Which I did. And they said, well, it will cost X fee to rush it, is that okay. Um, yes....I NEED THAT DAMN CARD! Can't exactly go on vacation without access to my money!
So I expected to get my card Monday or Tuesday. By Wednesday, I was getting worried, and called. No worries, they said, it'll be there. By Thursday, I was frantic. I called again. And got some hilarious news. It seems that the person that had told me all about the fee for a rushed card and said she would rush it....didn't. At all. Um....what? Really? That's awesome. That's hilarious. I'm laughing on the INSIDE of my heart attack. They, of course, wanted to know who I had talked to who had told me this. 1. I don't know. They kept asking me this question, though, which brought up 2. I don't CARE. Just get my flippin', card, please, before I pull out even more of my own hair.
So I explained the dire situation to the CSR, and she transferred me to a "credit card expert." Who assured me that both the card AND my pin number would be (separately) overnighted to me, at my job, where someone would be there to sign for it (as opposed to my apartment, where they probably wouldn't). She GUARANTEED it. Riiiiiiight. Just in case, I inquired about reactivating my old card which, at this time, was deactivated. Oh, she told me, you won't need that. The card and pin number will get to you. I pointed out the comedy of errors that had transpired so far in the week, and she saw my logic in having said backup plan, and while they would not recommend reactivating the old card, they would do it if needed.
As it turns out, this Credit Card Expert really was an expert. From the time she came on board to this problem I was having, she not only SAID all the right things, her actions BACKED HER UP, and she made what could have been a tragedy of epic proportions (to me personally, anyways) turn merely into a comedy.
And my stress level is much lower now because of it.
And for those who are wondering, yes, I did get her name, and yes, I do plan to write my bank about her specifically. Good work should be rewarded or, at the very least, acknowledged.
Background: When I was on vacay in San Fran last September, I had a problem with my credit card/bank card (it's all one card, tied directly to my bank account). Basically, while I had no trouble using it as a credit card, I could not use it the ATMs for some reason. Which made things difficult, as if I needed cash, I had to convince a bartender or waiter to allow me to run the card for X over, so that I could get some. Yeah, good luck trying that one.
It turned out that the magnetic stripe on my card was a bit damaged. I went to my bank, asked for a replacement, and they said they would send one.
That, my friends, was in January.
I never did get a card. They asked if I wanted them to report the card I never got as lost or stolen, but since it was a different numbered card than mine, and was not activated, I didn't see the point, seeing as I would be getting a new one when my old one expired in June.
Then my friend Cat told me she was getting married in May in SLC, and suddenly I was going on vacation again. With a faulty card. Whoops!
So last week, I went in to the bank, they gave me the Visa number to call, I called it, got a new card set up. Told them I needed it before X date, they said for a rush I would have to contact my bank. Which I did. And they said, well, it will cost X fee to rush it, is that okay. Um, yes....I NEED THAT DAMN CARD! Can't exactly go on vacation without access to my money!
So I expected to get my card Monday or Tuesday. By Wednesday, I was getting worried, and called. No worries, they said, it'll be there. By Thursday, I was frantic. I called again. And got some hilarious news. It seems that the person that had told me all about the fee for a rushed card and said she would rush it....didn't. At all. Um....what? Really? That's awesome. That's hilarious. I'm laughing on the INSIDE of my heart attack. They, of course, wanted to know who I had talked to who had told me this. 1. I don't know. They kept asking me this question, though, which brought up 2. I don't CARE. Just get my flippin', card, please, before I pull out even more of my own hair.
So I explained the dire situation to the CSR, and she transferred me to a "credit card expert." Who assured me that both the card AND my pin number would be (separately) overnighted to me, at my job, where someone would be there to sign for it (as opposed to my apartment, where they probably wouldn't). She GUARANTEED it. Riiiiiiight. Just in case, I inquired about reactivating my old card which, at this time, was deactivated. Oh, she told me, you won't need that. The card and pin number will get to you. I pointed out the comedy of errors that had transpired so far in the week, and she saw my logic in having said backup plan, and while they would not recommend reactivating the old card, they would do it if needed.
As it turns out, this Credit Card Expert really was an expert. From the time she came on board to this problem I was having, she not only SAID all the right things, her actions BACKED HER UP, and she made what could have been a tragedy of epic proportions (to me personally, anyways) turn merely into a comedy.
And my stress level is much lower now because of it.
And for those who are wondering, yes, I did get her name, and yes, I do plan to write my bank about her specifically. Good work should be rewarded or, at the very least, acknowledged.
The rest, man I hate banks 0.o This, my dear, is one of the reasons I don't have a bank account, and prefer the ADP pay cards, which are a visa card that pay checks go directly onto, no worries about when/how you're going to get and cash your check.
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