My devoted followers know that I purchased a new mattress and box spring set (Serta) last week. What you don’t know is the rest of the story.
I put $50 down on the bed set to hold it so I could transfer the money from savings to checking (online) and then pay them for the entire set the next day. I went home and transferred the money and decided to pay it all at once. I called the store and we did a payment over the phone and – it was declined. I believe I even had him try again.
So, I hung up and called the bank. The nice lady told me that I had gone over my limit for the day of $750. I knew it was only a little above, but I also knew I had several regular items to purchase and was supposed to go out for dinner that night with my friend. She was happy to increase that line of money for one day. That was fine with me. She did; I did, and we were all happy. The above pic is of a different bank and I called them, but you get the idea.
Now, let’s go to Friday the 28th of September. I went to the post office in the morning to mail a package I had sold on Amazon. I gave the man my card, he slid it through, and it was declined. I had him try again…declined. I managed to have the small amount in cash and I paid for the package.
Then I went home to call the bank. The different nice lady looked at her screen and told me she would have to call the main office (I never really like it when they have to do that. It means it is difficult). She came back on the phone and told me that someplace that I had used my card had been hacked and, for safety reasons, all the MasterCards that were used there were cancelled.
They had mailed out new cards with new pin numbers so I shouldn’t worry. In the meantime, I guess I was … well, having difficulties. We talked on. I asked her, politely, when did they mail out the new card. She told me “on the 21st”. She assured me it should arrive anytime (It is Monday; it did not arrive by the 1st of October).
I told her that was not what was bothering me right now. When she asked what was, I slowly said,
“You said they mailed the card out on the 21st. Today is the 29th. I have used my card up until this morning. If you cancelled it on the 21st (or before) how could I use it for the whole next week?”
She had no good answer (not her department – plausible deniability and all that), so I hung up. Somehow I feel that I deserve an answer to that question. Somehow, it seems to me that if a new card is in the mail, then the old card (since it may have been compromised) should not be any good.
I retold this to a health food store staff today and their mouths fell open. That was much better! A good reaction to such atrocities!
I have made arrangements for the cash to deal with the next several days. But I am still bothered. Now, I must go to the nearest branch (16 miles) and have them print a new card. Now, we will see if she will cancel the one in the mail as it seems to be lost or if I will have to release my inner demons again!
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What was your last big blowup with the bank?
How well did they handle the whole thing?
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Namaste,
Scott
Kindredspirit23's Blog 
Comments
I had an employee at Wells Fargo tell me last month that if I wanted to continue my business checking acct I’d need a business savings acct into which I’d need to deposit $100 each month. I went to another branch and questionned it and the employee there said it wasn’t true and thought I misunderstood the first employee. We called the first employee together and the second employee learned to his surprise that the first one had actually told me that. He got the branch manager on the phone (at the first location) who after hearing what happened said he’d have to retrain the first employee. Really? Meantime, a new acct had been opened, money transferred, fines assessed… and I have to go back in (to see the second employee) to undo it all. Sometimes I wish we could just bury our money in the backyard like a pirate! LOL
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You can! lol
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Your bank’s actions sound highly unprofessional. You should have been contacted immediately if they were cancelling your existing card for any reason, but especially because of a security issue. I would go as high up as I needed to for a more complete explanation for their actions and why the replacement card didn’t arrive.
I’d also be looking into alternate banking options!
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Thanks for the help and suggestions. I did question today when I went to get another card at the branch. They cancelled the one in the mail and my new card works fine. I didn’t lose any money. I will still look for the card in the mail (it can take up to two weeks, so Thursday or Friday). I was told at the branch that they don’t cancel the card right away so you just don’t lose the ability to use the card. She further explained that, once they mail you the new card for a reason like this, you have the right to dispute any charge on that card. I am still a bit upset (more like ruffled), but as I have always said, God looks out for me (He has to) and all went well. I have been with the credit union for almost 30 years so I don’t want to drop them, but will keep an open mind.
Again, thanks,
Scott
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Hi, I feel bad you had to go through all this, thank God up to now away from this kind of experience.
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Thanks!
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