Here how this started. About a week and a half, two weeks ago, I got a new debit card in the mail. I really hadn't paid much attention to the upcoming expiration date, so when it arrived I filed it nicely in with my bills because it couldn't be activated until a certain date. The activation date came around, so I activated the card and destroyed the old card. I feel this is a pretty routine practice for most people. I then went to use the card last Friday night (a quick trip to Hobby Lobby on Friday night, isn't my life so exciting!) and it didn't work. No big deal, paid with a credit card, got my goods and left. When I got home I took out the paperwork that came with the new debit card. Sure enough, it was to my joint account with Andy, not the account that I normally use. This would have been no big deal, except for the fact that I had already destroyed my "good card." Yikes! Okay, no big deal again. I called our credit union on Saturday and told them I cut up the wrong card....they will send me another card right out! It should be here in 7-10 days! 7-10 DAYS! Oh my Gosh! What am I going to do for 7-10 days?!?!?! Oh, and just to make it even better, this debit card is also my ATM card. So no going to the drive-up ATM machine to get cash either. HELP!
I am the bill payer in this sitcom. I'm kind of a dork when it come to paying the bills, I have a monthly spreadsheet and plug in the updated amount. I love it. I pay most of our bills online, so I really don't write a lot of checks.
However, today I was out for my Tuesday morning run. (I mean that as in errands, not actual running.) I hit my favorite spots, Target, Michael's, and Marshall's. I had to write checks at all of these fine establishments. I didn't have any problems until my last destination. I was writing a check at Marshall's for $50.73. Not a big check by any means. There is plenty of funds in my checking account and they would NOT accept my check. The very nice cashier tried several times before she finally called to get an authorization number. The place she called would NOT accept my check. They would not tell her why, just that they could not accept it. The nice cashier could feel my frustration and handed me a card with a phone number on it. I ended up paying with a credit card and left feeling very embarrassed. I'm sure all the people behind me thought I was some random chick who was buying stuff she couldn't afford and didn't have the funds to pay for it. It was just an awful feeling.
On my way home, I called the number on the card that the nice cashier had given me. The representative that answered was also very polite and basically told me that since I don't write very many checks, they have my account flagged (which is totally random). They thought that maybe my checks had got into the wrong persons' hands and that there may be fraudulent activity on my account. I asked why I didn't have any trouble at Target or Michael's, but she said that since it was three checks right in a row, that is what probably flagged it.
So now I'm scared to write any more checks. I guess it's nice to know that we have people looking out for us, but Lord, please help me to get through the next 7-10 days without my debit card. I think I will be staying at home a lot, only leaving the house to go to the gym because that is already paid for this month.
2 comments:
Cripes! I hope you get this figured out before the "Shopping Extravagansa"- it that how you spell that?!
I have felt that kicked in the gut feeling when you're standing there and something gets kicked back. Nothing more embarrassing. Security or not, it still makes you want to hang your head.
Good thing you have such a good friend, like #6, to be so worried about your future shopping endeavors! (I think she's really just afraid you'll slow her down!=)
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