financial farce
Sep. 22nd, 2011 01:13 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
deird1So, when my bankcard expired recently, the bank sent me a new one - with a new number. Which apparently stuffed up a couple of direct-debit things I had set up.
Not really a big deal. Until today.
Here's what happened:
- One morning, my ambulance membership is due for renewal. The Ambulance Vic computer system tries to process an automatic payment (Payment 1).
- Payment 1 is declined (owing to aforementioned new card).
- The ambulance computer sends me an sms ("Your membership is due! Please pay!") and put a note into my account ("This person's payment was declined. Grrr.").
- I receive an sms, reminding me to pay my membership. Not remembering that this was originally set up to pay automatically, I don't see anything weird in the request.
- I call up Ambulance Vic's auto-pay system, and make a payment (Payment 2) using my new card.
- Meanwhile, their computer system whirrs away, slowly...
- A few days later, it finishes whirring, realises that Payment 1 was declined, and sends me a letter ("Your payment was declined. Grrr.").
- Receiving this letter, I realise that, for some reason, Payment 2 has been declined - although I have no idea why. This is worrying.
- I take the letter to my bank, and frantically ask "Why are you declining my payments? What have I done wrong???"
- The bank shrugs, says "No idea.", can't find any issues with my card, but conclude, since I have this letter from Ambulance Vic stating very clearly that my payment was declined, that there's probably something wrong with my card.
- The bank cancels my card, and tell me I won't have another one until late next week.
- I ring Ambulance Vic, say "I have no card! I can't pay yet! Please don't cancel my membership until next week!"
- At which point Ambulance Vic say "Oh, that was Payment 1. Payment 2 went through days ago. Why are you calling us, anyway?"
- And I am left in stunned silence.
To sum up: I just cancelled my credit card, for NO REASON WHATSOEVER. And spent a very long lunchtime doing so.
Not really a big deal. Until today.
Here's what happened:
- One morning, my ambulance membership is due for renewal. The Ambulance Vic computer system tries to process an automatic payment (Payment 1).
- Payment 1 is declined (owing to aforementioned new card).
- The ambulance computer sends me an sms ("Your membership is due! Please pay!") and put a note into my account ("This person's payment was declined. Grrr.").
- I receive an sms, reminding me to pay my membership. Not remembering that this was originally set up to pay automatically, I don't see anything weird in the request.
- I call up Ambulance Vic's auto-pay system, and make a payment (Payment 2) using my new card.
- Meanwhile, their computer system whirrs away, slowly...
- A few days later, it finishes whirring, realises that Payment 1 was declined, and sends me a letter ("Your payment was declined. Grrr.").
- Receiving this letter, I realise that, for some reason, Payment 2 has been declined - although I have no idea why. This is worrying.
- I take the letter to my bank, and frantically ask "Why are you declining my payments? What have I done wrong???"
- The bank shrugs, says "No idea.", can't find any issues with my card, but conclude, since I have this letter from Ambulance Vic stating very clearly that my payment was declined, that there's probably something wrong with my card.
- The bank cancels my card, and tell me I won't have another one until late next week.
- I ring Ambulance Vic, say "I have no card! I can't pay yet! Please don't cancel my membership until next week!"
- At which point Ambulance Vic say "Oh, that was Payment 1. Payment 2 went through days ago. Why are you calling us, anyway?"
- And I am left in stunned silence.
To sum up: I just cancelled my credit card, for NO REASON WHATSOEVER. And spent a very long lunchtime doing so.
no subject
Date: 2011-09-22 04:13 am (UTC)Gabrielle
no subject
Date: 2011-09-22 05:06 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-09-22 10:57 pm (UTC)I got used to pay cash and I stll feel uncomfortable dealing with cards. My children mock me... :)