Monday, April 25, 2016

USPS

Unbelievable.

This morning I got an email from my VISA company confirming I had changed my due date for my payment.  ????  I did no such thing ... at least not on purpose.  I check all my charges and deposits on Mint.com and rarely visit the VISA site.

Today I am feeling spirited so when I couldn't find a way to email my concern, I made the phone call.  Fortunately, Lindsey in Florida didn't have to ask for my credit card number and the last four digits of my SSN after I dutifully typed it in when nicely asked by the mechanical voice.  She said someone changed my mailing address and when I said it wasn't me ... she forwarded me to the Fraud Department.

Tammy, physically located in Denver (in the fraud dept), did a little research and discovered the United States Postal Service computer system told their computer system that I lived in Maui.  I explained that I live both places (lucky me) but I have my mail sent to Oregon.  After a bit of being on hold (the whole call lasted only 30 minutes ... why does it seem so much LONGER ....), she put my old address back in and changed my due date back.

Don't you think you would notify the cardholder BEFORE you changed their address when such information doesn't come from the cardholder?  Often when you use a credit card the little machine asks for the zip code of your billing address.  Imagine my embarrassment if this had happened and I didn't have another credit card?

She tried the old "explain it to elderly lady" routine but I gave her two instances (and I'm sure there are many more) of why I would, and any large corporation should, verify and confirm any personal info change WITH the person whose name is on the account.  I get mail here in Maui addressed to Mr. Ralph's mom, Hazel.  She passed away in 1993 and had never been to Maui.  I also get mail addressed to his ex-wife who also has never visited Maui.

Mission accomplished.  The rest of the day was much more fun!



10 comments:

  1. I hate phone calls like that. H tried to change the address for our long-term-care insurance online. The site wouldn't take it "at this time - try again later." He tried several times on different days. Finally he had to make the call. Those calls always seem like they take longer than they do.

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    1. Annoying at the very least! But both representatives were very nice and easy to understand. Thankful for the small things

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  2. Computers that change things on a whim are so frustrating! Worse yet are the ones who ask you to update information on your account. I never trust those. Glad you got it straighten out.

    I still get mail for my dad who died in 1999 and of course, for Don. Dad's mail I had forwarded to me while he was alive and after I moved I didn't exclude his name on the 'change of address' forms just in case something important came along. So I'm not surprised. I'd have to go to the post office and fill out a form to have him and Don taken off and start sending mail back marked "return to sender" to get it to stop. The post office doesn't have assess to death records and that's a good thing.

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    1. But boy do the credit card companies have access to death records! Remember when they cancelled my card without notice? That first year of widowhood. SO FRUSTRATING!

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    2. I had that same problem with credit cards. I tell any woman who will listen to get one card in their own name only.

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  3. A little envy creeps into my response here: This is a quality problem to have, having two glorious places to live! ARGH! There are so many moving parts in our lives in the subterranean region of computers. My VISA card company has caught fraud on my account three times the last 9 months, requiring 3 brand new cards! Switching your mailing address is something hackers do, so I would've thought fraud. Glad it was only their 'dumb' computer pulling this switcheroo on you.

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    1. Definitely a FIrst World problem!!! I had the same trouble last year with VISA issuing a new card ... AFTER I had set up all my online payments. Too much work so I went with a smaller bank this time..

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    2. Maybe what you need to do is have two cards---one strictly to use in Maui and the other for when you are on the Mainland.

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  4. Oh. My. Gosh! I have never had that happen, but then of course, I only live here. LOL Someone did mess with my Amazon account and I can't seem to get a new password changed. Amazon says they have sent me a new password, via e-mail, but I never get that e-mail. I get all the other e-mails they send me, but not the one with the new password. So--I have to call them and so far, I haven't been in the right mood to do that. LOL. I remember 30 years ago, when "they" told us how wonderful all this new computer technology was going to be for us. Less paperwork, easier communication. So far, all I've seen is more and more ways to upset my days!

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    1. It does seem tougher but honestly, the phone call works the best. I always write down their names ... and thru chit chat as where they are located. Just in case I need to complain or praise!

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