Today has not been a good day.

[Jeannie Fitzgerald]

Your regularly scheduled forums are being interrupted for a rant.

About three weeks ago, I started having some serious trouble with my left knee. After working on it for a week, it was giving me enough pain I had to cancel working at the San Diego Festival. I rested it all weekend and it was feeling pretty good by the time I went back to work Monday. By the end of the week, it was killing me again. At home, I twisted it slightly when I stubbed my toe and really messed it up. I haven't been back to work since (I also had to cancel both weekends of working Big Bear Festival).

I saw my doctor last Monday. He sent me to get an MRI on the knee Tuesday. I got the word today that there were some tears in the knee and was referred to an orthopedic surgeon (I actually went through six looking for the earliest appointment possible). The earliest I can get in to see him is on the 30th so all I'm going to get for this week and until then is the 20 hours of vacation I have left. I have short term disability which kicks in after being off six consecutive days, pays 66 2/3% of my base pay (which means I'll lose my $0.50/ hr shift differential I normally get) and is retroactive in case of injury but it will take a doctor's statement to get that activated. Unless they will take a statement from my regular doctor, I'm out of luck until the 30th. Then my dear sweet loyal boss informs me today that she is going to hire a replacement for me which means once I'm over this, I won't have a job until one opens up. Such gratitude for all the hard work I've done. Oh well, I was planning on looking for a new job anyway.

I have enough money socked away to tide me over but just to be sure I went online today to double check it and found out there was a $908.00 unauthorized charge from a car rental agency in Alanta three days ago. Heck, I've never been further east than Memphis and that was about 50 years ago. I called my idiot soon to be former credit union. They said it could take four to six weeks to straighten it out. They said they would mail me the paperwork but I'm going in on Monday and take care of it. A couple of weeks ago, I had my debit card blocked upon reciving a new card (and they screwed that process up a couple of times) because the original card was among those compromised by the hacker attack of the credit card clearing house in Tucson earlier this year. If I find out the charge was against the blocked card, the biowaste is going to forcibly encounter the roto impellers! In any event, I'm opening some new accounts with a different financial institution next week.

Yes, I would definitely say this has not been a good day. Fortunately, it's almost over. You are now being returned to your regularly scheduled forums.

[AnnaFaerie]

I'm sorry to hear that you're having a rough patch. I'll put you in my prayers.

[rosefaeries]

I hope things get better for you soon. About the charges, there has been a rash of unauthorized charges being made on credit and debit cards online. I have several friends that have had that happen to them. I hope you can get it all straightened out soon.

[Bean]

I don't know about credit unions, but banks have to put the money back into your account on a "conditional" basis within 30 days. Tell them you want to fill out an affidavit of unauthorized activity, not just some random " I didn't make this charge on my account" form. The affidavit carries more weight behind it since it is a legal document. If this was the result of a hacked security system that holds account numbers (like Citibank, or Wachovia) then there shouldn't be an issue.

Make absolutely sure you get a copy of all the paperwork involved, the person's name that is handling the issue, and the branch manager's name in case there is a problem. It really helps your case if the person handling this "forgets", or something goes wrong. Also, it may seem like you are being a pain, but call every other day or so until you get an answer, and speak directly to the person who filled out the original forms. If you don't get some kind of answer within a week, go higher up the food chain. All branch managers have the authority to conditionally put money back into your account, but you really have to hold their feet to the fire.

Also, shopping for a new bank is probably a good idea. Credit unions usually have good rates, but they are not held to the same standards as banks are. It might also be a good idea to get a copy of their debit card rules and regulations (you should have gotten a copy of this when you opened the account and/or the debit card). There should be info on fraudulent charges and their policy on handling them.

I hope all goes well for you!!

[Jeannie Fitzgerald]

I don't know about credit unions, but banks have to put the money back into your account on a "conditional" basis within 30 days. Tell them you want to fill out an affidavit of unauthorized activity, not just some random " I didn't make this charge on my account" form. The affidavit carries more weight behind it since it is a legal document. If this was the result of a hacked security system that holds account numbers (like Citibank, or Wachovia) then there shouldn't be an issue.

Make absolutely sure you get a copy of all the paperwork involved, the person's name that is handling the issue, and the branch manager's name in case there is a problem. It really helps your case if the person handling this "forgets", or something goes wrong. Also, it may seem like you are being a pain, but call every other day or so until you get an answer, and speak directly to the person who filled out the original forms. If you don't get some kind of answer within a week, go higher up the food chain. All branch managers have the authority to conditionally put money back into your account, but you really have to hold their feet to the fire.

Also, shopping for a new bank is probably a good idea. Credit unions usually have good rates, but they are not held to the same standards as banks are. It might also be a good idea to get a copy of their debit card rules and regulations (you should have gotten a copy of this when you opened the account and/or the debit card). There should be info on fraudulent charges and their policy on handling them.

I hope all goes well for you!!

Thanks for the advice. And don't worry, after the problems I've had with them the last three years (the previous 27 I had no problems), I thoroughly intend to be a pain! Besides I have 908 reasons to be one.

[Nimue]

Gosh, how awful! I sure hope things look up for you soon...I am sending lots of positive vibes your way!

[Myfanawy]

Oh, Jeannie dear, I'm so sorry to hear that on top of the situation with your knee, your asshat of a boss is "hiring a replacement"...and the crap with your credit card is going on. If there's anything I can do for you, let me know.
*hugs*
--Myf

[aspen]

Make a fuss with your bank. Take it all the way up the food chain to corporate highest if you can. If you can do it, get a lawyer to write a nice letter for you and wave it about vigorously. Write your state congresscritters and demand better accountability for financial institutions. Join a support group; join a class action lawsuit; write a letter to the editor; jump up and down and scream in the bank lobby if you have to. (And check your credit report, preferably on the bank's nickel.)

Using other people's credit card numbers goes by the cute name of "identity theft", but it isn't theft-- it's good old-fashioned FRAUD. Theft implies the bad guys are taking YOUR money from YOU, and it's your burden to protect yourself, recover the money, or eat the loss.

This is FRAUD. The credit card clearinghouse didn't adequately verify the identity of the cardholder, especially knowing beforehand that the number was compromised. It's THEIR fscking fault, and THEY need to eat the loss (that's what they pay insurance for).

But as long as they can convince consumers that identify theft is our problem, not theirs, they won't invest the money in security safeguards they need to.

Aspen

[Lady Laurel]

Jeanie- sorry you are having so many problems I will be thinking about you. Maybe it was meant to be about the job part. Maybe this is opening a door for you that you cannot see right now.

[Holly]

Jeannie
I am sending you warn knee-healing fuzzies. i hope you get your legs back under you soon. I am sorry to hear about your job. i am sending good job mojo your way. I am also adding the fzzues for your bank to speedily fix this problem.

HUGS.. i truely hope it all works out for the better..