Back in February, I wrote about the problems I was having with a new ATM card. The new machine upgrades were incompatible with the raised letters and numbers on the card. A branch office said they had some problems and issued me a flat card. Things were working well, until I received a new green card, just like my ATM card. I figured they were issuing new ones to catch us up. No problem.
Lately, it is a 30 minute wait to talk to a human in their customer service department. Something is wrong with that. Either their software upgrades aren’t being tested for every thing than can happen, or they cut staff too much. Service is not what it once was. So, new green card in hand, as my ATM card always was colored, we went off to the machine. No money. What?? I later called, reset my PIN, and tried again today. Still no money. What gives?
Much as I pride myself in my patience, it was wearing thin. I waited and a person called me to his window. I explained the problem. He said “No, this is a credit card.” I said, I always run my transactions as CREDIT for the extra protection there is. I assumed because it was green, as my ATM card had always been, it was a new ATM card. The only place there is a referral to “Credit Card” on the paper it arrived glued upon was under the “credit” card. Who looks at that? Why couldn’t they have told me in advance they were changing my Platinum colored VISA card to GREEN? I would have known better.
I found myself very angry at the situation. Not because I made a mistake. I believe their failure to anticipate a situation like this makes me doubt their effectiveness in business. It was a huge change they did not prepare their customers for at all. A business doesn’t do that. No, it’s not because I’m and elderly woman who doesn’t get computers. I understand them quite well, “for a girl.” Common sense should have made them aware of the frustration they would be causing. In the times I worked, you didn’t leave a stone like this unturned. I didn’t like myself getting angry. I plan to document the experience and they will ignore me, and think I’m daft, dismissing my concerns.
The countless meetings we had when introducing changes to any insurance system required lots of investigation, and a tally of everything (and I mean everything!) it could possibly affect. No wonder the companay I used to work for sold off all of their health insurance business. They now deal with investing and property management. Smart move, they got out before Obamacare was introduced. I was there in the 1990’s when Clinton was elected. We lost a lot of good people who jumped ship and went to First Data Corporation. They were not waiting until our jobs were done away with. Smart moves, guys.






At this point, I have put a pin in the frustration and anger. It’s over. I won’t carry it or let it ruin my day. All I can do is pray somehow the world has common sense and better project management for big changes in people’s insurance, banking, and medical care issues. It’s a huge deal to retired people, and should be for anyone using such services. Soapbox is not put away. Thank you!
What do you think? Have you had a similar experience? Tell me in the comments. I’d like to know. The moral of this story is, “Don’t let it ruin our day.” Thanks for reading. See you tomorrow! Be Safe.