Incredibly frustrating day yesterday, extending into the wee hours of the morning and finally resolved today. I'm exhausted 😜
It all started a few weeks ago when we received an email from Chase Bank stating that they were sending a new card with advanced chip technology (whatever that is). Naturally, we did not receive the card, so I called (again, some weeks ago) and advised them of this. It was decided between the representative and myself that it would be easiest to just cancel the new card and continue to use the existing card. The man assured me, perhaps five times, that there would be no problem, no problem at all.
Well, yesterday morning, when I went to the ATM to withdraw money deposited by Social Security, there was a problem. My card had been closed.
Came home, called Chase, and was told there was nothing they could do about this. Nor could they send a new card because my card was closed. Apparently, this was my fault.
Hold on. You're saying that you closed MY account and there's no way I can get MY money from the ATM?
Yes, sir, that's correct.
But, but, but ...
Is there anything else we can help you with, sir?
But you haven't helped me yet!
So sorry, sir. Thank you for banking with Chase.
WHAT!!!!!
So I call again, and again, and again. This department and that department. I tell the story over and over, and every time I tell it, they are sorry, but there's nothing they can do unless I send a photo of my card, front and back, a photo of my passport, and a third form of photo ID.
Well, let's see - I have an expired Oregon Driver's license. No, won't do. I have my birth certificate. No, won't do. I have an expired insurance card. No, won't do. I have a copy of my Social Security awards letter. No, won't do.
But I have no other form of ID!
Are you sure you don't have a valid driver's license, sir.
WHY THE HELL WOULD I HAVE A VALID OREGON DRIVER'S LICENCE?! I'VE ALREADY TOLD YOU TWENTY TIMES THAT I HAVE LIVED IN INDONESIA FOR THE PAST SIX YEARS!!!
Perhaps there is someone you know in America that has a current and acceptable picture ID of you and you could have them send it to us.
What? WHAT? OMG, unbelievable.
So at 1 o'clock in the morning, I gather everything that I have. Passport, bank card, SSA award letter, Indonesian car license, Indonesian motorbike licence, Kitas card, expired Oregon driver's license,expired health insurance card, birth certificate, picture of me, picture of Sparky, and I send again, and then I call again.
And, praise God, this time a human being answers the phone.
We talked about Bali, how I happened to come here, how the adjustment period had been, and so on.
Wow, so this is really a bummer, he said. There you are in Bali, and you can't use your bank card or get any money, and you only have the equivalent of about two dollars in your wallet?
Yes, yes. YES!
Okay, let me talk to the senior supervisor here.
He does so, comes back, and says his supervisor says that I need the pieces of ID that I don't have.
We talk more. He actually understands why I don't have multiple active pieces of American ID.
Why would you, right?
Right.
Okay, I'm gonna talk to him again.
He does, and the supervisor himself gets on the phone. It's like pulling a dozen more nails, but finally, FINALLY, the supervisor decides he will let me have my own money. He will activate the closed card for 48 hours, and he will send a new card. With advanced chip technology.
Well, I'll believe that second part when I see it, but at least I have money now to buy food for a while.
It all started a few weeks ago when we received an email from Chase Bank stating that they were sending a new card with advanced chip technology (whatever that is). Naturally, we did not receive the card, so I called (again, some weeks ago) and advised them of this. It was decided between the representative and myself that it would be easiest to just cancel the new card and continue to use the existing card. The man assured me, perhaps five times, that there would be no problem, no problem at all.
Well, yesterday morning, when I went to the ATM to withdraw money deposited by Social Security, there was a problem. My card had been closed.
Came home, called Chase, and was told there was nothing they could do about this. Nor could they send a new card because my card was closed. Apparently, this was my fault.
Hold on. You're saying that you closed MY account and there's no way I can get MY money from the ATM?
Yes, sir, that's correct.
But, but, but ...
Is there anything else we can help you with, sir?
But you haven't helped me yet!
So sorry, sir. Thank you for banking with Chase.
WHAT!!!!!
So I call again, and again, and again. This department and that department. I tell the story over and over, and every time I tell it, they are sorry, but there's nothing they can do unless I send a photo of my card, front and back, a photo of my passport, and a third form of photo ID.
Well, let's see - I have an expired Oregon Driver's license. No, won't do. I have my birth certificate. No, won't do. I have an expired insurance card. No, won't do. I have a copy of my Social Security awards letter. No, won't do.
But I have no other form of ID!
Are you sure you don't have a valid driver's license, sir.
WHY THE HELL WOULD I HAVE A VALID OREGON DRIVER'S LICENCE?! I'VE ALREADY TOLD YOU TWENTY TIMES THAT I HAVE LIVED IN INDONESIA FOR THE PAST SIX YEARS!!!
Perhaps there is someone you know in America that has a current and acceptable picture ID of you and you could have them send it to us.
What? WHAT? OMG, unbelievable.
So at 1 o'clock in the morning, I gather everything that I have. Passport, bank card, SSA award letter, Indonesian car license, Indonesian motorbike licence, Kitas card, expired Oregon driver's license,expired health insurance card, birth certificate, picture of me, picture of Sparky, and I send again, and then I call again.
And, praise God, this time a human being answers the phone.
We talked about Bali, how I happened to come here, how the adjustment period had been, and so on.
Wow, so this is really a bummer, he said. There you are in Bali, and you can't use your bank card or get any money, and you only have the equivalent of about two dollars in your wallet?
Yes, yes. YES!
Okay, let me talk to the senior supervisor here.
He does so, comes back, and says his supervisor says that I need the pieces of ID that I don't have.
We talk more. He actually understands why I don't have multiple active pieces of American ID.
Why would you, right?
Right.
Okay, I'm gonna talk to him again.
He does, and the supervisor himself gets on the phone. It's like pulling a dozen more nails, but finally, FINALLY, the supervisor decides he will let me have my own money. He will activate the closed card for 48 hours, and he will send a new card. With advanced chip technology.
Well, I'll believe that second part when I see it, but at least I have money now to buy food for a while.
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