Wow, it's really raining right now. Today, June 1st and it's 56 degrees. One of these years I will finally realize weather patterns have changed. It doesn't matter if it's global warming, cooling or the flights of the South American butterfly doing it. It is different.
I always loved making outdoor plans and knowing the weather would be nice. Now, it's almost like the Midwest, pick a date and take your chances. Oh well, it could be worse, it could be snowing.
I did it again. Like the dummy I often am, I answered the phone. I have mentioned the caller I.d. we have. Both the telephone and television screens show incoming call information. This morning, I didn't recognize the info but still, answered the phone.
If I hadn't known better I would have thought my best friend was calling. A happy, chipper, friendly voice asked for Wanda. Before I engaged my brain, "She is not in, this is her husband, may I help you?" fell out of my mouth. My new best friend began reading her script. I am always a little wary when someone I don't know refers to us as "you guys."
As I remember, this is what she said. On (some date in the past) Wanda signed up for (something on line) and received coupons good for (a percentage) off purchases of (some commodity). Now, we have been elevated to (a metal, like gold) customers. Within the next two weeks we will receive a one hundred and twenty dollar credit for gas. It's good at (a number) service stations. Included in the gas package are two catalogs with many more discount coupons.
If we send the catalogs back the charge is $2.95 for postage and handling. If we keep the catalogs we will receive more on a monthly basis for $29.95 a month. You must call and cancel or you are billed monthly. Maybe I am foolish and the gas discount is well worth the initial few bucks? These deals feel like time share presentations. The free item is not worth the sales pitch. Before my new best friend was finished I told her she would need to talk to Wanda. I suggested she call back Friday.
Twenty minutes ago the phone rang. I glanced at the screen: UORDERZ CONFIRM at 269-477-2159. This time I just let it ring, so much for waiting until Friday.
Early this morning I was dreaming I was awake. Wanda was saying my boss was at work and I better get going. I missed yesterday and had not yet called in today. I knew I better come up with something or get fired. I felt great when I did wake and realize it was a dream. Less than thirty seconds of celebration and I heard my cell phone chime.
The message sent at eight o'clock, Call me asap, from Wanda. I just knew it wasn't good news. I called, "Are you awake enough to talk," she said. I was thinking I don't want to deal with this but said, "Yes, what's up?" You should know, Wanda is meticulous when it comes to our finances. On any given day, probably at any given hour; she knows account balances, deposits, withdrawals, transfers and payments. This knowledge is good but it can led to premature worry.
"Yes, what's up?" I asked. Wanda did her usual morning account check and discovered a house payment was due, today. If you read the blog yesterday you know we thought we paid off the home loan. We thought we made our last house payment. Everything we were told and did yesterday, we thought, confirmed the pay off. Now, at eight this morning, Mr. Bank listed a payment due today, and, a principal balance of $8,195,05.
We don't think we are jinxed, hexed, or have bad "juju." We think, if there is the slightest possibility that something can go wrong, it will. We have learned to ask questions and take scrupulous notes over the phone. I told Wanda that it must be the way Mr. Bank does book keeping. I told her not to worry and I would call there in a few minutes.
I love having the speaker phone when I'm on hold. I can do so many chores while I'm waiting. This morning I made coffee and loaded the dishwasher before a "person I can't understand" answered my call. She asked seven different questions for "verification" then asked the problem. After telling her she asked me more questions and put me on hold.
I vacuumed the rug, dusted the furniture and checked my e mail this time. Twenty five minutes passed from my initial contact. The "customer service" person got back on the line and said, "We received your wire transfer yesterday and don't know why a payment due is showing, ignore it." "Your account is closed and you will be receiving a check with your tax escrow, soon."
I'm guessing it will be at least three weeks until all this is done. Then again, maybe we'll get lucky and it will only be two.
No comments:
Post a Comment