My life....

Here's a glimpse into my life (which is pretty fabulous right now, BTW):



A couple of months ago, Bank of America sent me notice via snail mail that my BoA Visa was being cancelled because my credit report said I was a poor risk. I called them up and queried as to why, on an account that has never been paid late, NEVER been partially paid (always paid the entire balance every month), and never had any other problem of any kind, would be closed by them. They said that my credit report was poor. So I pulled up my credit reports and, sure enough, my ex did me dirty and failed to pay any of the accounts that were left with her (she got the house, so she got the electric, gas, cable, etc., accounts). I asked them what kind of people they were looking for - I mean, anything that's MINE has been paid on time, in full, every single month. They said sorry, no sale. So I contacted the electric company and told them that the unpaid debt they were reporting on my credit report was not mine. I sent them copies of the divorce decree, the "marital agreement" (strange name for that document - it's the property division agreement), AND the warranty deed I had to file that surrendered any right or responsibility I had for my former residence. They basically said, thanks for the info - we're tacking the unpaid balance onto YOUR electric bill at your new home. Uhhhhh...I know english is a second language a lot of places in this country nowadays, but where's the common sense? Well, I've sent a complaint to the PUC and I'm waiting to find out if ANYONE in this picture has a brain in their collective head, so more to come on that story. Anyway, back to the original thought - BoA cancelled my credit card because of poor credit that wasn't even mine, right? That was a month and a half ago. Yesterday, I got a bill from them. Mind you, I have paid every bill I've ever gotten from them the day I received it IN FULL, so there shouldn't be any bills coming now, right? Well, the knotheads sent me a bill for the annual fee on the card despite the fact that the card has been cancelled and the account closed BY THEM two months ago, so I called them. I was treated to the usual phone puzzle - dial one for english, two for spanish, three for french, four for german, five for lithuanian, etc. I think I chose "one" but I'm not sure. After the usual barrage of elevator music and infomercials, I got a real live human on the line. Of course, I had to go through five more "dial one for blah blah blah, two for golbidy gook, three for brain aneurism, four for instant power of attorney" menus first. The real live human said "this is blah blah blah, how can I give you excellent Bank of America service today?" I said "Well, that's a really good question. You all sent me an bill for an annual service fee on an account YOU closed two months ago and I really don't understand why that is." Blah Blah Blah said, "Sir, I'll be happy to investigate that for you, can you hold a moment?" I said, "sure - I was really enjoying the elevator music and the infomercial - I can hold." After another lifetime on hold, she finally came back and said "Sir - the charge for annual service fee has been removed, but I'll need to forward you to another department to have the fee for credit protection taken off." I said, "thank you; I'll wait." FINALLY, another real live human being came on the line and asked what he could do to help me. I explained the situation for the ten thousandth time and he finally got back on the line and said "Sir, the charges for annual service and the charge for credit protection have been removed. I have a confirmation number for you." I thanked him and wrote down the number and hung up the phone.

Now, I KNOW things are more complicated today than they were twenty, or thirty, or fifty years ago. Back then, you drove to a bank, spoke face to face with a banker, and reached agreement (or disagreement) on whatever business you had to do. If there was ever a problem, you went to that same guy and dealt with it PERSONALLY. Now, things are much less personal and your word is only as good as the electronic number they assign to you based many times (my situation especially) on things that are beyond your control. I have to believe that a real live human being would listen to what has happened in my case and say, "you know what - your ex has done you dirty. None of this stuff is yours - in fact, everything that IS yours has been taken care of and paid on time. I think you're credit worthy."

I think I liked things better the way they used to be.

Meanwhile, I've been blessed beyond measure! I'm now married to the love of my life and she treats me like a king! I have a great job that I love, eternal life when I die, and I'm loving what my life has become! I know that these little inconveniences will go away eventually and I've got another twenty or thirty years of happiness in front of me! Praise God forever! LIC, Dan