I got out of the house for the first time since the overreaction started last month. It looks very odd to see so few cars on the road.

I noticed QT has regular gasoline for $1.69 a gallon. Wal-Mart is just about back to normal. I saw a few people wearing masks and the shelves were just about bare of canned tuna. Mostly normal experience.

At the bank branch where I take care of my business, the lobby was locked and a sign taped to the door. The sign says you must call a number for an appointment.

I called and a very overworked young lady answered on about the 27th ring. She insisted I call another number  for card services and work with them. I intensely dislike doing business over the phone. I get so much more done face to face, and with a lot fewer misunderstandings.

Anyway, I called the card services number, had a nice long conversation with the lady there. First, I had to tell my story for the umpteenth time to her. After a lengthy review, she said the problem was back with the branch that has me locked out, but the card services people will “review” my account, what ever that means.

They are only asking for $10.27 which I am willing to pay if they will just quit billing me that much on a credit card I took back to the bank two years ago!

I asked to pay the bill. The one I do not think I owe. She needed the account number and routing number off a check to process my payment.

Problem was, I have not written a paper check in 17 years. I do everything in cash, or over the phone. I have no idea where the checkbook and paper documents are.

I offered to pay the bill with a debit card, on another bank, that has adequate funds in it. They are not set up to accept payments by debit card, they must have check routing numbers. But they promised to “Review” my account.

Let that soak in. A credit card company – does not accept payments by credit (debit) card; and the bank I have done business with for years, needs me to tell them what their own bank routing number is!!!!

I have PTSD, I do not suffer fools gladly. I want to holler, cuss, throw stuff and drink whisky. I cannot do that. All the employees at TD Bank are very attractive young girls. They are all super polite. I still want to kick something and cuss somebody. I just cannot do that to those sweet, but less than competent, young ladies.

So I took it all out on you. Sorry about that. I just hate all the nice people on the other end of the phone who also can’t do a damn thing, but are so polite.

I will be so glad when we can do banking (and all other business) in person once more. It feels so much better to walk out of the bank thinking they understand a simple problem (they usually don’t) and that it will get fixed. (It won’t) That’s less stressful than knowing a phone conversation you waited on hold to engage in, has definitely not fixed your small problem.

Stay safe and don’t try to do any banking till this is over.

Dean Allen is a decorated Vietnam veteran and book author. 

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