Celebration of the arrival of 2024 might have to be done on a cash-only basis this Dec. 31, and not because we over-spent for Christmas. At least I didn’t.
This year that is ending will certainly be remembered for all the trips my credit card took, while leaving me, the owner, at home. It went to a variety of destinations, most of them places I have no desire to visit, and would certainly not have allowed my card to go on its own.
The eagle eyes in the fraud department of the credit card company/banking institution wasted no time in putting up red flags of warning, resulting in urgent phone messages to call the credit card company immediately.
At first I was thrilled to know fraudsters were so easily caught by the fraud department, but on the second and third occasions this year alone, I began to wish the fraud department would call someone else with their dire warnings.
But no, the department seemed to have my number, both phone and credit card, and I was on the radar.
I have always been polite to the person giving me the bad news that certain purchases had been flagged for my verification. And one fellow had me laughing when he questioned a transaction at the “Moose Coop.” After reassuring him that chickens were not involved and that the “Moose Coop” was really a legitimate grocery store and gas bar he got to the damaging news. My card had other charges on that particular day that rang bells of warning but no bells of recognition.
So once again my card was cancelled, a new one issued and thus began the tedious and frustrating experience of notifying the necessary agencies about the new number on my new card. One company in particular had to be called three times before the new number was put into play.
Then the call came again: the card company requesting me to call back to a number that by now was far too familiar. This time I was not amused when I could not understand most of what the person was telling or asking me.
I did understand my card had been compromised yet again, in California, and that a new one would be mailed to me soon. My raised voice got his attention with my demand that it be sent via courier to my bank and not trusted to the Christmas rush of mail being handled by Canada Post.
He said he could do that but it would cost me $25. I refused to pay any such fee, because, I explained, I had not paid anything on the previous occasions. He put me on hold to consult with a supervisor. He was, he said, a few minutes later, happy to waive the fee. I was happy he was happy but I wasn’t happy in any happy kind of way.
If I could have reached through the phone line when he encouraged me to “have a good day,” I guarantee his day would not have been one of good cheer.
And so, I begin a new year with a brand spanking new credit card, a card that I hope will stop going on voyages without me.
Now if I could only get my hands on that new laptop that Housemate generously ordered me as an early Christmas present. One was delivered, but it was a French model and had to be returned. I wonder what language the replacement machine will speak?
Will it say “Happy New Year” in German or maybe Swedish? I’m hoping for English only. But Frohes Neues Jahr, Gott nytt år or simply, in English: Happy New Year.
Joyce Walter can be reached at [email protected]
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the position of this publication.
