Small Calamities

Your Calamities

We Salute You
May 9, 2006 | permalink

Yesterday, my cell phone service got shut off. I tried to make a call, only to be told by a recording that I owed more than $350 and that my service had been suspended until I paid up. Which is all very reasonable, except for the part where I don't actually owe them any money, as I have been paying my bill on time every month.

I use the online banking, and love the automatic bill paying. For things like my cell phone bill that are the same every month, I honestly don't even open the bills any more. So I hung up on the recording and called the bank on a borrowed phone. The very nice lady on the other end of the phone confirmed for me that yes indeed, those payments have been made as per the payment schedule I set up over a year ago. So armed, I called my cell company back.

Once I got to a person, I explained that my service had been cut off for non-payment, but that I had, in fact, been paying, and that I would like my service restored. I was told that my service would only be restored after I had paid the past due amount. I explained again that I had been paying, and that money had left my bank account on schedule over the last several months. I was told again that service would only be restored after I paid my past due balance. For a third time, and with considerably less patience, I explained that there shouldn't be a past due balance, I had been paying; If you don't have my money, I asked, then where did it go?

Please hold.

So I held, and someone else came on the line after about fifteen minutes. They introduced themselves and proceded to explain to me like I was an idiot that it took time for payments to clear and be posted, and if I just sent in the payment it might take a day or two to be reflected on my account. So I had to explain again that money had apparently been leaving my bank account for months and was not being posted to my account, and that they needed to help me find my money and restore the service that I was paying for.

Please hold.

I was on hold for twenty more minutes, and then I got disconnected. But remarkably my service was back on. I guess they had found my money after all.

What the fuck was going on that they had my money and it wasn't being credited to my account? Anyone?