…with HASSLES!
Yep: I spent the entire afternoon shift down at the church reception desk putting out fires ignited by the theft of my card wallet and every credit card and ID card to my name. Three hours of figuring out what recurring charges need to be OKed by the credit union, which ones have been in place since the memory of Person runneth not to the contrary, and which are new charges that the CU staff need to know about.
I’m now prepared to gallop into the CU tomorrow morning, let them know which autopays are legit and should stay in place, which autodeposits are real and must not be fu*ked up, alert them that my son’s account is vulnerable, too (won’t he be thrilled?), and try to order up a new Medicare card (good luck with that!). This afternoon — just a few minutes ago, I found the original of my Social Security card, so that is one truly major hassle evaded. But trying to get a new Medicare card involves a fine hoop-jump with a faceless, brain-banging system. And…because my son has linked his credit-union account with mine by way of juggling payments on the mid-town house…ooooohhh gawd! Presumably if the sh!thead can get into my account, he can get into my son’s.
So THAT highly convenient arrangement will have to be demolished.
I’ve been afraid to tell M’hijito about this débâcle. But…depending on what CU staff say tomorrow morning, I may have to tell him about it. And oh my friends and ah my foes, you may be sure I’ll never hear the end of it!
😀
Man! I’ll tellya…I’m hoping (against hope) that tomorrow’s visit to the credit union will be as close to the end of this headache as we can get. If push comes to shove, o’course, we can close both accounts and start over with new account numbers. But that will just be stage 2 in the marathon headache.
I have a sh!tload of autopays that will have to be re-done; probably will need the advice and consent of credit-union staff to pull that off. We already have a new debit card. But some of this stuff, like Social Security and Medicare cards, cannot be issued anew. Big Brother will give you a new card, but with the same number. So if the jerk has got your name and your card number, you’re just flat outta luck for whatever bills he runs up.
So, what can Funny’s readers learn from this fine fiasco? Well…
1. Photocopy all the cards in your wallet, front and back. Store these copies in a safe place where you can find them quickly.
2. While you’re at it, compile a list of all your credit-card issuers with contact information. Do not lose this!
3. If some doctor’s office’s staff demands that you carry your Social Security card around with you and show it to them every time you visit (ahem! are you listening, Young Dr. Kildare?) tell them to take a flyer at the moon. Remind them that it is illegal to use a Social Security card as ID and that they have no business demanding that you bring your Social Security card every time you walk in the door. Nor, for that matter, once they’ve recorded your Medicare data, is there any reason to expect you to flash your Medicare card for every visit.
4. Keep an up-to-date running record of every charge, credit, and debit you make. Don’t wait for statements to come in. Keep your own list of debits and credits!
5. Although auto-pays of recurring costs like utility bills are convenient, consider that they may morph into first-class hassles if a theft requires closing a bank account. It may be better to write (gasp!) paper checks or manually send electronic payment. While manually paying every little routine bill is a time suck, undoing your carefully crafted bill-pay system is even even greater time suck…and a chaotic one.
You are afraid to tell your son that your wallet was stolen? Because you will never hear the end of it? Where does he get off? For a guy that lives in a house he could only afford because his mother subsidized it, he sure has an inflated idea of his own competence, and your lack thereof.
I’m sorry, I don’t mean to offend you. But he seems to feel very entitled to control you and your money. Didn’t he threaten to have you declared incompetent when you wanted to move? Leaving aside the fact that no judge would ever grant him conservatorship, it really sounds like he is beginning to bully you. If he is that worried about your finances, he can just buy you out of your equity in the mid-town house.
Well, he has much in common with his paternal grandfather. 😀 Seriously, just now I am way too tired and out of patience with this ring-around-the-rosy to worry about it.
He will be justifiably annoyed when (make that “if”) he realizes the wallet was stolen and his bank account compromised because I carelessly left my credit-card case on the back porch table where some dude could pocket it. That was extremely stupid on my part, and whatever inconvenience my son enjoys as a result will indeed be my fault.
The credit union might have suggested this but you could consider freezing your credit bureau credit reports so that the criminal cannot apply for loans using your name and identity
Yeah, he did suggest that. Thanks for the reminder, though.
I feel your pain – my handbag was stolen with cards, keys, checkbooks, etc., over 20 years ago and just this week I awoke in a panic because I still have nightmares. Unless it happens to you there’s no way to appreciate how vulnerable you feel. Warning: they have your address. I had to have locks changed and get a p.o. box for mail – they came to my house and got replacement cards out of mailbox.
Oh my goodness! Well, you have to give them credit for being enterprising…they were ambitious enough to raid the mailbox for the new cards!
Jeeminy! Ever think maybe we’re in the wrong business?
Luckily, all Barbecue Dude got was a credit-card holder. House keys (eeek!!!), cash (whatever that is), the checkbook and whatnot were still in the other room. Actually, this is one reason I no longer carry a purse around with me, nor do I carry cash. ALL I drag around as I perambulate the planet is one metal card carrier, containing ID, credit cards, a debit card, and a list of emergency numbers. I wear clothes that have pockets and no, I do not care how dowdy I look — the cards go in one pocket and the keys go in another. This makes it harder for me to practice my superb skills at losing things, and it also (I believe) makes me a less tempting target as I stroll around the parking lots.
The Funny Farm is equipped with heavy-duty, pick-resistant deadbolts and steel security doors to the front, back, and garage. Also, the office, where the computer resides, has a solid-core door with one of those monster deadbolts, too. The burglar will have to work for his pay if he decides to take on this place. 😀