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Credit Unions - another side of the story

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Dawn
Established Contributor

Credit Unions - another side of the story

I never thought I would see the day that I would look down upon the credit unions we have banked with for over 20 years. 
 
However, DD has accounts with both of the CUs DH and I use and is really in an uncomfortable position right now.  Her one major credit card and her check card have both been shut down because of a comedy of errors.  And neither seem to be in a position to offer the level of service I have read about here where card holders are getting cards over-nighted to them.  Smiley Sad
 
A month ago, she tried to pay her rent with her check card that she hadn't used since activation many months earlier.  The charges didn't go through because there was a fraud alert on her check card, however, neither the card processing service that you call regarding lost/stolen cards, nor the customer service department at the CU could tell her WHY there was a fraud alert on her card.  They supposedly removed the fraud alert, but she wrote a check instead of trying the card again.  Since she normally doesn't use the check card, she forgot about it ... until she needed it a month later.
 
Around the same time, she requested a replacement credit card from the other credit union (her card was functioning, but the magnetic strip was in bad shape.) She waited 10 days for that CC to arrive and finally called to inquire about it.  They "researched" it and told her that the field for her address was not long enough and her apartment number was incomplete. 
 
Instead of cancelling the card and having to be reassigned a new number, she chose to wait a little longer and asked the staff in the management office to be on the alert for it.  The  postal carrier supposedly gives the questionable mail to them, but as of a few days ago, they never saw it.  Finally, she gave up and cancelled the card during her lunch hour ... and ... the silly thing was delivered that very day!!!  However, now she has to wait another three weeks to get the new card with a new number? 
 
Now that her credit card has been shut down, she tried to use her check card that the other credit union had supposedly removed the fraud alert from.  Guess what?!?  It's still flagged with a fraud alert and this time, they admit that they are not able to remove it and activate the card, so she is also waiting for a new check card.  If they had been able to tell her that a month ago, she would have a replacement check card right now ... but they didn't know the first time around that they couldn't remove the fraud alert and reactivate the card?!?
 
She is beside herself as this dark cloud seems to continue following her around.  Only one of the CUs has shared branches where she can access cash through a teller, and she is not accustomed to having to go that route and is very frustrated in being without the advantage of her "plastic."  It is amazing how convenient this method of payment has become for all of us ... until it falls apart and you have to rely on the old fashioned methods of banking and bill payment.  Progress is great ... but sometimes it is a real pain!
 
Moral of the story as mentioned by others regarding credit cards  ... don't leave home without a backup (and another in case the backup doesn't work.)  And ... make sure you have at least one local financial institution that you can do walk in business with.
 
 
 
Message 1 of 4
3 REPLIES 3
Anonymous
Not applicable

Re: Credit Unions - another side of the story

It is a very bad idea to only use plastic for rent!  I only carry 1 debit card (I use this for grocery & drug store) OR if I want to pay cash...I also carry 1 CC.    
 
 I make all payments online!!!  If it a payment to someone that isn't online I then have it set up as a merchant with my bank.......I can go online with my bank & they will mail the amount that I type in.
 
She would have a hard time If her cards were lost or stolen!
 
Now when I travel I take 3 CC with me also....I know how to spend!!


Message Edited by HappyDays on 04-03-2008 01:43 PM
Message 2 of 4
Dawn
Established Contributor

Re: Credit Unions - another side of the story



HappyDays wrote:
 
 I make all payments online!!!  If it a payment to someone that isn't online I then have it set up as a merchant with my bank.......I can go online with my bank & they will mail the amount that I type in.
 
She would have a hard time If her cards were lost or stolen!
I see pros and cons of paying everything through online bill pay.  I use a combination of both depending upon the level of security I have with the different payees.
 
When it comes to making things easier if your credit cards are lost or stolen, I can see the advantages of having used online bill pay and not having to log into each of the other payee's websites  and change the payment information for specific accounts. 
 
However, for me the benefit of being able to have recurring bills auto-paid with my CC (and avoid potential overdraft situations when the charges hit my account at an awkward time ... as well as accumulate the reward points) outweighs the inconvenience of having to change my payment information with each of those companies.
 
Fortunately, my daughter and I both recently made spread sheets with all of the accounts we pay, detailing how we manage payments for those accounts. Being prepared ahead of time (and not having to rely on memory during a state of panic) to change payment information for those accounts auto-billed to your credit cards ... makes the situation a little less traumatic. 
Message 3 of 4
Anonymous
Not applicable

Re: Credit Unions - another side of the story

I carry a debit check card from another bank as a back up and $50 in cash!
Message 4 of 4
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