Gondor's Grumblings

[Gondor]

I am rather peived.

While away last weekend, my new credit card arrived. This weekend, the PIN number arrived. So far, so good. Don't worry, it all goes downhill from there.

So out shopping yesterday, I put the new card into a cash machine and enter the PIN. I had read the pamphlet that came with the card, so I knew how to change the PIN number to something I can easily remember. So I select "Other Services", then "Select New Pin" and enter the number when prompted, just like the instructions say to do. The machine comes back with a message saying it can't do that, not supported or something similar. OK, I think, maybe the card is not fully activated or something. So this morning I go out and make a small purchase from the same supermarket which the cash machine was attached to. Card not supported!

This is Sunday, no banks are open, and my own bank, which supplied the card, doesn't even have a branch within at least thirty miles of me. They do have a pod in the local shopping centre, which I shall go to tomorrow. I will have to take an hour off work to get to it to talk to the staff there. Am I going to have to change where I can shop if I want to use this card? If so, I am going to be changing the card ASAP.

[PR19_Kit]

Banks seem to have forgotten that it's OUR money they're playing about with in recent times!

I've had similar 'free and frank exchanges of views' with some bank employees in the past myself, and it always takes 3-4 repetitions of the phrase 'It's MY money!' before they toe the line.

[Nick]

I am rather peived.

While away last weekend, my new credit card arrived. This weekend, the PIN number arrived. So far, so good. Don't worry, it all goes downhill from there.

So out shopping yesterday, I put the new card into a cash machine and enter the PIN. I had read the pamphlet that came with the card, so I knew how to change the PIN number to something I can easily remember. So I select "Other Services", then "Select New Pin" and enter the number when prompted, just like the instructions say to do. The machine comes back with a message saying it can't do that, not supported or something similar. OK, I think, maybe the card is not fully activated or something. So this morning I go out and make a small purchase from the same supermarket which the cash machine was attached to. Card not supported!

This is Sunday, no banks are open, and my own bank, which supplied the card, doesn't even have a branch within at least thirty miles of me. They do have a pod in the local shopping centre, which I shall go to tomorrow. I will have to take an hour off work to get to it to talk to the staff there. Am I going to have to change where I can shop if I want to use this card? If so, I am going to be changing the card ASAP.

Do you need to activate the card first via your online banking or by phoning the bank?

[Gondor]

I am rather peived.

While away last weekend, my new credit card arrived. This weekend, the PIN number arrived. So far, so good. Don't worry, it all goes downhill from there.

So out shopping yesterday, I put the new card into a cash machine and enter the PIN. I had read the pamphlet that came with the card, so I knew how to change the PIN number to something I can easily remember. So I select "Other Services", then "Select New Pin" and enter the number when prompted, just like the instructions say to do. The machine comes back with a message saying it can't do that, not supported or something similar. OK, I think, maybe the card is not fully activated or something. So this morning I go out and make a small purchase from the same supermarket which the cash machine was attached to. Card not supported!

This is Sunday, no banks are open, and my own bank, which supplied the card, doesn't even have a branch within at least thirty miles of me. They do have a pod in the local shopping centre, which I shall go to tomorrow. I will have to take an hour off work to get to it to talk to the staff there. Am I going to have to change where I can shop if I want to use this card? If so, I am going to be changing the card ASAP.

Do you need to activate the card first via your online banking or by phoning the bank?

The documentation says that using the PIN number in a hole-in-the-wall should do. I will go see them tomorrow, a face-to-face meeting will sort it out, or I will apply for a different card with a different bank.

[McColm]

You can activate your card if you have downloaded the app or there's normally a helpline phone number that you can ring on the back of your card.
The bank that I use doesn't have any physical branches so it's all online.

[The Rat]

Banks are glaring proof of what I've believed for years: Capitalism can only work best for everyone if it's regulated to the point where it can just barely function. Banks get away with as much as they can, simply because they can, and those who control money will control it to their own advantage,

Service charges are a major peeve with me. The whole point of a bank is that they keep our money safer than in a sock under our mattress, and in return we allow them to invest it and make a little money for themselves. THAT is how they are supposed to make money, not by charging us so that they can make even more. Service charges should be flat-out illegal. And why are there service charges to businesses for accepting a debit card? It costs them less than paying a bank teller to look after me for a few minutes in order to take out enough cash for the next week. But every time I use my debit card, the merchant gets dinged for a few pennies. Some small businesses add it to the cost of the item, because they need to get it back.

[Charlie_c67]

The documentation says that using the PIN number in a  hole-in-the-wall should do. I will go see them tomorrow, a face-to-face meeting will sort it out, or I will apply for a different card with a different bank.

Good luck with that. The number of places who're ditching real people for AI, on-line services and the like is disgraceful. I'm sorry, but when I want to talk to someone about something as fundamental and private as my money or mortgage I want to see who I'm talking to thanks!

[Gondor]

I managed to talk to a couple of people from the bank this afternoon. Between us, we managed to get everything sorted. I have even used the card to buy food from my usual supermarket, and after managing to get the card linked to my PayPal account, I bought a couple of items from one of my modelling suppliers. Much happier now.

[Gondor]

The new credit card is working well, so that's one less worry. A new worry is my sleeping in for the last two days. Yesterday was not much of a problem, only twenty minutes late. Today though, that was a different matter. An hour and a half late in waking up. I have checked my phone, the volume was set to a decent level, I have however, changed the sound to something a bit more strident in the hope that helps. I phoned in and said that I would take the day off and go to the doctors to see about getting treatment for my ears, which I know are rather blocked. We shall see what happens tomorrow.
I would have been working on the DIY today, but the weather has been an almost constant drizzle, so I decided to stay indoors and play games on the computer instead.
I have started a new spreadsheet. This one is to keep track of all the accessories I have for ship modelling. With two monitors, I can have that open on one of them while I browse the suppliers on the other monitor. I hope it saves me making repeat orders when I don't need to.

[kerick]

Have you had a change in any medications lately? I started a new dosage a while back and was zonked out the whole day. A few days ago I took my regular meds a little earlier than usual and I felt like I was drunk for hours. All it takes is an interaction with something perfectly ordinary.

[Gondor]

Have you had a change in any medications lately? I started a new dosage a while back and was zonked out the whole day. A few days ago I took my regular meds a little earlier than usual and I felt like I was drunk for hours. All it takes is an interaction with something perfectly ordinary.

Nope, no change of anything at all. It's not as if I am feeling especially tired either, just the same old same old, other than one almost fully blocked ear and another that is heading that way.

[Rick Lowe]

one almost fully blocked ear and another that is heading that way.

That could be just enough... lie on the good less worse side, and you'll never hear it.

[NARSES2]

one almost fully blocked ear and another that is heading that way.

That could be just enough... lie on the good less worse side, and you'll never hear it.

Odly I find that quite useful. I have one almost deaf ear and if there's a party or what ever going on nearby when I'm trying to sleep then I simply roll over on to my good side. No good if you've got to get to work though, I can imagine how anoying that can be.

[Rick Lowe]

There's always an upside. 

[Gondor]

Well, I have done it again. I have managed to put off procrastinating. I have still not got around to using my nice and shiny new router to cut the grooves in a sheet of MDF for the 3D printer booth. This was mainly due to medical issues. Firstly, sorting out a pair of appointments at my medical centre, I got myself double-booked. I am getting my ears checked out for possible syringing and also seeing my Doctor a short time after dropping my mother off at her hairdresser's, which is almost next door to the medical centre. So, while she is getting her hair done, I will be getting sorted out myself. No point in even moving the car, considering the distance either. Possibly a win-win situation.
At least, seeing that I have not been using the router, I can set up my jigsaw so I can cut a different sheet of MDF to size, then cut a hole in it as well as cutting a pair of shelves down a bit, as they are not designed for the bookcase I intend to use them in.
I still have too many things to do.