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Scrooge and Tiny Tim



In one day, late November, I had a most bi-polar sort of day. I can only liken it (especially this time of year) to what it would be like to deal with Scrooge, and then feel all curmudgeonly, and then only hours later to deal with Tiny Tim and feel all "God bless us everyone-ish".

 It actually happened only yesterday. So the feelings are fresh.

 I started my day with my cop of joe sitting on the couch with my furry sidekick, Wally. I played a game (and won!) on my phone and remembered that I might need to go to the grocery store later so I checked the balance of my checking account. This is where an ordinary day turned quickly sour because a payment that was scheduled to post on December 12 had instead posted that day. A $400-something payment to Sprint sent the balance on my small household checking account into the red and I began seeing red! I had used the automated pay system the day before and will never again.

 I called, despite the warning that 'talking to a customer service rep will cost $7 and will be applied to your next bill'. After waiting several minutes to be connected to a representative, I was told that she was 'most terribly sorry for the problem I am experiencing' and after explaining several times the problem that I was experiencing she announced that she was 'happy to share that my refund had been approved and a check will be mailed to me'. I said, no that would not solve my problem that I would need a credit issued to the debit card I use to pay my bill and that I would need this done now. She apologized that she could not help me but would transfer me to collections and they would be able to help me. "Is there something else I may do for you," she asked. "While I have you on the line? would you like to add a line of service or a tablet?"

 Really?

 "No, thank you. Not today," I said. And she transferred the call to collections.

 I was on hold, hearing the same messages several times, and looking at the elapsed time of the call on my phone - 9 minutes, 32 seconds. A male rep introduced himself and I had to again provide my number, name, pin number and reason for the call. "I am most sorry for this inconvenience," he said. The noise in the background, likely a very busy call center, was loud and annoying but I reasoned to my self that it would only take another minute or two and I could muscle through.

 Unfortunately, the total time was nearly 45 minutes and when I finally hung up I had a headache and neck/jaw ache from holding my tongue all while grinding my teeth in sheer frustration. I was told that a refund was approved and a credit issued to my account within 5 to 7 days. I knew that three bills would be posting to my account - though these were expected and had been budgeted for- and that the bank might assess fees.

 So, I pulled out the phone book (it's gotten really thin!) to locate the number for my local branch. Since it was now after 9, I knew that they'd be open. The number listed however, sent me to a corporate phone not to my local branch where the manager I know would be able to assist me - so I spoke with a rep who was not helpful and only said that once the refund is issued I should then call to have any fees 'possibly' refunded.

 It was now 9:30 and I wanted a drink! BaHumbug!

 Instead I got ready to meet my friend at church where we were going to sort through the food donations the women's ministry was collecting. We are going to use the donations to help feed and sustain 72 children over Christmas break. These students receive free or reduced fee breakfast and lunch. 

 I was taken aback by what had been collected so far -after only 1 week!! Plus, we had received cash donations that we planned to use to supplement the donations by buying items to 'even' out the bags for all 72 children. It did my heart good - to witness the generosity of my church.

 We went to Meijer to buy a few items that were on sale and the store manager agreed without a moment's hesitation to donate the needed number of blue cloth shopping bags. It made her smile, she said, to help. Me too, I said!

 And then when I got home, I had an email from church that a woman had just dropped off a full cart of groceries. She was, according to the email, giddy to see how much she could get for just under $200!!

 Headache? What headache? What jaw or neck ache? God bless us everyone! Maybe even Sprint.
ps. I was in a great mood until this afternoon when I once again logged on to my bank account and noticed the fees. I used my fury by sending an email to the President of Sprint's midwest region. Heck, I've been a loyal customer for 16 years let's see if he can keep my loyalty!

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