January 12 2009: I finally access my email from Scotiabank about my cheque that is floating around in limbo. Would you believe that in the age of computers, internet, and after the invention of FAX and TELEGRAPH this is how banks cash international cheques:
1. American bank puts a hold on a foreign cheque for 30 days, then sends it on "collection." This is to confirm that the cheque can be cashed. In this process, the request to cash the cheque is sent VIA SNAIL MAIL to my bank in Canada.
2. The Canadian bank receives the cheque and responds "immediately" VIA SNAIL MAIL AGAIN.
3. Once the American bank receives the confirmation, the cheque is cashed.
Unfortunately, I tried to cash my cheque right before Christmas which apparently "slowed this process considerably."
You're telling me no one can pick up a bloody phone? Or scan the cheque and email the image to the Canadian bank? There is no other way to do this other than regular mail? So I'm paying bank fees all over the place and getting 19th century banking services.
According to my Canadian bank there is no estimate on when my cheque can be cashed. Because, much like determining if Creed had sex with a man, it would be impossible to tell.
Showing posts with label incompetence. Show all posts
Showing posts with label incompetence. Show all posts
Monday, January 12, 2009
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Why Living In Other Countries Is Bad
I realize I brought this upon myself by moving to the states, but I wasn't prepared for the nightmare that is cross-country banking. I have a bank account in Canada and a bank account in America. Every few months I transfer Canadian money to my American account so I can pay bills/rent. After successfully doing this several times, I have suddenly entered a painful, never-ending nightmare of currency exchange and there is no end in sight. Allow me to construct a timeline:
Early November 2008: I deposit a cheque for $3000 CAD into an American ATM. The ATM ate my cheque and did not deposit it. The bank teller tells me to come back next week to claim my cheque.
Next week: The cheque is missing. I am given the number of the ATM company to request a search for my cheque. A file for my search is created, I'm told to wait 2 weeks.
2 weeks later: The cheque is missing for good. I am told to cancel that cheque and deposit a new one.
December 12 2008: I deposit a new cheque for $3000, this time directly to the teller. The teller has no idea how to exchange foreign currency. I am trapped at the bank for almost an hour while multiple tellers work on the problem. I am told not to deposit cheques of foreign currency again. A hold has been placed on my cheque and it cannot be cashed for up to several weeks.
Sometime over the Christmas break 2008: I realize I no longer have enough money in my US account to pay January rent. I drive with G to the US side of the falls and deposit US cash into an ATM.
Later over the Christmas break 2008: I realize several cheques I wrote were cashed right before the new year. Once again, I no longer have enough money to pay rent. I a second, angrier trip to the falls with G to deposit US cash I received as a Christmas gift.
January 5 2009: I call my US bank to complain about my cheque. First, I was given the wrong phone number by the teller. Then I can't get through to the correct number because I don't have a social security number. Then I get through to a different number but am hung up on. TWICE. After one hour I get a hold of a real person at the bank. They inform me they don't know why the cheque hasn't been cashed and am told to wait for the manager to call me. I miss the call from the manager because I am in class. I am told Scotiabank has put a hold on my cheque.
January 6 2009: I email Scotiabank the details of this problem and await their response which is expected within 24 hours, as advertised on their webpage.
January 10 2009: Finally receive response from Scotiabank. However, when I click on their email I am greeted with an error message saying the email is temporarily unavailable.
January 11 2009: I type this blog entry while flames lap the sides of my face.
To be continued...
Early November 2008: I deposit a cheque for $3000 CAD into an American ATM. The ATM ate my cheque and did not deposit it. The bank teller tells me to come back next week to claim my cheque.
Next week: The cheque is missing. I am given the number of the ATM company to request a search for my cheque. A file for my search is created, I'm told to wait 2 weeks.
2 weeks later: The cheque is missing for good. I am told to cancel that cheque and deposit a new one.
December 12 2008: I deposit a new cheque for $3000, this time directly to the teller. The teller has no idea how to exchange foreign currency. I am trapped at the bank for almost an hour while multiple tellers work on the problem. I am told not to deposit cheques of foreign currency again. A hold has been placed on my cheque and it cannot be cashed for up to several weeks.
Sometime over the Christmas break 2008: I realize I no longer have enough money in my US account to pay January rent. I drive with G to the US side of the falls and deposit US cash into an ATM.
Later over the Christmas break 2008: I realize several cheques I wrote were cashed right before the new year. Once again, I no longer have enough money to pay rent. I a second, angrier trip to the falls with G to deposit US cash I received as a Christmas gift.
January 5 2009: I call my US bank to complain about my cheque. First, I was given the wrong phone number by the teller. Then I can't get through to the correct number because I don't have a social security number. Then I get through to a different number but am hung up on. TWICE. After one hour I get a hold of a real person at the bank. They inform me they don't know why the cheque hasn't been cashed and am told to wait for the manager to call me. I miss the call from the manager because I am in class. I am told Scotiabank has put a hold on my cheque.
January 6 2009: I email Scotiabank the details of this problem and await their response which is expected within 24 hours, as advertised on their webpage.
January 10 2009: Finally receive response from Scotiabank. However, when I click on their email I am greeted with an error message saying the email is temporarily unavailable.
January 11 2009: I type this blog entry while flames lap the sides of my face.
To be continued...
Monday, February 11, 2008
OMFG
So, remember how I was in that car accident? All the damages [a totaled van] and medical bills are to be covered in full by U-Haul provided I submit all receipts and the police report that detailed the accident.
I have been trying to obtain the police report for about a month now to no avail. A few weeks ago I sent them a written request for the record and a cheque to cover the cost of the report. I've called and left messages asking them where it is, they didn't call me back.
I finally get someone on the phone today and she looked up my name and the accident report.
She said the accident under my name is listed as a hit and run that occurred on January 19, 2008.
When I corrected her with the actual details of my accident there was a pause and then she told me:
It appears that we have misplaced the accident report. I don't know where it is. All the office are now closed. I'll call you tomorrow.
*blood shooting from eyes*
I have been trying to obtain the police report for about a month now to no avail. A few weeks ago I sent them a written request for the record and a cheque to cover the cost of the report. I've called and left messages asking them where it is, they didn't call me back.
I finally get someone on the phone today and she looked up my name and the accident report.
She said the accident under my name is listed as a hit and run that occurred on January 19, 2008.
When I corrected her with the actual details of my accident there was a pause and then she told me:
It appears that we have misplaced the accident report. I don't know where it is. All the office are now closed. I'll call you tomorrow.
*blood shooting from eyes*
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