Because of a bank error — yes, US Bank took money out of our account that they weren’t authorized to take out, essentially charging us two car payments in a single month, and when told about it, responded that they’d have to send us a cashier’s check to refund the money, which will take 2-3 weeks — I find myself without access to any funds over the next few days, and my wife is out of town on business.
Couple this with another payment due me that was missed last month and I’m in a small bind for the next few days.
So. The bottom line is this: my wife and I have about $11K coming to us on Monday (that’s just the way it works out when you get paid twice monthly). And we made our payments around the stupid notion that a bank can’t simply take money away from you and then keep it for several weeks while you twist in the wind.
Meaning I can use your help. If you have a few extra bucks available to hit the tip jar, I can really use it. I’d like to raise maybe $400 or so to get us through this weekend, after which we should be fine.
If you can’t help out, or don’t want to, or whatever, don’t feel badly. No pressure here. I just thought I’d put it out there.
If you can, much obliged. I can use funds from PayPal to pay what needs paying. Thanks in advance.
Cancel autopay.
What Ernst said. I know it doesn’t help now, but autopay will always bite you in the butt, sooner or later.
Just sent you a text, but call Kim. She might be able to help you out a bit.
And, if she can’t get you the $ quicker back from the bank, we can help you out.
I thought Ernst’s comment was “Cancel autopsy.” Guess that shows where my mind is.
At any rate, yesterday was payday, so I’m happy to kick in a little early. Just try to keep it away from the ‘Dillo.
Wife of Slog and I use autopay, but not from the bank accounts. We pay off our handful of plastic balances in full every month, which means we pay no interest, and which makes these few non-automatic payments much less of a chore.
Squid, my excuse for that same initial misreading is that I’m across the room from the TV that doubles as the monitor for this computer, and the PW theme limits how much I can magnify without the sidebars encroaching.
Upside, I don’t need my reading glasses. Downside, I do need binoculars.
There was a case in Tulsa a couple of years ago where a widow deposited the balance of her husband’s life insurance, about $25,000, in her bank — and they didn’t record the transaction for over 2 months. She complained and complained and finally went to the local news station. Lo-and-behold, the same day that camera crews showed up at the bank manager’s office, her deposit magically appeared in her account. They claimed that it’s normal for it to take 75 days or more for a large check to clear.
O_O
Thanks, all.
It wasn’t autopay. They just charged us twice.
I should note we’ve been paying down credit cards, which is why we are tight on the cash just before pay day. I guess you can’t really anticipate bank errors, but yeah, it sucks, this confluence of events, and we probably should have planned a little better. My wife has her company card on the trip, so no worries there.
In my (further) defense I will say this: another entity that pays me is behind a month and that hasn’t helped, either. It really is just a major case of “all-at-once”-itis. By Monday, it’ll all be fine. So long as I can survive the next few days.
thanks Jacob, Lillian, Ella, Daniel, Squid, and Frank! You guys are really saving my bacon. Much much much appreciated!
Jeff, I was a freelancer/contractor for several years. Trust me, I know exactly where you’re at. You can plan a little for people being late or bills hitting at odd times in the month, but unless you’re psychic, you can’t cover your bases all the time. C’est la vie.
I’d like to think that if and when I get back to contracting, I have friends who can save my bacon a little. :)
(sunny-dee = Ella, btw)
Thanks bh and Frank. And thanks for reaching out Awesomeness and JohninFirestone.
Unfortunately, I don’t think Kim will be able to help b/c that bank sucks ass. Fortunately, before we discovered the error, I’d already a few days back secured a bottle of vodka for after I put the kids to bed.
Which today will be at around 5:30, I think.
Thanks, Jonathan!
Thanks, Seethuma!
[…] If you are able, it is good for your Karma. […]
Thanks cranky, Charles W, Dennis, Malcolm, and Robert!
I’ve been there on the cash flow thing.
Thanks Royce, Teresa, Thomas, Bill Q, Eric, and James!
Thanks, Gerald!
Thanks, Rolando! And thanks so much, Lee!
Also, a special thanks to Bill Quick for linking this. Us old-timers stick together, even though we’re crotchety cusses.
Thanks, guins!
I feel I must say that was a Lee other than me. Nice move guy, whoever you are.
I’ll have to catch you another time Jeff. You know it’ll be worth the wait…
Thanks, Jerry!
Thanks, Gayle!
Thanks as always, di!
US Bank sent me a letter telling me that our mortgage agreement had been breached, and they would be requiring special payment and regular home inspections for the duration of the loan. We’ve never even been late on a payment.
I called them up to find out what happened, and the automated voice system said “If you recently received a letter… please disregard”. I was wondering how many people who couldn’t be positive it was a mistake had heart attacks over it.
i had a “perfect storm” once when i was with the military.
a stranger gave me money.
-Jonathan
(ugh hit post comment before i was done)
anyhoo, “pay it forward” and all that.
Jeff, how close are you to your goal? It’s a little tight here at The Freehold this month, but if the rest of these bums aren’t getting you there I can always dig up some of the take from that armored-car holdup we partnered on back in the late ’90s. I’m pretty sure the statute of limitations has expired.
Or, you know, just use Paypal. Whatever you suggest.
Slapped the jar.
US Bank’s rating was just upgraded to B- (from C+) January 2013 (Weiss Ratings) ..
But nearly all (locally-based) Credit Unions easily beat out the (large) banks. The one I use? A+ rating.
Wow. You guys really came through! Much appreciated! Thanks to the following people who chipped in overnight and this morning, while I was doing diaper and feeding duties / doodies:
Christopher, Brian, Geoff B, Evan C, John H, Robert, SW, Gregory, Michael, Mark, Jonathan D, a second John H, John G, Nicholas, Darleen, and Jonah, serr8d, and Nancy.
I should be set with some breathing room to spare.
Thank you all so very much! It is humbling to think that so many of you pitch in to help out a bitchy little internet carper like me.
Even if I do have a bit of roguish charm.
also-my kid is wrestling your kid this weekend.
your kid goes down in the second.
(j/k i live in the awful state of MD)
Glad to hear it. My accountant said I’d have to pay income tax on all of the heist loot if I dug it up — and not just whatever I took out.
Damn ripoff.
Thanks to Peter, William, Kevin, Pam, Peter, and Julia.
That’s right: even some women read this site.
Suck it, Ms Amanda Marcotte.
psudrozz —
I’m originally from Maryland: grew up in Reisterstown and Randallstown, lived in OC for a while, went to Towson U and then Hopkins.
Escaped in 1995.
I do miss the beach, though.
Thanks, James L!
Query: Why is your money in U.S. bank instead of a local credit union?
Thanks, Stephen L!
Di —
We financed through Jeep, whose rates beat that of our credit union. But my wife is making noises about trying to re-fi, so upset is she with USB.
Thanks, Dave in SoCal!
Thanks, Brian B!
Thanks, Chris W!
Thanks, Charles A!
Thanks, SDN!
Thanks, Michael S!