lindatooo
Head Chef
I must admit I do not take full advantage of the computer technology available to us today. I continue the time honored practice of writing checks to pay many of my monthly debts. I place them in envelopes (generally supplied by my creditor), add my return address and a 37 cent stamp and faithfully deposit them in an official US Postal Service Mail Box. NEVER in my own mailbox as I've been cautioned against that.
Two months ago my newspaper carrier returned a partially mutilated check to me requesting a replacement as the check would not likely be processed by the bank.
Last month I received a form letter from the post office appologizing for the mutilization beyond repair of two more envelopes; the checks though crumpled badly were still whole....the letter was neither signed or dated. Of course the checks were returned to me well past the due date for the debts - so I re-mailed them to my creditors with a copy of the letter in hopes they would not charge me the late fees they would normally assess.
A week or so later I received a late notice from another creditor. Fortunately I have a life history of paying my bills on time - so they weren't nasty - since the check number was consecutive to the first two crumpled ones I assumed it was lost beyond recognition and mailed them another check - with a note of explanation and a copy of the letter from USPS.
Yesterday I received a letter from another creditor requesting that I phone them about my account. My mail arrives later and later it seems - used to get here about 10:00 am - yesterday's was here about 4:00 pm. The creditor's phone lines were only open until 4:30 so I rushed to phone. As luck would have it this was an account on which cards are issued to both me and my husband but he is the primary account holder and they would give me absolutely no information - nevermind that THEY had send US the letter to our HOME and since I live here I was trying to call them in a TIMELY FASHION...(you can imagine my frustration growing). I'm just a tad bit paranoid about such things since we experienced fraud with a debit card recently....thank heavens the bank became suspicious when it appeared I was purchasing gasoline and appliances in Turkey...and we emerged unscathed but I keep a much closer eye on such things now.
Today I discovered the reason for the letter...another letter from the USPS - this time without the check or the envelope but with an image of the check printed on the letter again appologizing for the mutilation of the mail. Of course the check had been written to the creditor who had mailed me the query.
They appologize profusely - This one is signed and the image of the check at least gives the date it was written and they assure me that the original check has been shredded and the scanned original is not retained. There is, however, no phone number on the stationery for me to call if I have further questions. Somehow I would feel better if the shredded pieces of the check had been enclosed.
Anybody else having this trouble? What if this happened to your tax return? There was no date on any of the enclosures to evidence that the remitances had been mailed on time.....The checks were all mailed from different locations- a "Mail & More" a USPS depository and through Hospital mail so I doubt they all hit the same machine!
I mislike the notion of paying all of my bills online. There is plenty of fraud on the internet and lots of exposure - what is a person to do?
2
Two months ago my newspaper carrier returned a partially mutilated check to me requesting a replacement as the check would not likely be processed by the bank.
Last month I received a form letter from the post office appologizing for the mutilization beyond repair of two more envelopes; the checks though crumpled badly were still whole....the letter was neither signed or dated. Of course the checks were returned to me well past the due date for the debts - so I re-mailed them to my creditors with a copy of the letter in hopes they would not charge me the late fees they would normally assess.
A week or so later I received a late notice from another creditor. Fortunately I have a life history of paying my bills on time - so they weren't nasty - since the check number was consecutive to the first two crumpled ones I assumed it was lost beyond recognition and mailed them another check - with a note of explanation and a copy of the letter from USPS.
Yesterday I received a letter from another creditor requesting that I phone them about my account. My mail arrives later and later it seems - used to get here about 10:00 am - yesterday's was here about 4:00 pm. The creditor's phone lines were only open until 4:30 so I rushed to phone. As luck would have it this was an account on which cards are issued to both me and my husband but he is the primary account holder and they would give me absolutely no information - nevermind that THEY had send US the letter to our HOME and since I live here I was trying to call them in a TIMELY FASHION...(you can imagine my frustration growing). I'm just a tad bit paranoid about such things since we experienced fraud with a debit card recently....thank heavens the bank became suspicious when it appeared I was purchasing gasoline and appliances in Turkey...and we emerged unscathed but I keep a much closer eye on such things now.
Today I discovered the reason for the letter...another letter from the USPS - this time without the check or the envelope but with an image of the check printed on the letter again appologizing for the mutilation of the mail. Of course the check had been written to the creditor who had mailed me the query.
They appologize profusely - This one is signed and the image of the check at least gives the date it was written and they assure me that the original check has been shredded and the scanned original is not retained. There is, however, no phone number on the stationery for me to call if I have further questions. Somehow I would feel better if the shredded pieces of the check had been enclosed.
Anybody else having this trouble? What if this happened to your tax return? There was no date on any of the enclosures to evidence that the remitances had been mailed on time.....The checks were all mailed from different locations- a "Mail & More" a USPS depository and through Hospital mail so I doubt they all hit the same machine!
I mislike the notion of paying all of my bills online. There is plenty of fraud on the internet and lots of exposure - what is a person to do?
2
, you can have utilities & such (i.e. phone co), automatically deduct the bill from your checking account.
Seriously, you've had more trouble in the last few months than I've had in a lifetime. If you have records of these things, you might want to go in and discuss this with the postmaster.
