The Vent and Rant Thread

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by Tarana

I still do screen captures until I get a confirmation somewhere - email or listing on the transactions. That confirmation number does mean something - they can't charge you a late payment fee because you have proof that you attempted to pay. Not your fault that their system is screwed up.

I always take a ss, unless/until I have the confirmation. While I haven't had horribly frequent issues, when it's happened, it's a doozy.

Hitch

[John F]

Originally Posted by Tarana

I still do screen captures until I get a confirmation somewhere - email or listing on the transactions. That confirmation number does mean something - they can't charge you a late payment fee because you have proof that you attempted to pay. Not your fault that their system is screwed up.

...

I agree that the confirmation code does mean something. I just have a high degree of confidence that once I see the confirmation window, the transaction has been logged and I can get the confirmation code in the future.

Even when using my credit card, I usually get a confirmation email from my credit card company almost instantly.

[ownedbycats]

Rant: I dropped a heavy book on my foot while scanning ISBNs.

[ApK]

Originally Posted by ownedbycats

Rant: I dropped a heavy book on my foot while scanning ISBNs.

So in addition to regular eye reading, audio book ear reading, and Braille finger reading, you wanted try foot reading?

[binaryhermit]

I realize that 6 feet away isn't always possible in a grocery store checkout line, but the number of dumbasses who don't even make an effort to appear to be trying...

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by ApK

So in addition to regular eye reading, audio book ear reading, and Braille finger reading, you wanted try foot reading?

Most (all ??) transcribers have a foot control to stop/start/nudge the 'tape'.

BR

[ApK]

Originally Posted by BetterRed

Most (all ??) transcribers have a foot control to stop/start/nudge the 'tape'.

BR

That's just the equivalent of page turning. Ownedbycats appears to have attempted foot-reading by the direct-rapid-osmosis approach.....

[4691mls]

Originally Posted by binaryhermit

I realize that 6 feet away isn't always possible in a grocery store checkout line, but the number of dumbasses who don't even make an effort to appear to be trying...

I was recently in a long line where most people did appear to be trying, but the woman behind me consistently stayed only about 2-3 feet behind me.
Edited to add that this was a TJ Maxx that has one line for all registers, and there is plenty of room.

[binaryhermit]

I mean presumably you could read braille with your bare feet.

Assuming you understand braille, of course.

[4691mls]

Originally Posted by John F

I agree that the confirmation code does mean something. I just have a high degree of confidence that once I see the confirmation window, the transaction has been logged and I can get the confirmation code in the future.

Even when using my credit card, I usually get a confirmation email from my credit card company almost instantly.

So apparently I am the idiot here. After I corresponded with the company by email it turns out the number I wrote down was not a confirmation number but an account number. Apparently either I misread the screen or copied the wrong number from the page. I dunno.

I am thinking about signing up for my credit union's bill paying service. I've got to look more into how it works.

[ApK]

Originally Posted by binaryhermit

I mean presumably you could read braille with your bare feet.

Assuming you understand braille, of course.

If you're sensitive enough, I imagine you could read braille by pressing a page anywhere against your skin, which would make for interesting sleep-learning opportunities, among other things.
But I digress....

Originally Posted by 4691mls

So apparently I am the idiot here. After I corresponded with the company by email it turns out the number I wrote down was not a confirmation number but an account number. Apparently either I misread the screen or copied the wrong number from the page. I dunno.

I am thinking about signing up for my credit union's bill paying service. I've got to look more into how it works.

Some of the advantages to using your own institution's system (presuming you like your institution and you are comfortable using their system) are:
1. You have the consistency of paying everyone the same way.
2. All your payments are together in one place for organization and clarity.
3. You mostly have to only deal with your institution for questions and problems.
4. You can pay almost anyone, whether they have their own system or not.

Some of the disadvantages are, since some payees get sent a paper check rather than an electronic payment:
1. Payments can take longer to post.
2. Payments can still get lost in the mail, or lost by the payee after they receive them.
3. You don't get an immediate confirmation number showing that the payee received or acknowledged the payment, just that you've tried to send it.

For me, if a service has a system where they automatically take their payment and I don't have to do anything at all on my end once it's set up, I use that. My power bill, for example, is on the equal-pay budget system, so they just auto-draft the same amount each month, and I never have to go into their system.

If I have to do something myself each time I make a payment, I would usually use my bank's system, though in reality, I'm down to so few and infrequent payments that I have to send manually, it doesn't matter. Logging in to the DMV or my city's utility bill system a once or twice a year is just as easy as using my bank, and the payments post faster.

[BetterRed]

Not really a rant; tangential to the confirmation issue.

I went to my cardiologist for a check up the other day, on arrival the receptionist wanted to confirm my mobile number - which we did.

"Did you get the reminder SMS we sent?"
"Yes I did, thanks."
"But you didn't reply."
"Oh, I didn't know you were expecting a reply"
"You were supposed to reply with a 'Y' or call us to reschedule"
"Oh sorry. The date & time were what I had in my diary so I deleted the SMS."
"But I also called you several times and you didn't answer the calls?"
"Ah-ah, so you were person calling with no identification, I don't answer those calls."
"Nor do I."

Echoed by her two colleagues.

BR

[Uncle Robin]

Originally Posted by BetterRed

"You were supposed to reply with a 'Y' or call us to reschedule"

Did the SMS you received not explicitly state that? I get them from my dentist and their texts do say, "please reply "YES" to confirm".

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by Uncle Robin

Did the SMS you received not explicitly state that? I get them from my dentist and their texts do say, "please reply "YES" to confirm".

I have no doubt it did, but the date and time were visible without opening it, and I knew what I needed to take with me - referral, list of meds, blood test results, and pacemaker fanfold - same as always Miss Sophie

[Uncle Robin]

Originally Posted by BetterRed

I have no doubt it did, but the date and time were visible without opening it, and I knew what I needed to take with me - referral, list of meds, blood test results, and pacemaker fanfold - same as always Miss Sophie

Those texts are neither pointless nor superfluous. They serve a useful purpose. They are seeking confirmation that you're still coming as planned. Especially helpful if some time has elapsed since the appointment was made. Taking 10 seconds to open and reply can be a big help to the practice that sent it.