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I had a nightmare last night. I dreamt that I couldn't withdraw cash from my ATM card. In my dream I called my credit union and asked them if something was wrong. The conversation went something like this:
Me: I tried withdrawing money with my ATM card and the machine won't give me any money. I want to make sure there's not a problem with my account.
Teller: Did you use your new ATM card and new PIN?
Me: I used my normal card and PIN. What else should I be using?
Teller: Did you use the new ATM card and PIN that we mailed out last week?
Me: I didn't request any new ATM card or PIN. I'm on the road and am unable to get my mail.
Teller: We sent out new ATM cards to everyone last week. Your old card will no longer work.
Me: Why would you do that?
Teller: We're preparing for Y2K. We wouldn't you to not be able to withdraw money after the first of the year.
Me: But I can't withdraw money now.
Teller: I'm sorry.
Me: Why didn't you give any warning of this action?
Teller: We sent out notices last week in the mail.
Me: But I'm on the road! I can't get my mail! I didn't request this card. It states quite explicitly on the card that it doesn't expire until December 1999.
Teller: Can the other person listed on your account get the card to you?
Me: No, she's with me. Can you send a new card to the hotel I'm staying at tonight?
Teller: I'm sorry, sir, it takes four to six weeks to request a new card.
Me: It didn't take you four to six weeks the cancel my current card! You did that without notifying me. You did that without me even requesting it!
Teller: I'm sorry, sir.
Me: Ok. Can you wire money from my account to a Western Union office?
Teller: No, sir, we can't.
Me: Well you had better think of a way quickly to get money to me. I'm in Ft. Stockton, Texas, and I don't have any money. I'm not going to be home for a couple of weeks.
Teller: You'll have to go to a local bank and have them wire money to you. It will only take an hour.
Me: AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I still haven't woken up from this nightmare. It's 100% true, unfortunately. I'm a patient man but I get angry at total incompetence. Unbelievable! I had a problem with Money One Federal Credit Union about five years ago. The last time, I had a heart-to-heart with one of the vice presidents of the credit union. I suspect that this time I will simply find a more competent bank - perhaps an internet bank. It's too bad because I just ordered (and paid for) new checks.
I've been saying for a couple of years that I don't expect big problems with Y2K. But I didn't take into account the stupid things companies might do to protect themselves against Y2K. Another example of this type of overreaction is what my company did to my laptop to protect me from Y2K problems. In protecting my machine they wiped out my email, my email addresses, and several key programs that helped me be more productive in my job. Yes, I could spend days tracking down the same programs again but it's not worth my time. Now things are crazy on my (Continued on page 2)
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