I got stopped in a road side check in Sussex, New Brunswick by the RCMP on Tuesday December 22nd, returning some videos for a friend, my inspection was past due by a month, it's 168$ fine. I gave him my whole "but I'm just a girl who doesn't know any better" look, and asked politely if I could do that in New Brunswick since my car was registered in Nova Scotia. He gave me a stern look and advised me to bring my car in to a local dealership for an inspection ASAP.
I returned the videos and hustled back to Moncton... Fast forward to Wednesday I wake up, pop on the Internet to check my funds available on my Visa. Zip down to dealership to have oil changed and my car inspected...I find out I can only afford to have car inspected and settle in with MacLeans watching the horror of the Tsunami unfold.
My name is called, I find out they only had to change a bulb in my car which was covered by warranty no extra charge. I had over the Visa, he swipes my card.... Not only is it declined BUT it also states I should get in touch with the company ASAP.
WTF.
I had made a payment on the 17th for 60$ more than required... I was only one month late on my payment and I had called made a promise to pay. The representative told me that it would not cause any problems since my account had been in IMPECCABLE standing for FIVE years.
I call the number on the back of my card... Talk to Julie, she tells me my account is in collections... COLLECTIONS.. HOLY FUCK HEADS ARE GOING TO ROLL.
I get transferred to collections, I talk to Rose, the bitch from hell... For anyone who works in a call centre think for a moment of that person who hates their job and enjoys making everyone else's lives miserable like their own. This was Rose!
She makes me feel like an idiot, scolds me for being late on my bill, and says that there is a freeze on my account. I politely ask her to review my account, once she notices that my account has been in superior standing since being opened when I was 18, that my payments have ALWAYS been on time and for MORE than the payment amount due, she says the freeze can be lifted.
Excellent.
Problem it takes 24 hours to lift the freeze..... I have NO money....Nothing in my bank account, I have no one to call, I am desperate... I ask Rose at my wits end... Is there ANYTHING you can do to help me...PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The bitch snarly tells me that it is my own fault that I am in this dilemma and that it's against policy to remove the freeze.
Thank God I have worked in a call centre.
I do the only thing I can think of:
I get bitchy and ask for the supervisor.
Bring forth John...
He explains he has heard the entire call and that the policies are in effect for a reason and there is nothing he can do either. But I KNOW better... I politely explain to him I work for a Credit card Company and that policies are made to be broken... I plead my case, with my perfect past performance with this company...
Then I bring out the big guns...
I start to cry.... "It's Christmas, I am alone and I am DESPERATE!"
He caves...
He advises me to call back the Visa Centre, and have the Representative call him and they "Might" be able to do something.
I hang up and frantically dial the number, wiping away my tears, hiding my face from the cute mechanics.....
Trumpets ring out, angels sing as the heavens open and CATHERINE answers my call... She is the super agent... The person I used to want to be and try tobe while I am at work. She was polite, patient, with a soothing voice, a great tone, and listened to my crazy ramblings... She called John and had everything resolved in less than minutes. She says "Go Ahead Jamie, everything will work fine."
Christmas is saved... I could shout to he heavens with Joy.
I thank her profusely wish her the best day of her life and tell her I hope she is blessed in everything she tries to accomplish and has the best holiday possible.
She politely thanks me and gives me the standard branded close, just another call for her.
I jump up, swipe my card,
IT GOES THROUGH I rejoice and sign the dotted line, the natural order of the world has been restored.
I turn around, and who is standing there but my RICH uncle, who totally would've helped me out and saved me from the most embarrassing moment of my life....