OK, so from my subject line, I suppose that everyone knows what I'm frustrated about. I just need to vent.
I went to purchase some watches from a dealer (he's on TWC) who only accepts Western Union. I had tried WU only once before, at a storefront, and got into a frustrating argument with the clerk, who told me that they couldn't transfer money in British Pounds (I'm in US). After a while, I just gave up and did a bank-to-bank transfer and ate the additional cost.
This time, I'm transferring funds in US dollars to Canton. I try on-line. I set up an account, put in my Debit card no, and all the additional info. WU does a verification with the bank that comes back OK, then tells me I have to call to provide additional info. So I call, wait 10 minutes, and then get some customer service rep who says she needs my previous address. I tell her that I've been living at the same address for 30 years, and I think I remember the street (city hasn't changed), but I can't be sure without going through boxes of old paperwork. She tells me to wait (another 10 minutes on hold), then tells me that my transfer does not meet WU's business model (whatever that means???), and that my transfer was denied. I have plenty money in my bank account, so that can't be the problem. I ask why I was denied and she tells me that she "Can't provide that information". I ask to speak to her supervisor - same story, his supervisor - same story, his supervisor (now I'm at the assistant manager level - talk about bloated middle management) - he also tells me that there's nothing he can do and will not tell me why I was denied. I ask whether it was the "previous address" thing, and explained to him that even the Federal Government only required me to go back 7 years when I applied for my secret clearance (even after 9/11). It was like talking to a broken record (for all you older folks out there). He just repeated that he could not (or would not) tell me what the problem is, but that my transfer was denied and that I could not attempt again online without getting the same results. He said my only other option is to go to a local WU office and pay with cash. I finally just hung up the phone.
So now I have to deal with a clerk at a storefront again - we'll see if that yields any better results than before.
I can't remember being this frustrated since my run-in with the phone co. (Pacific Bell) a few years back. One month I didn't receive a bill (lost in the mail??? - wouldn't be the first time the USPS screwed up). They threatened to cut off service 2 weeks later (that letter I got). The amount seemed higher than normal, so I wanted a copy of the bill. Pac Bell had closed all their local offices and their internet and automated phone system wouldn't allow me to speak with a representative or get a copy of the bill, because my account was delinquent (this was the first time I was late in over 25 years). I had to pay the bill on-line to get to talk to someone, or be able to get their customer service e-mail to send me anything but a delinquent account threat. I paid the bill, talked to a representative, who promised to send me a copy of bill but never did. I then called them again and told them to disconnect my phone. They asked if I was moving - I told them NO. They asked who would be providing me with phone service - I declined to answer (It would be my Cable company) and I told them why I was unhappy. They told me that they would not disconnect unless I provided that info. I said fine, then I would send them a registered letter, and would see them in court when they tried to collect on a line I instructed them to disconnect. They finally relented. Now I deal with a Cable company that's not that responsive either, but at least I can show up at their office and yell a bit if necessary.
I went to purchase some watches from a dealer (he's on TWC) who only accepts Western Union. I had tried WU only once before, at a storefront, and got into a frustrating argument with the clerk, who told me that they couldn't transfer money in British Pounds (I'm in US). After a while, I just gave up and did a bank-to-bank transfer and ate the additional cost.
This time, I'm transferring funds in US dollars to Canton. I try on-line. I set up an account, put in my Debit card no, and all the additional info. WU does a verification with the bank that comes back OK, then tells me I have to call to provide additional info. So I call, wait 10 minutes, and then get some customer service rep who says she needs my previous address. I tell her that I've been living at the same address for 30 years, and I think I remember the street (city hasn't changed), but I can't be sure without going through boxes of old paperwork. She tells me to wait (another 10 minutes on hold), then tells me that my transfer does not meet WU's business model (whatever that means???), and that my transfer was denied. I have plenty money in my bank account, so that can't be the problem. I ask why I was denied and she tells me that she "Can't provide that information". I ask to speak to her supervisor - same story, his supervisor - same story, his supervisor (now I'm at the assistant manager level - talk about bloated middle management) - he also tells me that there's nothing he can do and will not tell me why I was denied. I ask whether it was the "previous address" thing, and explained to him that even the Federal Government only required me to go back 7 years when I applied for my secret clearance (even after 9/11). It was like talking to a broken record (for all you older folks out there). He just repeated that he could not (or would not) tell me what the problem is, but that my transfer was denied and that I could not attempt again online without getting the same results. He said my only other option is to go to a local WU office and pay with cash. I finally just hung up the phone.
So now I have to deal with a clerk at a storefront again - we'll see if that yields any better results than before.
I can't remember being this frustrated since my run-in with the phone co. (Pacific Bell) a few years back. One month I didn't receive a bill (lost in the mail??? - wouldn't be the first time the USPS screwed up). They threatened to cut off service 2 weeks later (that letter I got). The amount seemed higher than normal, so I wanted a copy of the bill. Pac Bell had closed all their local offices and their internet and automated phone system wouldn't allow me to speak with a representative or get a copy of the bill, because my account was delinquent (this was the first time I was late in over 25 years). I had to pay the bill on-line to get to talk to someone, or be able to get their customer service e-mail to send me anything but a delinquent account threat. I paid the bill, talked to a representative, who promised to send me a copy of bill but never did. I then called them again and told them to disconnect my phone. They asked if I was moving - I told them NO. They asked who would be providing me with phone service - I declined to answer (It would be my Cable company) and I told them why I was unhappy. They told me that they would not disconnect unless I provided that info. I said fine, then I would send them a registered letter, and would see them in court when they tried to collect on a line I instructed them to disconnect. They finally relented. Now I deal with a Cable company that's not that responsive either, but at least I can show up at their office and yell a bit if necessary.
