Day Ninety-Five..#Embarrassing Moment..

First and foremost..I am not upset.

Neither am I angry.

I am confused.

And probably more embarrassed than anything else!

Image Courtesy of openiconlibrary.sourceforge.net

So yesterday, I received an email from my “Bank” in the UK claiming that there had been some unusual activity on my card..and that it had been used in a foreign location, and that they had to verify my details within 48 hours or they will put a block on my card.

Now I say “Bank” because although the email looked like it legitimately came from my bank, problem number one was that the notification was sent to the wrong email address.

Never had I given my bank the email address that it went to..and I found that strange..what was even more weird to me was that the content of the email actually applied to my situation..I have been using my card in Portugal to pay for purchases and other things since I have come here.

Anyway..I clicked on the link in the email and it transferred me to a login page that looked very legit. I entered my Customer number and hit next on the screen. It took me to the next page where it asked me to enter my FULL pin and my FULL password..I knew it was a scam!
In the security section of my bank, it states: “We never ask customers to enter their full PIN and password when logging into online banking – you will only ever be asked for random portions of your security details.”

So sent the phishing team at my bank an email, including the forwarding email I had received, and by the morning, a warning had been placed on the site that it was a suspected phishing scam.

 

Okay..roll on the day.

I spent the afternoon studying. Then took a break around 7:30 to write a list, as I needed to do a little grocery shopping before the stores closed at 9pm.

Armed with my list and a few bags..I headed down the street to the grocery store.

I got there and proceeded round the store grabbing only the things that were on my list..I even did a second sweep and picked up nothing extra! I was so proud of myself!

I got to the cashier and she swiped my goods through as I loaded up my bag.

Everything came up to €19.13..not bad I thought to myself!

I pulled out my card and put it in the machine..entered my pin code and pressed enter.

DECLINED.

I raised my eyebrows and looked at the cashier assuming she had pressed a button cancelling it by mistake. She asked me in Portuguese to take the card out and put it back in. I did so. Entered my pin and pressed enter.

DECLINED.

I took the card out and looked at it. Was I entering the wrong pin? So I tried a 3rd time.

DECLINED.

As you can imagine..quite a line was forming behind me and I had begun to almost panic.

The cashier then insisted on trying another two times to no avail. The people in the line behind me started whispering in Portuguese and the cashier rolled her eyes at me. I smiled. She then told me to go and try the ATM to see if it would let me withdraw money so I went round the corner and placed my card in the machine.

Operation Not Authorised 😦

It actually had a sad face next to it.

My bank had blocked my card. And this was NOT the first time.

I went back and told her it wasn’t working, all the while I was still holding up the now 5 people strong queue.

The woman that was behind me shook her head.

I told the cashier I had to leave the groceries..then she asked me “What about your bag?”

“You can have it” I said as I walked away.

 

I have never been so embarrassed in all my life.

I am certain that I have enough money on that card because I am always checking my balance online as that is how I manage my accounts..and the funny thing is that I have used that card in Portugal before..so what happened there is beyond me. When I came home I even checked my account to see if I had made some sort of mistake. I had not. Funds were indeed present.

Now comes the rant:
On several occasions, I have witnessed things happening to people in supermarkets – leaving their cards somewhere, not being able to pay, cards not working, etc..and on more than one occasion, whenever I could, I have always offered to help someone out. Now I am not boasting at the fact that I’ve done this..or am trying to make myself sound in anyway arrogant..but that’s just the kind of person I am..I assist where I can..expecting nothing in return.
I was extremely surprised that people were just looking and whispering and that the cashier became frustrated with me about something that was no fault of my own. I have previously held a job where it involved working on the tills and I can say that that never happened to customers that often, but when it did they were clearly embarrassed and the best thing that you can do for them is try and assist in any way to make it better. Now I understand that not everybody has the same mindset..but if I saw someone else in the situation I was in..I would jump in and help..and I know I would because like I said..I have it done it before.

 

Rant over.

I need it to be tomorrow.

I’m going to sleep.

~ by originalapplejunkie on April 5, 2012.