Dumb ME

Again, my photo here has nothing to do with my post.  If anything it's to make me smile, thank you Marissa, while I detail my stupid move of the week.

Put up some 12 quarts of peppers in the freezer to be used this winter, even in a severe drought, the peppers thrive.

I'd hidden some money from me about a year ago, opened a Perk Street account, needed the money to the tune of $1000 cash for CW's wisdom teeth last month.  I knew that was just about all I had there in my version of an Emergency Fund, clearly not one that's properly, nor fully, funded.

I also did not read the disclosure statement I'd signed a year ago.  It was a checking account for Pete's Sake, not a credit card.  Guess what later bit me in the butt?

It was very dumb and quite costly of me to not do so.  $36 down the toilet.  I could've bought two sofas and a bookshelf at a yard sale for that.

I called them on the phone, absolutely outraged to learn that for several months they'd taken $4.50 from my account for inactivity.  I'd dumbly assumed that $1000 was the minimum balance required, therefore no fees. I hadn't even been looking at the statements as I was hiding the money from me for when I'd desperately need it.

They were apologetic when I called to vent my polite fury, I asked them to not apologize, this was obviously my fault, BUT in the name of customer service I'd like the $4.50 reinstated to my account, duh, that's common courtesy.

They wouldn't do it.

I explained I felt that was rather harsh.  I was actually near tears.

They didn't care.

I suggested that I might have a stroke over this mistake on my own part.

I was so distraught that I rubbed my sweaty face with my hands that had just chopped five or so pounds of just picked jalapenos.  Bad move.  My face was stinging, flaming, and burning all at once.  At least I hadn't rubbed my eyes.

They finally offered to refund half, but by that time I was way too agitated to accept their puny offer.

"No, thank you," I haughtily hissed.  I took a deep breath, trying to maintain my Christian witness, "I don't want to do business with y'all anymore, I wanna close my account today." I spoke rather huffily.

Like my remaining $75.46 in that account meant anything to them at all.

Hanging up I suddenly realized here it is August 31st, those suckers were gonna take another $4.50 out by midnight.

I went to AJ's and pumped exactly my $75.46 via my Perk Street Debit card into my van.  Then I tore up the card.

ING Direct, Electric Orange, you are the bomb.  Best online bank I've ever seen.  Best customer service, they allow nitwits like me to name individual annoyingly small accounts as Christmas Savings Account, Property Tax Account, Homeowners Insurance Account, or Face Lift Account (JK).

Their interest rate is significantly higher than my Mickey Mouse Wells Fargo Checking Account that doles out 1-2 cents per month to me, almost a big bright shiny quarter annually.

My account inactivity fees were distinctly my own fault, I admit to it, and I feel as dumb as dirt about it.

But hey, I sure have more'n enough peppers for the winter.  I sure couldn't afford the prices on locally grown, organic, heirloom jalapeno peppers.