They say it isn't easy getting old. Neither is being the child of someone who is.
Back in November, someone walked into a branch of US Bank, where my parents have an account, and opened a credit card in my father's name. After dealing with some confused and unhelpful employees, we got the credit card canceled. Last week, a better US Bank employee cancelled and reversed several charges made by a well-known scam company, and the other day, Mom got another call from Lifelock saying that someone was taking money from her US Bank account.
Enough. As much trouble as it was, on Saturday I took Mom to my credit union, where they're buggo on security, to open a new checking account. I knew it would be a hassle to change all the bill pay info and direct deposits, but just getting there and opening an account was a lot of trouble. Good thing I decided to start at 9 AM.
I put Mom's wheelchair in the trunk of her car. It wouldn't start. I moved the wheelchair to my car, drove Mom's scooter where she could transfer herself to it, helped her into my car and put the scooter in the garage.
"I need my purse," Mom said.
"Give me your keys and I'll get it."
"My keys are in my purse."
After some impatient remarks, I drove home to get my set of keys to the house. After getting Mom's purse, we headed for the foothills. It was snowing and foggy, but not terrible for driving. Even so, it had been hard to talk my mom into going out on a day like that.
After we got to the credit union, an agent told us that since the existing account was in Dad's name, we'd need him present or have a power of attorney to open a checking account. US Bank, this wasn't. We came here for more security, but this was another hurdle. Dad couldn't come since he's in a nursing home, but luckily I had the power of attorney on a thumb drive in my purse. Unfortunately, the credit union didn't allow any thumb drives on their computers. The agent said there was a FedEx/Kinkos around, which she knew how to get to, but not well enough to give me directions. (She couldn't even find the credit union on the map.) We looked up the location on the computer, and after a few tries (the internet connection was spotty), I saw how to get there.
Since the credit union is in a city where I don't know my way around, it took me 30 minutes of wandering and backtracking on slick roads to find the place. I got the papers printed and got back to the credit union in ten minutes.
A different agent set up the checking account, verifying IDs and signatures, and Mom and I rambled on down the road. It was half past twelve.
I took some of Mom's laundry home to wash since my parents' water heater was broken--again. Later I brought back the laundry and some Atkins frozen dinners (hat tip to Galina), ordered some hot wings and watched Breaking Bad, the show Mom is addicted to, and went home exhausted.
The note from the plumber who went to my parents' house a few weeks ago mentioned a dirty screen on the water heater. A Youtube video produced by people who make screen cleaners showed how to fix it. Their tight spot vacuum brush would have been great, but I made do with a long duster, turned up the temperature (it was set low), and heard the burner fire up.
Next, mom and I gathered the bills, with some dispute over how to organize them, and paid most of them. Since there's a large balance on one of the credit cards, Mom and I called American Express to get a credit card with a 0% introductory rate on transferred balances. For security purposes, they had to talk directly to her. Since she's hard of hearing, we both had to have an ear to the phone.
"What's your email address?" the agent asked.
I told Mom, and she repeated part of it to the agent. I told her the last part.
"Is that E-N"?
"No, it's I-N. T-E-L--"
"No, it's T-L-E."
"T-L-E."
"Is the last part G-O?"
"Yes."
"No, it's C-O."
"So, Colorado--"
"No."
This went on for five minutes. After we got the email address straightened out, the agent read all the fine print, none of which Mom could hear at all between her hearing problems, fuzzy phone connection, and the agent's Alabama accent. You're probably thinking this would have been easier to apply for online. We tried that. Due to clerical errors, both applications (that was the error) were cancelled. Nevertheless, Mom was approved for the card, and the balance was transferred. It reminded me of Joel Greenblatt's description of reading financial statements in the search for good investments: shovel, throw, shovel, throw. That's how you get to buried treasure, right? It took half an hour, but the new card will save my parents about $2,000 in interest. And tomorrow I'm going to send in a motor vehicle record search request to the state to find out who has a lien on my parents' car. Someday soon, I hope I'll have time to see my father.
Back in November, someone walked into a branch of US Bank, where my parents have an account, and opened a credit card in my father's name. After dealing with some confused and unhelpful employees, we got the credit card canceled. Last week, a better US Bank employee cancelled and reversed several charges made by a well-known scam company, and the other day, Mom got another call from Lifelock saying that someone was taking money from her US Bank account.
Enough. As much trouble as it was, on Saturday I took Mom to my credit union, where they're buggo on security, to open a new checking account. I knew it would be a hassle to change all the bill pay info and direct deposits, but just getting there and opening an account was a lot of trouble. Good thing I decided to start at 9 AM.
I put Mom's wheelchair in the trunk of her car. It wouldn't start. I moved the wheelchair to my car, drove Mom's scooter where she could transfer herself to it, helped her into my car and put the scooter in the garage.
"I need my purse," Mom said.
"Give me your keys and I'll get it."
"My keys are in my purse."
After some impatient remarks, I drove home to get my set of keys to the house. After getting Mom's purse, we headed for the foothills. It was snowing and foggy, but not terrible for driving. Even so, it had been hard to talk my mom into going out on a day like that.
After we got to the credit union, an agent told us that since the existing account was in Dad's name, we'd need him present or have a power of attorney to open a checking account. US Bank, this wasn't. We came here for more security, but this was another hurdle. Dad couldn't come since he's in a nursing home, but luckily I had the power of attorney on a thumb drive in my purse. Unfortunately, the credit union didn't allow any thumb drives on their computers. The agent said there was a FedEx/Kinkos around, which she knew how to get to, but not well enough to give me directions. (She couldn't even find the credit union on the map.) We looked up the location on the computer, and after a few tries (the internet connection was spotty), I saw how to get there.
Since the credit union is in a city where I don't know my way around, it took me 30 minutes of wandering and backtracking on slick roads to find the place. I got the papers printed and got back to the credit union in ten minutes.
A different agent set up the checking account, verifying IDs and signatures, and Mom and I rambled on down the road. It was half past twelve.
I took some of Mom's laundry home to wash since my parents' water heater was broken--again. Later I brought back the laundry and some Atkins frozen dinners (hat tip to Galina), ordered some hot wings and watched Breaking Bad, the show Mom is addicted to, and went home exhausted.
The note from the plumber who went to my parents' house a few weeks ago mentioned a dirty screen on the water heater. A Youtube video produced by people who make screen cleaners showed how to fix it. Their tight spot vacuum brush would have been great, but I made do with a long duster, turned up the temperature (it was set low), and heard the burner fire up.
Next, mom and I gathered the bills, with some dispute over how to organize them, and paid most of them. Since there's a large balance on one of the credit cards, Mom and I called American Express to get a credit card with a 0% introductory rate on transferred balances. For security purposes, they had to talk directly to her. Since she's hard of hearing, we both had to have an ear to the phone.
"What's your email address?" the agent asked.
I told Mom, and she repeated part of it to the agent. I told her the last part.
"Is that E-N"?
"No, it's I-N. T-E-L--"
"No, it's T-L-E."
"T-L-E."
"Is the last part G-O?"
"Yes."
"No, it's C-O."
"So, Colorado--"
"No."
This went on for five minutes. After we got the email address straightened out, the agent read all the fine print, none of which Mom could hear at all between her hearing problems, fuzzy phone connection, and the agent's Alabama accent. You're probably thinking this would have been easier to apply for online. We tried that. Due to clerical errors, both applications (that was the error) were cancelled. Nevertheless, Mom was approved for the card, and the balance was transferred. It reminded me of Joel Greenblatt's description of reading financial statements in the search for good investments: shovel, throw, shovel, throw. That's how you get to buried treasure, right? It took half an hour, but the new card will save my parents about $2,000 in interest. And tomorrow I'm going to send in a motor vehicle record search request to the state to find out who has a lien on my parents' car. Someday soon, I hope I'll have time to see my father.
Comments
At least I'm doing things that play to my strengths--money management, diet and plumbing. If I had to nurse my parents, I'd really feel like I was pushing a rock up a hill.
I agree that it's good to have either a joint account or power of attorney.
You coped very well and dare I say it others have been in very similar situations!
I think a stiff whiskey may have been called for .. or at least a glass of wine.
But Well Done Lori
Take Care
All the best Jan