OK, so it’s not exactly what we’re talking about here, but it’s the first thing that runs through my brain at the moment.
So I went to order some healthy little kibble for my pooch and my debit card was declined. Grumble grumble. It’s not the first time I’ve had issues with this website. But I go to my bank website and log in to see…. I’m in the red. A lot. Very red. How can this be? I’ve not been spending much, especially as I’ve got less than $2000 to work with at the moment and am a bit concerned about how I’m going to make everything happen this year with so little income and savings. Anyway, yeah. A little anxious over finances at the moment. And now this. I mean I already knew I had to deal with EDF and the monthly gas bill for the place I left in January (and it ain’t cheap!!!) and some strange charges from Orange… but now this too?
So one of my friends was kind enough to help me out and call the bank, get a nice long number SMS’d to me that I would take to the police station in exchange for a paper, which I then took to my bank. Unfortunately, whoever I’m supposed to talk to and fill out mounds of paper for wasn’t there today. But she’ll be there Wednesday. Super. So I have no access to my bank account (no money in it now anyway) til at least then. Oh and apparently it could take up to 30 days to get that money refunded. Splendid. Just splendid. I’m glad I still have a few hundred in the US account because otherwise this could be quite a disaster. I’m guessing they only stopped spending because there must be a limit to how overdrawn you can be. I was wondering what those phone messages from Bouygues were about… I’m not with Bouygues… but I guess another Kendal Brenneman is, or wanted to be. Maybe I should call them back….
The frustrating thing is, I was looking forward to doing a lot of agent submissions and working on music today since I had the whole day to myself (til 6pm). And then this came up and I spent hours dealing with that. And now Wednesday gets interrupted too. And heck, my money is gone. It was bad enough before. I just want to forget about money and focus on being creative. Because I know if I can focus, I can do something good, and that will lead to fulfillment and income. But the looming threat of running out of money is always there these days, making me feel like I need to turn aside and do something else – find translating work (don’t laugh, I scored high on French>English on eLance) or…. or what? I don’t even know…. anyone need a fast typist?
Visit the Typing Test and try!
Kendal, I’m so sorry to hear of this latest setback. How awful for you !
You can’t enjoy yourself in Paris and have creative thoughts when you are forced to attend to unwanted govt/financial matters.
Will the bank reimburse you for the stolen funds on Wed?
I use ‘debit’ all the time here at home, and my card has been ‘compromised’ several times. No money taken, thank goodness, but somehow they get my card number, and then try hacking into my PIN. After 3 attempts, the bank automatically cancels the card.
I used my debit card a couple of times the last time I was in Paris, but normally use my VISA card when travelling. I know, it’s a credit card, but if you are careful, and make periodic transfers from the bank account via online banking, it is much safer.
In similar circumstances, my experience has been that VISA will immediately reissue a new card, and reimburse the lost funds.
My fingers are crossed that your bank will do just that for you on Wed.
I was told it could take up to 30 days to get reimbursed. I really hope it doesn’t take that long…. with the little money I have right now, it’s not very helpful to have nearly 1000€ unavailable to me.
This is the first time this has happened to me…. what I don’t understand is why they let charges go through if there is clearly no money in your account…. they don’t do that in the US….
Hey Kendal,
Just followed you here from your comment on Niall’s post about atheism today. Sorry to read about your financial plight, I’m living in Bulgaria and I don’t know what I would do if my funds were frozen for a month!
Yesterday I can across this company called Demand Studios. I think I was looking at the jobs board at problogger and came across them. Anyway, perhaps you can find some work with them in the meantime?
http://create.demandstudios.com/join-us/
Thanks for the link, I’m going to check it out right now!
I guess I’m lucky or smart that some of my money is still in a US account that I have access to. And lucky it happened when I’m around to deal with it!! But I have no idea how it happened or how to prevent it from happening again. :-/
So Bulgaria…. why Bulgaria? 🙂
Yeah, that’s what everyone in Bulgaria asks me! I’m living in Varna, which is on the Black Sea. It’s summer, so living near a beach is high on my list (I’m from land locked North Dakota). Plus, it’s very affordable. I spend less here than I do back home. And it’s a new place to visit! 🙂
Why are you in France?
A beach does sound good…. Do you have many friends there? That’s the thing with traveling, I want to be in a nice warm place but I don’t want to get lonely and only have retirees as friends, and no film community to explore.
Why am I in France…. haha I should make a page about it.
1. I was mobile and single
2. I was in LA for 10 years. It could have gone on forever.
3. I want to learn another language
4. I’d visited and liked that I didn’t need to worry about a car. I still miss my car though.
5. Knew there was a film community
6. Had some ideas… I find it more photographic here.
Why I don’t think I’ll make it home:
1. I feel like a bird in a cage. I need sun and air and a real kitchen.
2. Too cold in the winter.
3. Pickpockets. I’m always on guard. I think that’s a bit of stress I could do without.
4. My French still sucks. I mean I’m still learning, but it’s just been difficult to feel at home.
5. My kitty is in L.A. again and I miss him.
Yeah, I’ve made a fair amount of friends. But it took me too long to go out and try to make them though, as I prioritized getting settled in my place. Now I’m leaving in about 2 weeks for Pula, Croatia, and summer is always an easy time to meet people, so when I get there I’m going to start meeting people from the start.