Destination Frustration

Viva Italia!

If you've never had the opportunity to visit Italy, you need to shut this window down and book a trip there immediately. You will be changed for the better for ever.

I first experienced Italy in the Summer of 2006 when I "avoided" turning 40 by going on my first out of the country vacation. And oh, what a vacation it was! Naples, Capri, Pompeii, Rome and Florence. In just eight whirlwind days.

The love I have for Italy produced a second return trip there in 2007. I visited Genoa, Cinque Terre, Portofino and performed a perfect 10.0 dismount from Nice, France back to the States. This second trip was even better than the first and deepened my love for the country and it's people.

Love + My Credit Union = Hate

That love was augmented with full-on hate as I realized I was abandoned by my credit union just shortly after leaving American soil.

For some mystery of the unexplained, my credit card was promptly "deactivated for my protection" when I tried withdrawing Euro-cash at the Italian "Bancomat" on Day 1 of my trip. Little did I know at the time the card was deactivated because the error message at the terminal was not very specific.

I presumed it was because the ATM's network was unique and may not process foreign cards so I tried again at another location. And another. And another. On day FOUR of my trip all hope was lost as I realized nobody was accepting me - or my funds.

Frustration turned panic as I realized that I was in a fantastically foreign country with limited Italian-speaking skills, little remaining cash and NO CASH PRIVILEGES, compliments of Texans Credit Union.

Texans Discredit Union

How would I eat? How would I buy any souvenirs for friends? Would I have to sleep in a borrowed box?

The $400 US Dollars I brought with me were wearing extremely thin, as was my patience. I had already borrowed cash from my partner and was embarrassed to say the least. I felt like a circus freak thrown out of his own circus.

So, Where Did It All Go Wrong?

Prior to the first year's trip, I was cautioned by an internationally savvy friend that domestic credit cards may not be automatically "turned on" for international purchases. So I called the credit union in advance of my trip to ensure they had my travel dates. No problems, Year 1.

I replicated the same approach for Year 2, yielding much different results.

Since the small-sized credit union was only open limited hours and timing was hard because of the seven hour difference I opted to call my CHASE credit card, who smartly offered 24-hour customer service. Go figure.

A half-day later and she-bang! I used my CHASE card with success.

Brace Yourself, Italy!

I bought. I spent. I purchased. I spanked that CHASE card for the remainder of the trip and couldn't wait until I returned to the USA so I could return the favor, by spanking Texans Credit Union.

I called them and released the larger than Vesuvius-sized rage from within. The poor lady I spoke with had nothing to say. No explanation. No canned excuses. Nothing.

After three more talks with representatives from Texans, I was finally presented with the answer "We have no idea why your card was deactivated." They could see in my account that I had called ahead and yes, that my card was deactivated.

Thanks, Texans for confirming your organization is about as lame as a cold, wet blanket.

From what I could gather after the debacle, Texans outsourced their credit card operations and the credit card provider didn't get the 4-1-1 from Texans that I was traveling. And yes, it was left to me to determine that the two companies didn't talk when things went wrong. Sounds like a fantastic operating procedure, huh?!?

So when the card was deactivated, there were no escalation procedures to notify me.

1) I was never notified of the issue via phone or in writing. Ever.
2) I never received a reason for the malfunction.
3) I never received anything for the mishap or the shite it caused.

WTF? This is protection? Where was access to my funds?

What I felt I deserved was some serious credit to my account. How about $500 for the pain and f'd up suffering on what was to have been my second trip of a lifetime? Not even 1/2% off on my next loan? A toaster?

Nothing.

I have to believe I'm not the only traveler this has happened to. Or, is their a bigger force out there working solely against me?

This month, my last account with the dirty-handed Texans Credit Union will be closed bringing to end an eight year, unfortunate relationship.

In retrospect, "The ruins of Italy met the ruins of customer service, compliments of Texans Credit Union." And I was punished in the process.

As for you, Italy, I shall return! (sans the Texans credit card)


Psssst! Italy Lover? Read more about my Italy experiences here and here.

My First Post!

I'm 41 years old and I just created my first Blog! Weeeee! Thanks, Blogger!

I'm not sure really where to start other than to say that I'm going to test the waters with this puppy and see how it goes. I hope at some level those of you reading this will find some peace knowing that my life will always be more tragic than yours. Don't get me wrong - I have a great life - but the experiences I've shared as a consumer victim aren't anything I'd wish on anyone. For that reason I'm proclaiming myself THE WORLD's GENUINE CONSUMER VICTIM. Sorry, Rosa.

This week, a co-worker urged me to start documenting my consumer nightmares-turned-life-dramas because they, well, were just so damned hilarious that certainly I'd want to share them with others.

I think most of my "vignettes" (let's call them that for now) are best served in person with the style, conviction and sweaty brow that is all my own. Some say I missed my calling for stage but I think I'm probably better off serving those of you on the streets of America. After all, if only the fun people were on stage or TV, how much fun would it be, say, chatting by the company water cooler or perhaps waiting in the check-out line if the "blue-collar performers" like me weren't there?

To that point, I think it's appropriate that I develop some code of honor for this Blog. Something to help steer it in a positive direction. Something like this:

" I, Patrick, being of self-proclaimed
sound mind and moderate health, do hereby
promise to report the truth and only the truth.
I will ensure I "keep it real*" when reporting

the chuckholes of my life.

I yearn to be a great protector of the unfortunate
from the big, bad entities (be them people, or companies
comprised of people) who try to get away with something
at other's expense."

* All great statements have legal associated with them and my statement above is no exception. First off, let's define what legal is. Legal is the small text (like this) that accompanies type that is set in a teeny-weeny font and is hidden somewhere obscure so that lawyers "cover off" on the exceptions to great marketing statements or claims. Trust me, I know. Legal is small because they hope you don't read it. But things called "law suits" make legal a tedious necessity. Thus, all legal disclaimers result in huge blocks of small text that nobody reads because if they did, their heads would explode. Legal is the reason we wear glasses. So, to sum it up, "Legal has ruined my vision." I'm sorry I had to sink to their level by typesetting this in a small font, but I have to prove a point. So, if your eyes are ruined, like mine, the next time you receive a great offer, IGNORE THE BIG FONT and read the small font first - this is the "real offer" you will get.

That all being said, by "real" what I mean is that I will pepper no more than 8% (+ or - 2%) of my stories with unadulterated bullcrap. Bullcrap is defined by me as the spice of life. The nuts in ice cream. The beer at the end of a long day. The "wiggle room" of the truth. Why we get up each day. The reason you are reading this now.

There. That's not bad, huh?

Well what about you? What kind of commitment are you going to make to me? I mean, I'm not charging for this thing, am I? I'm not going to put myself out there if you have no responsibilities. Well, then - here's what I expect of you:

" I, [ insert your name here ], being a guest of
Patrick's Original Blog
do hereby promise to read Patrick's life drama and learn from it.
I will laugh, and/or cry and share his experiences with the people
I care about whether they be known or unknown.
Real. Or "mostly-real."

There. That's good. Light and fluffy crap.

Well. On with the show! Stay tuned for my first tragedy. Read it for what it is and comment (or not) as you see fit.

Blog Update: 2/24/08:

How interesting the results from my first Consumer Victim Poll (shown at right)! A full 100% of you voting about legal disclaimers felt that they were confusing or subjected you to something you were not aware of!

The "Proof Is In The Pudding" as they say and legal footnotes, although "helpful" or "required" from the inside of corporate America are, in fact, misleading and damaging from a consumer perspective.

Keep reading the legal, folks!