Saturday, August 11, 2012

Call from a Bill Collector

It was Beach Week, and I was in Lewes, DE, with our daughter, son-in-law and grandson. The Tree Hugger and I always split Beach Week because we can't take our two elderly dogs to the beach and they are too old to go to a kennel. Even though the pit bull is a cupcake, there is something about the name of the breed that scares away potential dog-sitters. 

On Monday night, the TH got a call from a man speaking heavily-accented English, possibly an Indian, as in Mumbai.  He asked for me. My husband said I wasn't home and asked what the call was about.

"I can't tell you," said the man. "It's personal." This statement is guaranteed to irritate the most unflappable  of husbands. 

When the same man called on Tuesday night and asked for me again, my quick-thinking spouse replied, "Speaking." 

The TH could tell that the caller was flummoxed, but what could he do? He had no choice but to  remind "me" that my Macy's bill was two months overdue and request an immediate payment. 

When my husband told me about the overdue bill, I was indignant. "It is most certainly NOT overdue," I said.  "I have a zero balance on my account." As soon as I got home, I called Macy's. Don't ask me how, but somehow I've acquired two Macy's accounts over the years, which has caused no end of confusion. This time,   I had a $98.00 credit on one account and owed $98.00 plus interest plus a $25.00 late fee on the other.  Macy's straightened it out and apologized. I asked for the umpteenth time that they cancel the second account, but I have no hope of that happening any time soon.