Monday, October 12, 2009

Banks, computers, and weekends

It is stupid for bank computers to care about what day it is.

I'm watching, right now, to see if a payment went through. Now, it was done by check, so I expect it to take some time (it's been about two weeks, though.) Still, since then (and with my latest paycheck,) I've made other purchases, bill payments and the like.

None of them, save two (grocery shopping and a stop for lunch afterward) show up at all. These, of course, were done friday.

Now, part of the whole "electronic payment" spiel is that it's faster, reliable, etc, etc, etc. Yet, because it's the *weekend,* and in fact Columbus Day tomorrow (well, today, I suppose,) I won't see any of this until Tuesday at the earliest.

Do computers need a day off? No. Do they have religion? No. Do they care about holy days, holidays, time with the family, heading out to have a beer with the mainframe and checking out that cute laptop that just came into the office? No. So why do I have to wait for all this *basic information* to show up? Why, when no human is needed for the process (save me, to make the purchase or payment,) do we have to *wait* and be completely without information?

Maybe it's my bank. There are all of four offices - I wouldn't even call it "regional," since you'd assume you'd be able to find it at least throughout central Florida. Maybe a larger bank - anything from Suntrust to BoA or Chase - actually does this. I'm very tempted to ask. I *live* on information. What would happen if I'd lost my card (and, working at home, I don't actually LOOK for it that often.) Would they have free rein with it until Tuesday - no, probably Wednesday, with the extra day of "processing?"

Hey, bank guys. 21st century. Computers. Instant access to information. I want to make sure I didn't miss a payment somewhere, that what I've verified elsewhere is actually *going through.* Just freaking do it!

/rant off.