Our latest experience… Quite a few years ago my regional bank was bought out by a large national bank. No real big deal. Not much really changed. Then a few years back a local merchant refused to accept my check because the bank name on it no longer existed. Luckily I had enough cash to cover the transaction.
I don’t write a lot of checks. I’m only on the second packet of checks from when I opened the account! But I called the bank and inquired about getting new checks printed. $20+ plus shipping they wanted. A new cover, another $17 plus shipping. I decided I didn’t write enough checks to justify the cost and forgot about it.
Just recently I found a new pharmacy with fantastic prices. They’re saving me $40 - $50 a month on my medications AND they deliver free of charge. Their payment options, cash, check or put a credit card on file. I don’t like keeping a CC on file anywhere so I opted to pay by check every month. The delivery guy arrived and didn’t want to take the check. “That bank doesn’t exist.” he said, “That phone number is incorrect.” he claimed. He was right on both. The checks are so old they still have our old area code on them!
I decided to contact the bank and explain my situation. I felt that when they bought my bank I should have been provided, at their cost, checks with their bank name on them. I didn’t sell the bank. I wasn’t consulted on the issues. It’s not my fault I’m stuck with over a hundred checks for a bank that doesn’t exist. I’m just stuck with checks no one wants to take. I checked the bank’s web site. Still $20+ for checks. I chat with a customer service representative. After running around in circles for fifteen minutes he tells me that he can’t do anything for me and I need to call some 800 number. Why he couldn’t have just told me that in the first place I do not know.
So I call the 800 number and run face first into one of the worst automated systems ever. It took me ten minutes to get to speak to a human being and I got the same run around. This time I was told I could close my current checking account open a new checking account and because of the accounts I currently have with them I would be entitled to free check but I can’t get a box of free checks for the existing account. What? The customer service agent couldn’t explain it either. I argued with her and finally gave up.
Next I sent an email to the corporate HQ of the bank detailing my experience and once again stating that because they caused my bank to cease to exists I shouldn’t have to pay for it. I must admit they did reply promptly. In less than 24 hours I was told the same thing; close the account, open a new account and get free checks. No free checks for the existing account. I wrote back saying it was ridiculous. It would cost them more to do that than issue a credit so I could get checks with the correct bank name and area code. I only need one box. I’ll probably die with half left unused!
The next day I got another email, apparently they found a loophole (finally!). Free checks. Free checkbook cover. Free shipping. Win!

I went to the Amazon site. Logged in and navigated to the Kindle Support section. I then clicked the Contact Us button, selected a few options as to why I needed to contact them, clicked the Call Us button entered my Phone number and finally clicked the Call Me Now button.

Two seconds later my phone rang.
When I answered there was a recording playing that said; “this call may be recorded for tra…” and the Kindle rep was on the line.
It took me perhaps a minute to explain something was loose inside the Kindle.
It took him about another minute to verify who I was, my address and arrange for next day shipping of a replacement.
When I told him I didn’t have a printer to print the return shipping label he said he’d send it to me as well but then went one step further and arranged for UPS to bring the return label to me and pick up the package at my house!

I don’t think I was on the phone more than five minutes. I’ll have my replacement on Tuesday. No muss, no fuss, no arguments or accusations of misuse. I said there was something wrong and bang-zoom there’s a replacement on the way.

Gotta love it. But I am a little sad. This Kindle, my first Kindle, is my baby. The replacement is, sadly, going to be someone else’s refurbished baby. Ah well.