DREWspective

I’d spent this Easter under the grip of "man flu".

Maybe it was because I’ve been working too hard on too many different things, or that I didn’t pull through with the things I was supposed to give up for Lent, but eventually I was convinced I deserved it. Right now, I’m managing a nasty chesty cough.

Something happened on Good Friday that I’d never expected. The fraud department of my bank called me up about a series of suspicious payments made using my innocent debit card.

I’d noticed there was something awry, when I’d tried to buy some aquarium supplies from my trusty pet store. I knew I had money in the bank, but the payment wouldn’t go through. Luckily I have a backup card with another account, so I’m able to survive.

It turns out that someone had tried to gamble using my card details. I couldn’t think of a single person who could have gotten hold of them outside of home… except for the guy in the US who sold me the polystyrene shapes.

Anyway, because whoever it was had "gained authorisation", my debit card was "blocked" on the spot.

While I really appreciate them notifying me (and luckily nothing left my account), the think that irks me is that the bank called on a Good Friday, knowing that there was another Bank Holiday looming, and that I’d have to wait around five working days for a replacement card.

If I didn’t have a backup card, I’d be in very deep shit right about now.