the ING Direct saga continues
Nov. 13th, 2007 03:46 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
mamajoansiiiiigh.
Last week I got a message on my home phone from someone called "Shirl" at ING Direct, saying to call her so that we could get my application for a checking account going. I called, and of course was not able to get Shirl herself. However, I'll say this much for ING: they do actually keep good records in their system. I did not have to explain the entire complex backstory to the woman on the phone. I just had to wait a couple of minutes while she read over the notes in the computer. Then she told me that she just needed to get my bank info (routing and account numbers for the account that I wanted to use for a transfer to open the new account) and would email that info to Shirl who would take care of it. So I gave her that info, and my cellphone number as well, and she sent it all off to Shirl.
That was Thursday morning, so, five-ish days ago (or three-ish if I'm generous enough to give Shirl the weekend off) and I haven't heard squat. Meanwhile I got another letter in the mail from ING saying that (as I already knew) they're cutting off my NetBank debit card as of the 23rd, and also that (this was new) as of some time in early December, if I have any money left in my old NetBank account, they'll roll it over into a new "Orange Savings" account with ING.
I most definitely do not want an Orange Savings account. This is an account that doesn't give you checks, or a debit card, or online bill-pay, or basically any way to access your money on a regular basis. I understand it, mind you: ING doesn't really have an account that's equivalent to the NetBank checking account; the closest checking they have is their "paperless" checking account which requires a credit check (the source of my current woes). So they can't exactly convert all the NetBank accounts into their checking accounts, because they'd have to get consent for credit checks from all those people and that could get ugly. So converting it to their savings account makes sense. But...you know...what pisses me off is that I'm doing everything right here. I paid attention to the mailings they're sending me. I went online and investigated ING's offerings, thought about it, decided which option worked best for me. I filled out the application in timely fashion. I gave myself plenty of cushion. And yet...here it is ten days from the day my NetBank debit card will stop working, over two weeks from the day I first filled out the application ... and I still don't have my fucking ING Direct account!!
Now, I know that many of you would say (and some of you HAVE said to me in conversation) that by now you would have given up on them and fled to a different bank. Believe me, that option is definitely still on the table. But the thing is, ING offers excellent interest rates on their checking account. Try finding a checking account with an APY over 1% and no monthly fee (or a fairly low minimum balance to avoid fees). I dare you. You won't have much luck, unless you look at accounts that require an enormous minimum balance. There are a few options, though, and I'm certainly looking into them. But having spent so many years with a checking account that earned interest (via NetBank), I'm having trouble letting go of that idea. So I'm going to keep plugging at ING for at least a little while longer.
sigh.
stupid banks.
Can't we go back to the barter system? I have some lovely seashells.
Last week I got a message on my home phone from someone called "Shirl" at ING Direct, saying to call her so that we could get my application for a checking account going. I called, and of course was not able to get Shirl herself. However, I'll say this much for ING: they do actually keep good records in their system. I did not have to explain the entire complex backstory to the woman on the phone. I just had to wait a couple of minutes while she read over the notes in the computer. Then she told me that she just needed to get my bank info (routing and account numbers for the account that I wanted to use for a transfer to open the new account) and would email that info to Shirl who would take care of it. So I gave her that info, and my cellphone number as well, and she sent it all off to Shirl.
That was Thursday morning, so, five-ish days ago (or three-ish if I'm generous enough to give Shirl the weekend off) and I haven't heard squat. Meanwhile I got another letter in the mail from ING saying that (as I already knew) they're cutting off my NetBank debit card as of the 23rd, and also that (this was new) as of some time in early December, if I have any money left in my old NetBank account, they'll roll it over into a new "Orange Savings" account with ING.
I most definitely do not want an Orange Savings account. This is an account that doesn't give you checks, or a debit card, or online bill-pay, or basically any way to access your money on a regular basis. I understand it, mind you: ING doesn't really have an account that's equivalent to the NetBank checking account; the closest checking they have is their "paperless" checking account which requires a credit check (the source of my current woes). So they can't exactly convert all the NetBank accounts into their checking accounts, because they'd have to get consent for credit checks from all those people and that could get ugly. So converting it to their savings account makes sense. But...you know...what pisses me off is that I'm doing everything right here. I paid attention to the mailings they're sending me. I went online and investigated ING's offerings, thought about it, decided which option worked best for me. I filled out the application in timely fashion. I gave myself plenty of cushion. And yet...here it is ten days from the day my NetBank debit card will stop working, over two weeks from the day I first filled out the application ... and I still don't have my fucking ING Direct account!!
Now, I know that many of you would say (and some of you HAVE said to me in conversation) that by now you would have given up on them and fled to a different bank. Believe me, that option is definitely still on the table. But the thing is, ING offers excellent interest rates on their checking account. Try finding a checking account with an APY over 1% and no monthly fee (or a fairly low minimum balance to avoid fees). I dare you. You won't have much luck, unless you look at accounts that require an enormous minimum balance. There are a few options, though, and I'm certainly looking into them. But having spent so many years with a checking account that earned interest (via NetBank), I'm having trouble letting go of that idea. So I'm going to keep plugging at ING for at least a little while longer.
sigh.
stupid banks.
Can't we go back to the barter system? I have some lovely seashells.
