Happy Mistakes

or how after 10 years I just found out Jim is not a member at our credit union

This has been an interesting week - financially speaking, that is.  Last Friday Jim and I went to a swanky hotel and stayed in a suite.  When we checked in, we gave the girl behind the counter a credit card.  She charged the room, but then tried to charge an additional $200 to the card for possible "other charges".  At 15 bucks a pop, that means we could have rented 12 pornos, or drank/eaten most of the contents of the minibar (I assume).  Of course I'm not entirely certain about the minibar, because Jim never could figure out how to get it open.  And, no, we didn't rent 12 pornos...we didn't rent any.

But I digress, the card was declined for the additional $200.  I was embarrassed and surprised all at the same time.  I mean, I'm so good with money and our family's finances...what did I miss?!

When we came home on Saturday I diligently found out that during the first three weeks of my new job, I missed some transactions in my budget spreadsheet.  I called the number on the back of the credit card, hoping to get a $5000 increase.  After getting hung up on a few times (something was amiss with their system), I finally got a very nice gentleman who informed me I had to call another number.  What was that number?  My credit union.  Ugh.

I spoke to a very nice girl at the credit union.  She put my information through to get a credit line increase and told me I'd hear back by Monday.  On Monday afternoon I called there, and I was told that because I do not have an income (a REAL job that is), I was declined.  I had told the nice girl I didn't have a real job, but that my husband (who is on the card and on the member account at the credit union) has a good job. This new girl (girl #2) told me that my husband was only a signer on the card, but that she could put his information through to get the credit check to work.  Jim was happy to give his information over to her, and once again we were told in a couple of days we would hear.

Wednesday I phoned the credit union back and talked with girl #3.  She told me that both girl #1 and girl #2 neglected to tell me that we would have to apply for a completely separate loan (credit card).  I told her, fine.  I also told her that I was frustrated at the process, because Jim and I have been married for 10 years and he was added to everything back then.  She was really nice.

Yesterday I get a call from girl #3.  She says, "Well, Michelle, I have good news and bad news."  The good news was that we were approved for the increase.  The bad news?  Well, the last 10 years Jim has not been a member at the credit union.  He has appeared on the checks, can sign stuff, can sign on MY credit card, but is not technically a member.  She also pointed out that if we had ended the marriage, I would have been responsible for the credit card AND the accounts associated with my member # at the credit union.

So now we need to go to a branch and he has to sign some paper and I have to show my ID.  Apparently they need to prove I'm still who I am.  Hopefully this fiasco will end on a positive note: Jim will become a true member of the bank and a responsible party of the credit card.

I am also excited, because I just received a package in the mail today - The Story For Children and The Story for adults.  This book is being used by Zoe's classroom for her Bible curriculum.  I fell in love with the illustrations and concept, so I had to have it for her (and Evie).  I also felt that I needed to read the book too!  So now I have my Bible as one continuing story of God and His people.  :)  I will definitely let you know, reader, what my opinion is of the series.  Have a glorious weekend.