Update...what a Fiasco!!!!
The story in full:
Tried to make 5.99 payment via PayPal on Wednesday morning. Card refused. Tried again. Card refused again. Rang my bank - they said no problem their end, they hadn't had a request from PayPal. They advised me to KEEP TRYING (this is significant in light of later events). Tried twice more..still refused.
Had a cup of coffee and a blinding light of inspiration hit me. I had had a replacement card in January for a damaged card! While card number is the same, security number is different. Grabbed card, logged on to payPal and tried to add new card. "This card is already registered to your account." By now I am wanting to start kicking things.
Another flash of inspiration! I delete old card details and re-submit new ones. Success! I make the payment - yeehaw!
Three hours later...I win another bid. £4 this time. I go to PayPal to make payment. Payment is refused. we have a new error message - my number is incorrect or incomplete. I start hitting my head on the computer desk. I try several times to re-enter number and finally admit defeat. I send cheque instead.
Evening: I ring PayPal. I am on hold for around 10 minutes listening to an American woman assuring me that my call is important to them and will be dealt with momentarily. I worry about how much this is costing. I sing along to the muzac between gritted teeth. I am finally connected to a ...Call Centre. I think it is in Delhi. I worry about how much this is costing some more.I have great difficulty understanding/making myself understood. Woman says problem is with my card. I say it is not. She says I must contact my bank. I say I have. She says card is wrong. I say I use card every day and it is not wrong. She says ah but this is electronic transaction. I say when I use my card in a shop it is electronic transaction. She says ah, but this is internet..it is different. I wish to scream but instead I say thankyou very much and hang up.
Following day: I feel in need of retail therapy. I hit the shops. I go in M&S and attempt to withdraw cash from cash machine. Machine eats my card. I go home. I try to ring my bank. I try to get number online but server is down. Is e-bank so no paper bank statements. Cannot get number. I flick through my post and notice letter from bank. At last! A bit of luck, I can get number from letter. I open letter and see it is from "Fraud Department" at bank. I feel sick. I am to ring IMMEDIATELY as they are querying a transaction made yesterday.
I ring. Mr Bank (not in Delhi): Ah, Mrs marthamoo, did you try and make many payments to PayPal yesterday. Me: No, I tried to make two. I rang you, and told you it wouldn't work. Mr Bank: Oh..the attempts flagged up our security systems and we assumed card was being used fraudulently. Me: But I rang and said it was me using card. Mr Bank: Well all those attempts looked suspicious. Me: But the other Mr Bank told me to keep trying! Mr Bank: Oh well, it's OK now, I'll remove the block on your card. Me: No, not OK. Machine ate card. Mr Bank: No, just flagged up warning to tell you to contact bank. Me: NO..it ATE MY CARD! Mr Bank: Oh it shouldn't have done that.
So...now now have no card for at least five days. Hate banks, hate call centres, hate myself for not remembering had new card in first place.
Feel better for getting all that out of my system though. Thanks for listening...is anyone listening...helllooooooo...