Friday, November 02, 2012

Buyer beware.....

Who knew hassles related to working abroad would emnate from back home?

Across past two months we've been playing a curious game with Chase Bank.   Before we left we alerted our local bank and they notated our electronic fall about our one year work stay in China.   Soon after we arrived our joint account was blocked due to suspicious transactions, i.e. the purchases we were making in China and online.  Thinking this no big deal, I contacted the hotline and, after a day or two, got the account reopened.   A few days later it was suspended again.  Again, I went through the process and, after a delay, the account came back on.   Intermittently thereafter we continued to dance this dance.   Just over a week ago the bank blocked the account again.  When I called to work things account the bank representatives said they could not help me.  "Why?" I asked incredulously.  The reply was "we don't have to tell you why."  The only clue: in an earlier conversation the representative told me the bank "has problems with China," whatever that means.

LESSON:   If you are going to work or travel abroad do not leave your money in Chase Bank.  They are not equipped for the global marketplace nor do they act out their oft repeated phrase "we're sorry you are experiencing trouble" with anything meaningful.