The bank, the post office, park management and me and us

 How do you pay bills these days? Once all was paper, and the checkbook was balanced religiously, monthly. Then I got a new computer, maybe five years ago, and it all changed--for the better.

Another blogger explained to this accountant (albeit with TBI), how to live without a check book. Just let go. As I no longer had a checkbook on the computer, and would never keep a paper checkbook again, I let go.

 I've put in place a desk pad jot method to be sure I don't overdraft the bank before month end. Voila. Home free.

Until the administration began its slow strangle on the post office. Ballots are not the only envelope through the post office. Bill payments are, too.

I've had a light bulb go off about all the companies that collect their money electronically, directly if possible. The cell phone. Internet and television access. Utilities. I think about the electric bill. I switched to paperless. Yea for me, good, tidy citizen.

Every month they noodged me. Stop it with the check you write on your bank account, for the bank to mail to us. Just switch to direct debit! And I did. 

Now I only write one check each month, on my bank's "Pay Bills" app, to the trailer park. There are other stragglers; once a year to my accountant, annually for insurance, quarterly for trash service, and so on (though most of them would like my checking account number, too).

I've had to learn too much about how my fine bank operates. I had to overcome obstacles even to get to someone who knows. My local bank has been closed for the duration of Covid, though I am told it will reopen.

My bank has few stand alone locations in this area. Basically, one in each major locality and the rest are in supermarkets. Brilliant? I don't know. Brilliant for some. My next closest branch, to call and talk to, caters to a large immigrant population, Spanish and Asian. 

I've stood in line while the manager, or a clerk, patiently, and often in another language, helps a non-English speaking person navigate an American check. I've never felt inconvenienced; I'd appreciate someone helping me. Until the coin flips, and the manager cannot understand my question.

How can I know when this check you write is mailed? Where can I read it in your instructions? The manager turned me over to a teller who was too busy to talk and never called me back.

I want to know because a check the bank dated August 7 is received by the park manager on the 24th, who assured me it was the post office and there would be no late charge, honey.

This is the third month in a row. And the bank tells me the checks are mailed three days before the date, to arrive on the date of the check.

Low level rumbling, including me, blames it on the park manager. This is basically a well run park, because, like decent citizens, we manage ourselves and help each other.  And it's time for me to stop blaming the manager, the bank and the post office.

Our government is making it difficult to deliver the mail on time.

I must write an article for the next Community News. I have my personal plan for making my ballot count. I will vote early. There are many other ways, including mail in ballots, also known as absentee voting, legal in every state. But I think we will need to know how to learn our ballot is received and ready to be counted.

This post has been a thinking through process. Thank you for listening. I need to write that article now.