Left Stranded in Mexico without Access to Cash
Due to the ill-thought-out policies of DHL, I will be Left Stranded in Mexico without Access to Cash
In 7 weeks my bank card expires and due to company policies, DHL won't ship me a new one.
Due to the ill-thought-out policies of DHL, having a new one sent me just ain't gonna happen.
The absurdity of the world we live in now. Truly,
OK, let me rewind a bit.
My present bank card will expire at the end of 12/21.
I have been away, almost 2 years. I had always envisaged on going back for a week to sort out things like new bank cards but then COVID came along and I find myself on the other side of the world living a life almost unaffected by lockdowns.
I could have gone home when it was still ok to, last September I guess, but I had never envisaged that it would be impossible to get a new card shipped out to me.
Metro Bank, timely sent me a replacement card to my registered address. My dad's house, the place that is home, whenever I am not roaming the world.
Banks in the UK and possibly many other countries, will not send a replacement bank card to any address other than the one registered on your account.
I accept this but it's hardly customer friendly. Like any big corporation, they won't budge on their policies for no one.
My sister sent me a message. She no longer drives, so I had an old friend, pick it up from her house and attempt to send it by DHL.
He used the 'service kiosk' in the local WHS newsagent. It cost £31.09.
2 days later he gets a message to say that it is DHL's policy that they do not send 'unsigned' bank cards.
Really? Yes, really!
My friend had written on the declaration, that it was a bank card. Possibly that was the mistake.
I can hear everyone saying, "of course you don't declare it on the shipping form."
Have I got news for you! Just keep on reading.
While I accept that it's the bank policy not to send new cards to a 3rd address, DHL, your policy sucks and help no one.
We use DHL to securely send a bank card because we need a replacement or have had one stolen or simply lost.
What kind of a policy is it that you can't ship unsigned cards? How the fuck can we have them signed when we need to have a new card shipped? It is obvious that w are not in a position to pick it up and the replacement card will be unsigned. Fly back home and sign it? Duh!!
We use DHL when we are up shit creek without a paddle. We use DHL when we need help. Yeah thanks, DHL, you are not there for me nor all the other people who need a new bank card, pronto.
I can't be alone here?
As I said. Ill-Thought-Out Policies.
I mean, who the fuck comes up with these policies. Answers on a virtual postcard in the DISQUS comments section below.
I called my bank. They cancelled the replacement card. They even said they were going to close my account as one can only have an account if one is a resident. And assumed that as I never go home, I am living permanently in another country.
"I am resident. I am here in Mexico but I am not working. I am on an extended vacation and because of Covid, going back ain't gonna happen anytime soon." More on this in a bit.
A 2nd replacement card was sent. My dad, bless him, packaged the card up in a book, complete with gift wrap and I had my friend pick it up and resend it. This time the package was declared as a 'Gift'.
8 hours or so later he gets a message that "the package contained an unsigned bank card and it was against DHL's policy."
As the package had been sent from a 'service kiosk', it was DHL's policy that all packages were opened and inspected. WTF.
This is why I need the right people to see this post. This is real and soon I will be penniless. And I want someone to be held responsible. And basically I need the right people to see this and I hope I will be offered some help. After all, you would think, getting a new bank card shipped out would be easy.
I called my bank to cancel the 2nd card. And I hope my buddy can get another refund. The 2nd package cost £37.95 plus I owe him £8 for the cost of calling DHL on a premium rate number.
The end of December is fast approaching and I have 6 weeks to think of something.
By January 1 2022, I will no longer have access to my funds sitting in my bank account.
***
And on why going home isn't an option.
I am double vaxxed. But the policy of the UK GOV just now is that they do not recognise vaccines administered here in Mexico.
As a tourist, I can't even get a QR code as electronic proof of even having had the 2 AstraZeneca jabs because I only have a provisional CURP number so all I have are 2 paper vaccination application forms with the date and LOT number of the vaccine on it.
So, I am, until they change the policy, classed as 'unvaccinated.
This means that, if I were to fly home, I would have to book and pay for a PCR test on days 2 and 8 at X no. of pounds a go and also isolate.
My dad is 81. Though his general health is OK, he is under a 'live alone' order from dear old Boris. My 2 sisters cannot help me. I have nowhere affordable to go back to, least of all pay for 2 PCR tests.
I could go in, with the plan to leave before the 8th day. Hell, I could even go back for a day and technically, I wouldn't have to test at all. The logistics involved would be a nightmare.
If the policy changes and they accept the vaccinations given here in Mexico, I could, in theory, go back and pick up a new bank card and get the hell out quickly with only the flight costs to think about.
Of course, I could also withdraw out all my money in cash over the next 6 weeks. But it is hardly the ideal solution. That's why we have bank cards, so we can withdraw smaller amounts so if we get robbed or lose it, the impact is less.
I could, every time I need money, Western Union myself. This is a very expensive option.
I could transfer it to Miss CDMXs account but she will get clobbered for tax on 'undeclared income'. This is also not a cheap option.
Solutions are always possibly but ones options are always limited by the funds at ones disposal.
So this is a reality check of being a long term traveller, one who doesn't want to go home. Betcha all thinking that my life is an Instagram moment.
Life these days is just and endless stream of mind fucks. This is why I say life was so much better pre 911 where many things changed forever and pre internet. Life was just easier then.
The absurdity of the world we live in now. Truly,
OK, let me rewind a bit.
My present bank card will expire at the end of 12/21.
I have been away, almost 2 years. I had always envisaged on going back for a week to sort out things like new bank cards but then COVID came along and I find myself on the other side of the world living a life almost unaffected by lockdowns.
I could have gone home when it was still ok to, last September I guess, but I had never envisaged that it would be impossible to get a new card shipped out to me.
Metro Bank, timely sent me a replacement card to my registered address. My dad's house, the place that is home, whenever I am not roaming the world.
Banks in the UK and possibly many other countries, will not send a replacement bank card to any address other than the one registered on your account.
I accept this but it's hardly customer friendly. Like any big corporation, they won't budge on their policies for no one.
My sister sent me a message. She no longer drives, so I had an old friend, pick it up from her house and attempt to send it by DHL.
He used the 'service kiosk' in the local WHS newsagent. It cost £31.09.
2 days later he gets a message to say that it is DHL's policy that they do not send 'unsigned' bank cards.
Really? Yes, really!
My friend had written on the declaration, that it was a bank card. Possibly that was the mistake.
I can hear everyone saying, "of course you don't declare it on the shipping form."
Have I got news for you! Just keep on reading.
While I accept that it's the bank policy not to send new cards to a 3rd address, DHL, your policy sucks and help no one.
We use DHL to securely send a bank card because we need a replacement or have had one stolen or simply lost.
What kind of a policy is it that you can't ship unsigned cards? How the fuck can we have them signed when we need to have a new card shipped? It is obvious that w are not in a position to pick it up and the replacement card will be unsigned. Fly back home and sign it? Duh!!
We use DHL when we are up shit creek without a paddle. We use DHL when we need help. Yeah thanks, DHL, you are not there for me nor all the other people who need a new bank card, pronto.
I can't be alone here?
As I said. Ill-Thought-Out Policies.
I mean, who the fuck comes up with these policies. Answers on a virtual postcard in the DISQUS comments section below.
I called my bank. They cancelled the replacement card. They even said they were going to close my account as one can only have an account if one is a resident. And assumed that as I never go home, I am living permanently in another country.
"I am resident. I am here in Mexico but I am not working. I am on an extended vacation and because of Covid, going back ain't gonna happen anytime soon." More on this in a bit.
A 2nd replacement card was sent. My dad, bless him, packaged the card up in a book, complete with gift wrap and I had my friend pick it up and resend it. This time the package was declared as a 'Gift'.
8 hours or so later he gets a message that "the package contained an unsigned bank card and it was against DHL's policy."
As the package had been sent from a 'service kiosk', it was DHL's policy that all packages were opened and inspected. WTF.
This is why I need the right people to see this post. This is real and soon I will be penniless. And I want someone to be held responsible. And basically I need the right people to see this and I hope I will be offered some help. After all, you would think, getting a new bank card shipped out would be easy.
I called my bank to cancel the 2nd card. And I hope my buddy can get another refund. The 2nd package cost £37.95 plus I owe him £8 for the cost of calling DHL on a premium rate number.
The end of December is fast approaching and I have 6 weeks to think of something.
By January 1 2022, I will no longer have access to my funds sitting in my bank account.
***
And on why going home isn't an option.
I am double vaxxed. But the policy of the UK GOV just now is that they do not recognise vaccines administered here in Mexico.
As a tourist, I can't even get a QR code as electronic proof of even having had the 2 AstraZeneca jabs because I only have a provisional CURP number so all I have are 2 paper vaccination application forms with the date and LOT number of the vaccine on it.
So, I am, until they change the policy, classed as 'unvaccinated.
This means that, if I were to fly home, I would have to book and pay for a PCR test on days 2 and 8 at X no. of pounds a go and also isolate.
My dad is 81. Though his general health is OK, he is under a 'live alone' order from dear old Boris. My 2 sisters cannot help me. I have nowhere affordable to go back to, least of all pay for 2 PCR tests.
I could go in, with the plan to leave before the 8th day. Hell, I could even go back for a day and technically, I wouldn't have to test at all. The logistics involved would be a nightmare.
If the policy changes and they accept the vaccinations given here in Mexico, I could, in theory, go back and pick up a new bank card and get the hell out quickly with only the flight costs to think about.
Of course, I could also withdraw out all my money in cash over the next 6 weeks. But it is hardly the ideal solution. That's why we have bank cards, so we can withdraw smaller amounts so if we get robbed or lose it, the impact is less.
I could, every time I need money, Western Union myself. This is a very expensive option.
I could transfer it to Miss CDMXs account but she will get clobbered for tax on 'undeclared income'. This is also not a cheap option.
Solutions are always possibly but ones options are always limited by the funds at ones disposal.
So this is a reality check of being a long term traveller, one who doesn't want to go home. Betcha all thinking that my life is an Instagram moment.
Life these days is just and endless stream of mind fucks. This is why I say life was so much better pre 911 where many things changed forever and pre internet. Life was just easier then.
Tagged under: Mexico
