Businessman's Credit Card Bank Deposits Floating in Space

This doesn't affect me personally, but a friend of mine has been angry about this...

On Friday December 31st, a small business owner was issued a new and improved (stand-alone) Y2k-compliant credit card swipe machine. It would not accept Visa, MasterCard, or Discover card. By noon that day, the bank delivered another machine. Now it would accept Visa and MasterCard, but not Discover card. (The Discover card is a popular choice among Ohio retailers and consumers)

So, on the first business day after New Year's on January 3rd, his bank delivered another machine, and still, the Discover card wouldn't work. The bank gave up and said it wasn't their problem and that he should contact Data Systems, Inc.. He did just that and is still waiting for another replacement as of January 26th.

Now what really made this person hit the roof was when no Visa or MasterCard deposits appeared in his bank's computers. By January 6th, over $600.00 was floating "out there somewhere."

And as of January 24th, his bank account still hasn't been credited with credit card deposits.

I must tell you, this businessman was once a "Polly". No more! He says if he hears that phrase "everything's Y2k-OK" one more time, he's going to scream.

-- Lee Maloney (leemaloney@hotmail.com), January 26, 2000

Answers

Update on friend's dilemma:

Data Systems, Inc reprogrammed the credit card machine over the phone line. The machine now accepts Discovery card.

Friend re-issued all credit card charges to his bank and all's well, at the moment. It pays to save hard-copy receipts in 2000.

-- Lee Maloney (leemaloney@hotmail.com), January 26, 2000.