Lost The Checks, Part 2

I mentioned 2 weeks ago that I couldn't find my shoebox of old statements, old check registers, and unused blank checks.  Well the situation has become both a comedy of errors and a source of anger and frustration!

First, I have become convinced the shoebox is no longer in the house.  On 2 different occasions, I have searched the house square foot by square foot for anything resembling a shoebox.  This morning, considering the possibility that I decided to dispose of the old statements, I looked for any spot tat could hold just a single pack of checks. 

Nothing...

Second, Several months ago, I did some rearranging  and cleaning.  Mostly, moved a bookcase into the bedroom and boxed up a 100 out of date science/nature/information books (what use is a 1960s astronomy book?) and recycled them.  I suspect that somehow, my check shoebox got included by accident.

My shoebox search started in late May, I wrote the last of the checks in my checkbook and went to get the next.  I know I had some because the last book of checks always has a "reorder now" note on the top.  I would have reordered checks.  The first time I couldn't find them, I decided to just order more and I went to Walmart Check-printing Services online.

I messed up my account number.  The form offerred 9 digit and mine is 13, so I assumed the last 4 weren't important or that somehow they knew what they were for my bank and would just show up on the checks.  I can be very stupid sometimes.  But when I received the checks and the 4 digits weren't there, I called my bank.  They said the last 4 digits were essential. 

So I called Walmart.  They said the form offerred 9, 11, 0r 13 digits.  So it was my fault.  I accepted that, and the Walmart agent took a new order for checks (and corrected where I had entered my address 2x on the previous order.  I paid a fee for rapid printing and delivery. 

Two days later, I received an email from Walmart saying the checks had been shipped.  Two days after that, I received an email "acknowledging" that the order had been cancelled.  That was confusing.  Before I called them the next day to see what I had done wrong THIS TIME, I received an email saying the order was cancelled due to "security concerns" and that they would not answer any questions because "it might reveal information about their security system".  And, they said, they were taking the shipment back.

I called anyway.  When I entered the order number in their initial automated system, they terminated the call.  I called again and chose to speak to an agent.  I told the agent that I didn't want to know anything about their security system, but if there was any information I could provide on the phone or by email I would be happy to do so.  The agent said he had no information on the cause of the "security concern" and was not permitted to forward my call to the security office.

I suspect it was because their security system detected 2 orders for the same series of check numbers.  The first one that I messed up and the second that the previous agent had helped me with.  That would have been easily explainable, but I was refused the chance to do so.

But there was the email saying the checks had been shipped.  How could they stop the delivery?  I had the tracking number and checked it.  It gets weird here.  The tracking data showed that DHL had gotten the package to Maryland and then missent it to Louisiana and was resending it to Maryland via the US Postal Service.  Well, who can take back a package from the USPS?  So I expected to receive it anyway.  It bounced around in Louisiana for 2 days, then showed up as arriving in Maryland again and scheduled for delivery June 19.  Hurray, at least I would see what was wrong with the checks (if anything).

It arrived.  Only it was just the "extra" check register I had requested.  Walmart actually did grab the package of checks back.  And then it occurred to me that there were blank checks "somewhere" out there (unless they are still lost somewhere in the house).

Third, so Saturday morning, I accepted the inevitable.  I needed to have the bank cancel my checking account number, establish a new account, and THIS TIME order the new checks through the bank so there could be no errors or "security concerns".  I have an appointment with them on Monday to do all that.

I vaguely suspect that someday I will find that missing shoebox of old statements, registers and blank checks in a weird place in the house (and suddenly recall why it is there).  I will be amazed.  And I will just burn them.  But for now, I can't imagine living without checks.

And BTW, HAPPY FATHERS DAY to all the dads out there.