Electrical Federal Credit Union

I am currently having a once in a lifetime trip out of the country ruined by incompetence so bad, that no one can tell me who’s incompetence is actually causing the original issue. I called EFCU to tell them I was leaving the country a week or more beforehand, and specifically inquired whether there would be any issues with me using my bank card in Spain, and was told ‘no’. When I made my first purchase at an out-​of-​country airport, my account was frozen and my card canceled — an airport I used said card to buy tickets to, mind you. I even used this card to book an out-​of-​country lodging reservation. EFCU’s crack-​team of third-​party «fraud prevention» specialists apparently didn’t connect the dots or get the memo, and canceled my card, which also caused cancelation of my AirBNB reservation, my automatic NetFlix billing (so my subletter is angry at me), and nearly caused me to be homeless in a foreign land, without even enough money for bus or cab fair. I had to beg someone to put me up, and spend my entire day walking from one side of the city to another with my luggage (as I had no money for a cab or bus). I was robbed twice, without phone, and feel my personal safety was put at risk because of these issues. I spent one entire day just walking and wanting to be able to afford a water or bus fare. I am still afraid to buy a replacement phone with my CREDIT card that they managed to restore, in case such a large purchase cuts off my only lifeline. As for my DEBIT card, EFCU assures me that the card is fine and working, and that no attempts at purchases or cash withdrawls can be seen. However, the ATM’s at 3 different national bank chains here all capture the card, and say my financial institution has issued a hold on the card, and EFCU’s bank card does not have a 24-​hour number to the company that issued the original hold. I have to wait until 5pm Spanish time each day for them to help me, but banks close here at 2pm. In fact, due to the time-​zone differences, I’ve spent almost three days of my vacation in Hindi automated phone menu hell, that is literally designed to get people to give up out of pure frustration. It’s literally a fake customer service number and run-​around based in India. So, if you’ve worked really hard, and want a little reward for spending your lifeforce, you might as well stay home. This trip has been nothing but an extremely expensive nightmare, and no one knows who can help me get my OWN F***KING MONEY, or who can unlock the card. I still can’t shop at the closest market (cash only), visit many clubs (cash only) or take buses or cabs around town (cash only). And every transaction rapes me with the worst kind of currency exchange rate (so I’m possibly paying double for small purchases if that particular institution chooses a flat minimum fee), and most places require a 5 Euro minimum on purchases. So, the solution is to apparently send a new debit card to my address in the USA (7 – 10 days, wrong country), and not wire me my own money. I’m also affraid to be whipping out a credit card for every stupid little purchase, instead of just carrying small amounts of cash at a time, because of how bad this country is for theft. I only had a couple of days of decent vacation at the start because I was smart enough to exchange some USD for Euros within the US to begin with, but I’m literally hating life right now, on vacation. If you work 50 weeks out of a 52 week year, every day that someone screws up your vacation is like someone making you work 10 days for free.

Convenience or quickly are in this service center’s vocabulary. I have never been through the drive through in less than five minutes. I only use this place because it is close to my work. The staff is not friendly have have no regard to customer’s time schedule. I wish there was another credit union or service center closer so I could avoid this place forever.