You know, sometimes I think companies do things just to set up an experiment in human exasperation.

Why do I make such a statement?

Friday, February 13, 2009 I received a call from a firm asking for my authorization to place $8,000 worth of commercial water pumps on my credit card. Since I had never heard of such a firm, and I had not placed an order for commercial water pumps, I knew my credit card had been compromised.

A phone call to my credit card company confirmed it with some other unauthorized purchases placed on the card. Immediately, my card was cancelled.

When my new credit card arrived, I had to notify certain companies the card number they presently have on file was no longer valid. I did this by Internet as they were set up on the Net and are automatic payments placed on my card.

The first place I visited was Dish Network. I went into my profile and changed my card number. At least I tried.

The site said I had to pay my monthly local stations fee before I could make any changes to my credit card. The number displayed on my computer screen was the old card number. I tried to change to the new number.

I could not pay the fee with my new card because I had to pay the fee before I could add the new card. Finally, after several attempts, I paid the fee with my cancelled card number. Then, and only then, was I allowed to change my credit card number.

I had satisfied the system.

About two hours later my phone rang. It was a prerecorded message from Dish Network advising me my account was about to be closed because I had paid my bill with an invalid credit card.

Arrrgh!

I then placed a phone call to the toll free number for Dish Network and immediately was connected to an automated, voice recognition-answering device. I do not like such devices. I wanted to speak with a human. Thus, every time the phone system asked a question, I answered “Bananas.” Finally, the device said it did not recognize what I was saying and connected me with a human.

Once I was connected to a person, I told her of the quirk in their system and of my exasperation with Dish Network. She then checked my account and said the system showed I was paid-in-full and the new credit card number was the one the system was using. The woman apologized for any inconvenience I was caused.

I guess all has been satisfied as I am still receiving Dish Network programming.

Computers are great, sometimes. Then, again, maybe companies just do these things to see how humans act under stress.