Mustachian People Problems (just for fun)

[Plina]

I sold one of my apartments and used part of the money to make an extra payment on the other. The loan was split in three different loans. I am only paying one of the loans down, the one with the smallest amount. It looks nicer in the statements when the other loans have even numbers. I could make the extra payment through the app so I made such a large payment that only this months payment was left to pay. This so that this months payment would not be messed up. I also made an extra payment on one the other loans. Somehow the bank needs to deal with the fact that the loans where the payment is made will be fully paid this month. First, I thought I would call and deal talk with their customer service about how to solve the issue. As I sold my other apartment it should lower my payment significantly but I read some of reviews on internet that they are not good with dealing with company owners as I am now. So I decided to wait and see how they choose to deal with the issue so that I hopefully will not need to mention that to the bank.  It is kind of annoying to wait until the end of the month but I realised as I am typning this that I can actually pay the mortgage now so that I will probably get a faster answer.

[parkerk]

This week for the first time in I don't know how long I had to actually wait an entire week for my paycheque to hit my bank account before I could pay a bill instead of paying it right away. This is because I'm finally being responsible and have set up regular, automatic contributions to my RRSP and TFSA instead of just letting the money pile up and then making irregular, manual contributions a couple times a year.  But it was annoying waiting for the money to come in! Is this what people who live paycheque-to-paycheque feel like all the time??? Horrors!

[Tempname23]

I had an Dr. appointment card on my computer desk for almost a year. The appointment time came, I showed up and the receptionist said I was late, I ask the time, I was exactly on time. I called my wife and said there was card on my computer please take a picture and send it. She related the time on the card and I said, I know, but I want a picture to show the receptionist. The receptionist corrected me, after looking at this for almost a year, I got it wrong. So, anyway, I showed up at 9:50.
Sorry the contrast got a little messed up when I took the picture.

[ixtap]

I had an Dr. appointment card on my computer desk for almost a year. The appointment time came, I showed up and the receptionist said I was late, I ask the time, I was exactly on time. I called my wife and said there was card on my computer please take a picture and send it. She related the time on the card and I said, I know, but I want a picture to show the receptionist. The receptionist corrected me, after looking at this for almost a year, I got it wrong. So, anyway, I showed up at 9:50.
Sorry the contrast got a little messed up when I took the picture.

Is that zero supposed to be an a for am and it is 9:15? Yeah, I see why you messed up, hopefully they helped you anyway.

[ixtap]

Most people who visit us tend to make comments along the lines of "I guess you have what you need." And I will often respond that we also have what we want.

But really, as we declutter and clean for moving back to the boat, I find myself wondering why we ever thought we wanted or needed all this STUFF.

The buy nothing group is addictive, though. Take a picture, post on Facebook, message the first person to respond, leave it on the porch. Boom: crapola disappears into someone else's hoard!

[dragoncar]

I had an Dr. appointment card on my computer desk for almost a year. The appointment time came, I showed up and the receptionist said I was late, I ask the time, I was exactly on time. I called my wife and said there was card on my computer please take a picture and send it. She related the time on the card and I said, I know, but I want a picture to show the receptionist. The receptionist corrected me, after looking at this for almost a year, I got it wrong. So, anyway, I showed up at 9:50.
Sorry the contrast got a little messed up when I took the picture.

Is that zero supposed to be an a for am and it is 9:15? Yeah, I see why you messed up, hopefully they helped you anyway.

I have no idea what I’m looking at. I probably would have asked the receptionist to use a higher resolution card

[ixtap]

I said it when we moved 8 years ago and I am saying it again now. Next time, they can keep their deposit and clean the place themselves. I always think "how hard can it be?" But dang, it really is hard work to scrub scrub scrub every surface :(

[mspym]

@ixtap in Sydney having any money taken out of your deposit makes it super hard to rent again so a couple of houses ago we started asking the letting agent which cleaning company they use and hiring them directly to do the work for us because yeah life is too short for this nonsense.

[ixtap]

@ixtap in Sydney having any money taken out of your deposit makes it super hard to rent again so a couple of houses ago we started asking the letting agent which cleaning company they use and hiring them directly to do the work for us because yeah life is too short for this nonsense.

It doesn't help that everything was decent quality, but is 20 years old. So it is mostly solid, but the finishes are worn and you don't know when you are trying to remove the last remnants of finish vs build up.

[Tempname23]

I had an Dr. appointment card on my computer desk for almost a year. The appointment time came, I showed up and the receptionist said I was late, I ask the time, I was exactly on time. I called my wife and said there was card on my computer please take a picture and send it. She related the time on the card and I said, I know, but I want a picture to show the receptionist. The receptionist corrected me, after looking at this for almost a year, I got it wrong. So, anyway, I showed up at 9:50.
Sorry the contrast got a little messed up when I took the picture.

Is that zero supposed to be an a for am and it is 9:15? Yeah, I see why you messed up, hopefully they helped you anyway.

 Yes it says 9:15, but I saw it as 9:50, and no, they said if you are 15 minutes late the doc won't see you. The zero is a circle around AM. A bit silly, how many dermatologists have appointments at 9:15PM. 
  I'm pretty sure it's an eyesight thing, my wife and I both saw it as 9:50, both my kids saw it as 9:15. I was ticked off, they offered me an appointment for the next day, but I was still ticked off, and just said forget it. It was a yearly checkup just to see if I have anything that needs attention, I never have, but I have had many moles froze off just for appearance sake and a few skin tags.

[Sibley]

I had an Dr. appointment card on my computer desk for almost a year. The appointment time came, I showed up and the receptionist said I was late, I ask the time, I was exactly on time. I called my wife and said there was card on my computer please take a picture and send it. She related the time on the card and I said, I know, but I want a picture to show the receptionist. The receptionist corrected me, after looking at this for almost a year, I got it wrong. So, anyway, I showed up at 9:50.
Sorry the contrast got a little messed up when I took the picture.

Is that zero supposed to be an a for am and it is 9:15? Yeah, I see why you messed up, hopefully they helped you anyway.

 Yes it says 9:15, but I saw it as 9:50, and no, they said if you are 15 minutes late the doc won't see you. The zero is a circle around AM. A bit silly, how many dermatologists have appointments at 9:15PM. 
  I'm pretty sure it's an eyesight thing, my wife and I both saw it as 9:50, both my kids saw it as 9:15. I was ticked off, they offered me an appointment for the next day, but I was still ticked off, and just said forget it. It was a yearly checkup just to see if I have anything that needs attention, I never have, but I have had many moles froze off just for appearance sake and a few skin tags.

I am impressed that you hung on to that card for a year. I'm also surprised that the office didn't send reminders, but more likely you got them and either disregarded them or your brain saw what it expected to see.

Don't be annoyed with them. Be annoyed with yourself. That was your error. And make another appointment to get your skin checked, because skipping is just stupid. And you and your wife should get your eyes checked if you haven't recently.

[LennStar]

Do you get appointment reminders from doctors in the US?

That would never happen here in Germany (at least if you are puplic insured). All doctors have more patients then they need and their nurses don't have the time to waste half a working day per day on the phone reminding people, especially with Corona problems. Also it would annoy a lot of people I guess.

[RWD]

Do you get appointment reminders from doctors in the US?

That would never happen here in Germany (at least if you are puplic insured). All doctors have more patients then they need and their nurses don't have the time to waste half a working day per day on the phone reminding people, especially with Corona problems. Also it would annoy a lot of people I guess.

I get automated reminders via text message or e-mail. It's in a computer system already, basically no effort to set up. I never get phone call reminders.

[sonofsven]

Do you get appointment reminders from doctors in the US?

That would never happen here in Germany (at least if you are puplic insured). All doctors have more patients then they need and their nurses don't have the time to waste half a working day per day on the phone reminding people, especially with Corona problems. Also it would annoy a lot of people I guess.

I get a phone call from my doctor, and a text from my dentist, the day before my appointment.

[Imma]

Do you get appointment reminders from doctors in the US?

That would never happen here in Germany (at least if you are puplic insured). All doctors have more patients then they need and their nurses don't have the time to waste half a working day per day on the phone reminding people, especially with Corona problems. Also it would annoy a lot of people I guess.

My hospital in the Netherlands sends me automatic reminders by text before my appointment! It's necessary especially as since Covid you need to fill in a digital form confirming you don't have Covid symptoms. Even after the digital reminder many people still forget to fill it in and all those forgetful people block the hospital entry, it annoys me a lot.

[ixtap]

Do you get appointment reminders from doctors in the US?

That would never happen here in Germany (at least if you are puplic insured). All doctors have more patients then they need and their nurses don't have the time to waste half a working day per day on the phone reminding people, especially with Corona problems. Also it would annoy a lot of people I guess.

My hospital in the Netherlands sends me automatic reminders by text before my appointment! It's necessary especially as since Covid you need to fill in a digital form confirming you don't have Covid symptoms. Even after the digital reminder many people still forget to fill it in and all those forgetful people block the hospital entry, it annoys me a lot.

All of our providers (US) also have automated systems. Some do text, call and email.

[Anette]

Do you get appointment reminders from doctors in the US?

That would never happen here in Germany (at least if you are puplic insured). All doctors have more patients then they need and their nurses don't have the time to waste half a working day per day on the phone reminding people, especially with Corona problems. Also it would annoy a lot of people I guess.

My hospital in the Netherlands sends me automatic reminders by text before my appointment! It's necessary especially as since Covid you need to fill in a digital form confirming you don't have Covid symptoms. Even after the digital reminder many people still forget to fill it in and all those forgetful people block the hospital entry, it annoys me a lot.

All of our providers (US) also have automated systems. Some do text, call and email.

In Germany myself, most doctors offices won't send a reminder however some regularly call the day before an appointment to remind, and when making appointments with offices via TerMed and doctolib I get email reminders.

[Dicey]

Do you get appointment reminders from doctors in the US?

That would never happen here in Germany (at least if you are puplic insured). All doctors have more patients then they need and their nurses don't have the time to waste half a working day per day on the phone reminding people, especially with Corona problems. Also it would annoy a lot of people I guess.

My hospital in the Netherlands sends me automatic reminders by text before my appointment! It's necessary especially as since Covid you need to fill in a digital form confirming you don't have Covid symptoms. Even after the digital reminder many people still forget to fill it in and all those forgetful people block the hospital entry, it annoys me a lot.

All of our providers (US) also have automated systems. Some do text, call and email.

OMG, my dentist does all three, which drives me nuts. Then they send a follow-up "Rate our Service" email, which I always ignore. For a while, I was getting every text twice, which was definitely annoying.

The card was too fuzzy for me to make out. I'm surprised they didn't remind you or try to work you in. I might have phrased it differently, but I second Sibley's admonishment not to wait another year.

[pasadenafr]

Do you get appointment reminders from doctors in the US?

That would never happen here in Germany (at least if you are puplic insured). All doctors have more patients then they need and their nurses don't have the time to waste half a working day per day on the phone reminding people, especially with Corona problems. Also it would annoy a lot of people I guess.

Yep. I appreciate getting ONE text or email reminder, but I find phone calls immensely annoying. Most of the providers I use regularly do call. Some also send a text and/or an email. At that point I'm like "I KNOOOOOOOOOOOW, damn".

[Plina]

Do you get appointment reminders from doctors in the US?

That would never happen here in Germany (at least if you are puplic insured). All doctors have more patients then they need and their nurses don't have the time to waste half a working day per day on the phone reminding people, especially with Corona problems. Also it would annoy a lot of people I guess.

In Sweden you also get text and sometimes even email remainders for your doctors and dentist appointment. And basically for most other appointments.

I booked some restaurants through internet and they basically reminded the day before and the same day with a link if you wanted to cancel your appointment.

[FrugalShrew]

My doctor's office gives 2 reminder calls and 2 reminder texts (all automated) for a single appointment. It's super annoying!

[Dicey]

I was thinking I had a dentist appointment at the end of this week, but thanks to this thread, I realized I hadn't seen any reminders from them. Sure enough, it's next month. Thanks!

[ixtap]

I was thinking I had a dentist appointment at the end of this week, but thanks to this thread, I realized I hadn't seen any reminders from them. Sure enough, it's next month. Thanks!

I thought I was making an appointment for next week, but it turned out to be an appointment for this time next month. We always get next day appointments, so not sure why I could only make next month appointments online...

[TomTX]

Even though I e-filed on time with the IRS, they still haven't done a blessed thing with my return.

My big concern is that my $5k in IBonds from the refund isn't earning interest yet.

[jinga nation]

Do you get appointment reminders from doctors in the US?

That would never happen here in Germany (at least if you are puplic insured). All doctors have more patients then they need and their nurses don't have the time to waste half a working day per day on the phone reminding people, especially with Corona problems. Also it would annoy a lot of people I guess.

My hospital in the Netherlands sends me automatic reminders by text before my appointment! It's necessary especially as since Covid you need to fill in a digital form confirming you don't have Covid symptoms. Even after the digital reminder many people still forget to fill it in and all those forgetful people block the hospital entry, it annoys me a lot.

All of our providers (US) also have automated systems. Some do text, call and email.

OMG, my dentist does all three, which drives me nuts. Then they send a follow-up "Rate our Service" email, which I always ignore. For a while, I was getting every text twice, which was definitely annoying.

The card was too fuzzy for me to make out. I'm surprised they didn't remind you or try to work you in. I might have phrased it differently, but I second Sibley's admonishment not to wait another year.

We get all three (phone call, email, SMS) from physician, dentist, eye doc, and any other specialist if we need to see. And multiple times, a week or 3 days in advance, and the day before. Dentist's office also sends automated alerts an hour prior to appointment. I'm glad for all methods of communications.

That card, at the low resolution, looked like 9:15a. But mistakes happen, and it is frustrating. I can see why it is irritating to have to wait for another time slot on the next day, especially if you have to jiggle work schedule and meetings, but I see their view of "can't go back to the past 35 minutes, so best case we fit you in tomorrow". C'est la vie.

[ixtap]

I spent ~ 80 bucks today on 4 things that were not on my list when I went into the store. However, 2 similar items (one was the same model, but different color) were sitting in my Amazon cart, amounting to $90. Still feel a little bad about getting extras.

The good news is I deleted the items from Amazon immediately so that they didn't get purchased accidentally.


Once home, I heard DH tell his father "We wanted to do that, but our finances wouldn't allow it" and I had no idea what he could possibly be talking about. He was telling him we weren't able to purchase this year's ibonds before May. That is our big financial failing...

[Morning Glory]

I saw a dead cat next to the road the other day, and my reaction was to remind myself to check the top is in thread for anything new when I got home.  My second reaction was, "ooh, that's a good mpp".

[solon]

I saw a dead cat next to the road the other day, and my reaction was to remind myself to check the top is in thread for anything new when I got home.  My second reaction was, "ooh, that's a good mpp".

👍

[ixtap]

Megacorp has fumbled DH's transition to part-time. Today should have been his first smaller paycheck, but it wasn't. The extra money in the checking account is going to wear on me until I know whether or not they are taking it back.

[NorthernIkigai]

Megacorp has fumbled DH's transition to part-time. Today should have been his first smaller paycheck, but it wasn't. The extra money in the checking account is going to wear on me until I know whether or not they are taking it back.

Very understandable! The first of the month is for resetting the accounts so that the household expenses account only contains the amount needed for that month (there’s a separate overflow account…). I used to do this on our monthly payday, but then I changed jobs and ended up with a different payday than spouse, so the first of the month became the logical choice.

[mspym]

I can’t sort out my end of financial year position and start my new set of books for the new one because my laptop is off having its battery replaced instead of buying a whole new computer.

[okisok]

I get paid at the end of the month but the water/trash bill isn't due until the 22nd. I won't get an email for another week with the balance due, so I can't balance my checkbook.

[Steeze]

The trend line on my TTM spend graph and the SWR trend line are now parallel.
Thanks inflation..

health insurance  $300/mo to $1600/mo.
HOA $450 to $540 (inc. taxes)
Food $700 to $1000

Raise this year is not even going to cover this delta - net income will be down YoY

TTM spend a low of $2800/mo to now $3900, trending toward $4600.
Income is down 35% (DW is now a SAHP)
Savings rate down from 70% to 40%

At this rate I’m going to have to work into my early 40s !!!
My FIRE plans are looking FIRE(ish)

MPP: I have no one to complain about the impact of these things to.

[zolotiyeruki]

MPP: I have no one to complain about the impact of these things to.

We're here for you, Steeze!

[kpd905]

The trend line on my TTM spend graph and the SWR trend line are now parallel.
Thanks inflation..

health insurance  $300/mo to $1600/mo.

This is due to inflation?

[Steeze]

The trend line on my TTM spend graph and the SWR trend line are now parallel.
Thanks inflation..

health insurance  $300/mo to $1600/mo.

This is due to inflation?

Mainly due to changing from DW’s insurance to the one my company offers, but also because my company’s insurance premiums increase double digit percentages every year. It has been a few years since I was on it, and I was single then, now on the family plan. I’ve spoken my mind about it and gotten the, “you need to be a team player” talk. Told the owners that they are spending a ton of money to provide a benefit that everyone thinks is terrible and a reason to leave, they might as well spend a bit more (double) to make it something people think is great and a reason to stay. Why spend all that money for a negative reaction? Oh well, there is no alternative, for now.

[Morning Glory]

The trend line on my TTM spend graph and the SWR trend line are now parallel.
Thanks inflation..

health insurance  $300/mo to $1600/mo.

This is due to inflation?

Mainly due to changing from DW’s insurance to the one my company offers, but also because my company’s insurance premiums increase double digit percentages every year. It has been a few years since I was on it, and I was single then, now on the family plan. I’ve spoken my mind about it and gotten the, “you need to be a team player” talk. Told the owners that they are spending a ton of money to provide a benefit that everyone thinks is terrible and a reason to leave, they might as well spend a bit more (double) to make it something people think is great and a reason to stay. Why spend all that money for a negative reaction? Oh well, there is no alternative, for now.

The aca family glitch should be fixed in January.  You  will be able to get aca subsidies if your family premium is too high in relation to your income.

[talltexan]

I spent ~ 80 bucks today on 4 things that were not on my list when I went into the store. However, 2 similar items (one was the same model, but different color) were sitting in my Amazon cart, amounting to $90. Still feel a little bad about getting extras.

The good news is I deleted the items from Amazon immediately so that they didn't get purchased accidentally.


Once home, I heard DH tell his father "We wanted to do that, but our finances wouldn't allow it" and I had no idea what he could possibly be talking about. He was telling him we weren't able to purchase this year's ibonds before May. That is our big financial failing...

We actually have some people over on the "2027 Retirement Cohort" discussion thread who are wondering how to buy these series I bonds. If you come and share what you know, you'd be helping some frugal people out!

[Erma]

I have 400 CHF in gift cards, but I can only think of 1 item we really need.

[Sibley]

I refuse to upgrade the version of office I use, so I just spent the whole day switching 3 email accounts out of Outlook and onto Thunderbird. Probably followed in the future by switching the parent's.

Am too cheap to justify buying office JUST for outlook.

[Zaga]

I refuse to upgrade the version of office I use, so I just spent the whole day switching 3 email accounts out of Outlook and onto Thunderbird. Probably followed in the future by switching the parent's.

Am too cheap to justify buying office JUST for outlook.

I believe there are now free versions of most of the microsoft office programs.  They don't have all the capabilities of the paid versions, but that's okay for most people's use.

[LennStar]

I refuse to upgrade the version of office I use, so I just spent the whole day switching 3 email accounts out of Outlook and onto Thunderbird. Probably followed in the future by switching the parent's.

Am too cheap to justify buying office JUST for outlook.

I believe there are now free versions of most of the microsoft office programs.  They don't have all the capabilities of the paid versions, but that's okay for most people's use.

Nah, just use LIbreOffice and if someone complains, tell them to use a program that is free, free and does not uses a standard that says "must behave like the bug in Word 95".

I am currently working a lot with Word documents, and it's still as it was 20 years ago: Once you get above 30 pages, it starts to have the wierdest errors and glitches. Like inner document links that refresh to the correct chapter if you press F9, but always show "chapter 0" after you closed and restarted. Had to rewrite the chapter, just replacing the link did not solve it.

[talltexan]

I bought my wife a mac mini in 2013 when we expected to live apart for a few months for work (I took our iMac with me). She kept bugging me for years after that to get a workable copy of office on that mac mini so she wouldn't keep having to import .doc files into some other program. I just never got to it.

Last week, she announced the mac mini was no longer usable. Too old and clunky. So the problem worked itself out!

[Sibley]

I refuse to upgrade the version of office I use, so I just spent the whole day switching 3 email accounts out of Outlook and onto Thunderbird. Probably followed in the future by switching the parent's.

Am too cheap to justify buying office JUST for outlook.

I believe there are now free versions of most of the microsoft office programs.  They don't have all the capabilities of the paid versions, but that's okay for most people's use.

Nah, just use LIbreOffice and if someone complains, tell them to use a program that is free, free and does not uses a standard that says "must behave like the bug in Word 95".

I am currently working a lot with Word documents, and it's still as it was 20 years ago: Once you get above 30 pages, it starts to have the wierdest errors and glitches. Like inner document links that refresh to the correct chapter if you press F9, but always show "chapter 0" after you closed and restarted. Had to rewrite the chapter, just replacing the link did not solve it.

Why would I switch off of word and excel to a free version when I already own office 2010? It's far easier just to ditch outlook than to ditch all of Office.

[dragoncar]

I refuse to upgrade the version of office I use, so I just spent the whole day switching 3 email accounts out of Outlook and onto Thunderbird. Probably followed in the future by switching the parent's.

Am too cheap to justify buying office JUST for outlook.

I believe there are now free versions of most of the microsoft office programs.  They don't have all the capabilities of the paid versions, but that's okay for most people's use.

Nah, just use LIbreOffice and if someone complains, tell them to use a program that is free, free and does not uses a standard that says "must behave like the bug in Word 95".

I am currently working a lot with Word documents, and it's still as it was 20 years ago: Once you get above 30 pages, it starts to have the wierdest errors and glitches. Like inner document links that refresh to the correct chapter if you press F9, but always show "chapter 0" after you closed and restarted. Had to rewrite the chapter, just replacing the link did not solve it.

Why would I switch off of word and excel to a free version when I already own office 2010? It's far easier just to ditch outlook than to ditch all of Office.

Is this for an actual office or could you just use gmail?

[Sibley]

I refuse to upgrade the version of office I use, so I just spent the whole day switching 3 email accounts out of Outlook and onto Thunderbird. Probably followed in the future by switching the parent's.

Am too cheap to justify buying office JUST for outlook.

I believe there are now free versions of most of the microsoft office programs.  They don't have all the capabilities of the paid versions, but that's okay for most people's use.

Nah, just use LIbreOffice and if someone complains, tell them to use a program that is free, free and does not uses a standard that says "must behave like the bug in Word 95".

I am currently working a lot with Word documents, and it's still as it was 20 years ago: Once you get above 30 pages, it starts to have the wierdest errors and glitches. Like inner document links that refresh to the correct chapter if you press F9, but always show "chapter 0" after you closed and restarted. Had to rewrite the chapter, just replacing the link did not solve it.

Why would I switch off of word and excel to a free version when I already own office 2010? It's far easier just to ditch outlook than to ditch all of Office.

Is this for an actual office or could you just use gmail?

I'm still wondering why everyone is trying to overcomplicate this? I own Office 2010. I don't need to go to any of the freeware versions. This is just my home computer. I have 3 email accounts. Work is entirely separate and I just use what they give me.

aol - left over from when I was a kid, I don't use it, but it's handy to have an email address when I have to give one out so I don't get deluged with spam on my primary email. Also, my parents use aol so it's helpful to have an account that I can reference/test with.
gmail - this is my professional email.
live.com (basically a microsoft acct) - this is my main email account.

Outlook 2010 doesn't connect in an acceptable way for gmail or, as of a few weeks from now, my live email. That's 2 of my 3 accounts. I'm not buying a new version of Office because 2010 works just fine for what I need at home, and I do not want to mess with the subscription services. Nor am I messing with 2 different programs. I want all my email accounts in one place.

No, I'm not going through the hassle of changing my primary email address. It look me years to get everything off aol, it would be far worse now. I already spent the time to switch to Thunderbird, it seems to be working fine. The interface is a little clunky, but it's free, I'll adjust. It's not like Outlook is all that wonderful.

[FrugalShrew]

@Sibley -- I have no advice, just sympathy for your MPP!

[rantk81]

Use whatever office and email solutions work for you!

For me, I've been using Google Docs + Gmail for everything personal, for nearly a decade and a half. I find it super-convenient that it's "in the cloud" and available from any device at any time, without having to worry about software versions.  There's no software I need to worry about having (other than a web browser!)

[Loren Ver]

Not sure if this is a MPP, but here it is, hopefully someone will get a chuckle.

I generally try to arrange our finances so that we owe the IRS instead of getting a refund (since achieving zero seems to be impossible).  Then come tax time I would send in an echeck (via the IRS treasury website).  No problem, except that this is the IRS and DH and I are filing Married Filing Jointly and we all know this is a rare filing status....

So on the taxes DH is listed first, but we are both listed.  I do the check writing.  Since it is an echeck via the IRS treasury website, it is done via my SSN, which is listed on all documentation, you know, parted of the married filing jointly part. 

Well every so often, with DH being listed first, and me sending in the echeck, the IRS doesn't know to apply the check to OUR taxes and we get a bill (with all the fees etc).  They totally cash the check, maybe its a donation for the amount we owe?  It isn't often, just twice in the last 15 years, but then again, I've only been doing the echeck (instead of physical check) for maybe 5 or 6 of those years.  2/5, 1/3? 

Its such a fun game we play. 

Loren

[SwordGuy]

@Loren Ver ,

Was going to be out of the country for a year, so did the taxes on time (a rarity!) and sent the IRS a check for $3654.

Wife joined me out of country for the summer.  She gets home and there's a notice from the IRS that we owe the taxes, penalties, and because we didn't pay in time, we didn't qualify for a special tax cut that year.

I check the bank online and discover the IRS had cashed that $3654 check for $36.54.  (The machine that did it printed $36.54 on the back in tiny print.)

I call the IRS to resolve it.   They aren't interested.   Then I explain that I have a canceled check from my bank that shows I paid the taxes in full.

So they have two options.   They can let me be a good citizen and pay the difference to fix their mistake, or I can insist I've already paid in full and I've got a check they cashed to prove it.   Which would they like?

They decided me being a good citizen was the better option.