Conference 7.286::dcu

    Dont know about CIRRUS but they did the same thing the last time
    they changed cards from MONEC to current.  Siad they would send
    out new cards by x date and then did not do it.
    
    Appears the standrd DCU pattern is to do it before they announce
    it (checking amount change)  or fail to do it when they say they
    are going to do it.
    
    Seem to think that they have a captured clientelle or think they
    are too dumb to realize the poor treatment they are getting.

    I called John Tilley about this yesterday.  His response is that
    there has been a delay at the Card Manufacturing facility.  The
    bulk of the cards were being organized for the trucking firm to
    drop ship them to us.  John assured me my current card will still
    be good on the present system.  If it's NOVEMBER 1st and we still
    see no new cards, John says to let him know and DCU will panic.
    
    As one who has works with outside contractors, I can sympathize
    with DCU on this one.  Besides, I know where he lives.  ;-)

    I really like the comment about "if it is nov 1st and you still
    dont have your card let him know and they will worry about it"
    I think that shows the total lack of customer relations skills and
    interest of the organization.  They dont bother to tell people that
    they did not do what they said they were going to do and then have
    the audacity to tell you to wait until 1 Nov and they will start
    worrying.  
    
    I would think that a competent, concerned manager would have been
    concerned a long time ago.
    
    BTW, I called and asked why they were doing this to us again and
    the answer was "The people who put out the notices don't talk to
    the people who have the responsibility to implement the process".
    
    Again it looks like some courses in management I and Customer Relations
    I would be appropriate.
    
    Why not suggest to John that he COMMUNICATE !!!!!

        Mr. Bissell, your flaming doesn't help fix the problem.  I wonder
        if you've taken Management I and/or Customer Relations I?  Flaming
        in this conference may make you feel better, but it won't fix the
        problem. 
        
        Have you called John Tilley and expressed your concern (in a calm,
        cool, and collected way)?  After all, if your old card continues
        to work in the interrim, what does it matter?  (I agree that it
        would be nice if the people who send out the notices would get
        their facts straight, and send out an update when the schedule
        changes.) 
        
        Tom

    
    Mr. Blinn, re.4, Talking to Tilley is like talking to a brick wall-
    you get the same results.
    
    Someone was going to send stripped messages within this conference
    to the BOD.  Has that been done?  Can we expect *any* return comments,
    or the normal secrecy?
    
    ed
    

    < Note 55.4 by FURILO::BLINN "Looking for a job in NH" >
           -< Are you part of the problem or part of the solution? >-

.4      Mr. Bissell, your flaming doesn't help fix the problem.  I wonder
.4      if you've taken Management I and/or Customer Relations I?  Flaming
.4      in this conference may make you feel better, but it won't fix the
.4      problem. 

    Mr. Blinn, does *your* flaming make you feel better?  Mr. Bissell
    expressed valid concerns in what I considered an appropriate manner.
    I for one did not take it as flaming.  Even if it was, Mr. Bissell
    is entirely entitled to do so.  To insinuate he's part of the problem
    is very unfair to him and everybody else who writes of a DCU problem.
    BTW, it is not *his* problem to fix.
    
    Let's just stick to commenting on DCU and not each other.

    Phil

    Mr Blinn
    I discussed it with the CU Manager at the last time they didd this
    and was told that they would be more careful about getting information
    
    out in the future.  What you took as flaming are very good
    reccomendationsfor them to take.  They need to develop customer
    relation skills and marketing skills so that they can provide the
    customer what they (the customer) wants.  I happen to beleive that
    they want to do this but have made the mistake of no listening.
    

    
    Ok time for moderating this discussion. Flaming in this conference
    (within reason) and griping is allowed, as long as it is directed
    at DCU and not at each other. 
    
    Maybe this is too liberal of a policy, but the conference was
    established to exchange information. It would be very interesting
    if someone gripes about one thing happening to them, and lo and
    behold someone else have the same gripe. 
    
    I think we established in note 1.1 (item 2) that "NO one has the
    right to tell/ask/order anyone else to stop noting/reading/griping..etc."
                                                
    So...let's get back to the discussion at hand.....
    
    
    Nisreen 

    RE: .5
    
    > Someone was going to send stripped messages within this conference
    > to the BOD. Has that been done? Can we expect *any* return comments,
    > or the normal secrecy?
    
    I'm the someone.
    
    Yes it has been done. All new entries in this conference are mailed by
    batch job to Mark Steinkrauss (Chairman of BOD) every day (except when
    network, mail or system problems prevent it). Mark strips the new
    entries and forwards them to the DCU for review (by John Tilley). See
    notes listed by "DIR/AUTHOR="LEEBER" 2.* for more information.

    DCU has responded in two ways. First, a few things have been addressed
    in the DCU monthly newsletter. Second, official DCU responses have been
    posted IN THIS CONFERENCE on five note topics. See note 2.22
    specifically for more information. (BTW, we may or may not like the
    response we get, but at least there is a response!). 

    Carl Leeber
    Maintainer-Of-Batch-Mailing-Of-New-Notes-To-DCU-Chairman

    what's the latest news on using CIRRUS machines?

       I got mine yesterday. I asked at the CU today when they go into
    effect. I was told we could use them now. But I saw a look of
    uncertainty in the teller's eyes.
                                                     Denny

                I tried my new card at the ATM in the Mill on Monday and
        it worked just fine. I haven't tried the card at a "foriegn" ATM
        or my "foriegn" card at the DCU ATM.
                
                /s/     Bob

    I've been able to use my "old" card at my local CIRRUS ATM for over
    a month now.  However, it wouldn't work a few weeks ago at a CIRRUS
    machine in the Boston area when I visited up there.  It worked just
    fine in a PLUS ATN up there tho.
    
    Happy with MY service...
    
    Mark

	I just received my new Easy Cash card but it would be nice if a 
	letter of explanation accompanied the card explaining that CIRRUS, etc.
	machines could now be used (I was told (in person) by a DCU teller that
	I shouldn't use the card in a non-DCU ATM machine until late November.)

	I could guess the intentions of the new card, but since I had just ran
	into some problems with losing my card to a Monec machine that messed up
	while I was making a withdrawal (kept my card although it said to please
	remove card and never gave me my cash after which the screen went blank)
	I couldn't be sure.

	I had originally been told I would be receiving a new card, but I ended
	up getting the original back and it has worked and continues to for 
	over a month now.  I have yet to try the new one.

	Thus my reason for being unable to assume the reason for the new card.

	- Jim

	p.s.  I like the idea of DCU receiving feedback from this conference.

    I never received a new card?  Has everyone but me been issued
    a new card, or are there others out there who have been
    overlooked?

       I only got mine last week. Did you have a MONEC card? If you
    did and you don't get the CIRRUS this week, I'd call the CU.
                                               Denny

    Neither my wife or I have received our cards as of today.
    I guess that my expectations have been met.

    Before you blame the DCU without all the facts (innocent until proven
    guilty, right??), the other bank we also use (which is also forced to
    switch from Monec) has not issued us new cards yet either.  I suspect
    that the problem is at a higher level (like with the new networks,
    perhaps?).
    
    Bruce

    
    I just talked to Hillary (sp?) at DCU.  See says the cards will be
    out, they haven't completed the mailing.  But, for the fun of it,
    I took my old card to BayBanks and guess what?  I got money.  So,
    according to DCU we've up early on the CIRRUS network.  We also
    are coming up on the new Yankee-24 network.  This seems to be the
    replacement of the MONEC network.  At least in my area.

    re .15, .17
    
    My new card came in yesterday's mail. Haven't tried it out yet,
    though.

        Mine came in the mail over the weekend, and it worked just
        fine in the DCU ATM in MRO on Monday morning.
        
        Tom

    Has anyone confirmed that "foreign" CIRRUS cards will now work in
    EasyCash ATM's? That is, are DCU's machines full members of the
    CIRRUS network?
    

    With the MONEC cards, the DCU machines would only take DCU cards.
     The DCU machines are not members of any other network, that I know
    of.  They have simply arranged to get our cards access to other
    network terminals.
    

    Ok gentle reader if you have been reading next unseen you have seen
    my opinion before but I'm on a mission from god here.
    The cirrus cards have no value in colorado Plus system is everywhere
    and cirrus is inaccessible in most places.
    If they can break up the phone company, why can't a credit union
    have two ATM choices? Seems a tad fishy.
    
    -j
    

    RE: .24
    
    
                        D I T T O !!!!!
    
    
    
    Jim West
    Colorado Springs, Colorado

    re.25 Thanks, but do you think they hear me? I doubt it they even
    care.
    
    -j

                Hear you? - YES, Care? - YES, BUT (always that biggest
        of little words) I suspect that there isn't a good solution
        available for ALL of us. I would like to hear an official
        statement on what gives from the DCU board (not for me
        particularly, but for the others who were effected more than I
        was).
                
                /s/     Bob

    I dont use my card that much and can drive to a DCU machine within
    five miles of home and there is another within a mile of where I
    work.   
    It is easier for me (when not on the road) to get a check cased
    at the bank or supermarket.
    What I am concerned about is when I am traveling to Colorado, upper
    Vermont, upper Maine, Georgia and Florida on business.  The access
    to a money machine in those locations is very important to me.
    
    How is access in those locations?  I know there is a DCU money machine
    in the front entrance to CX03 so that is not a probelm for me.
    
    It looks as if the DCU was forced to make a decision as their system
    was closing.  Perhaps someone from there could give us the factors
    on which they made their decisions.   They may have made the least
    bad choice as there may not be a "best choice".   

    Well you already know where all the machines are...except the cirrus
    which is at Austin Bluffs & Academy...
    
                               -=> Jim <=-
    
    

    re .29
    
    If you're referring to Cirrus machines in Colorado Springs, there
    are quite a few of them, although they are outnumbered by the Plus
    machines. There's Cirrus on Rockrimmon at Otero Savings & Loan,
    2 machines at Chapel Hills mall, one at Montebello and Academy,
    4 or 5 in the downtown area, and 1 on Garden of the Gods road just
    past The Hungry Farmer. I'm sure there are more, this is just a
    list of the ones I've used recently.

    Thanx for the info...the three 1-800 numbers I called for the nearest
    machines just came up with the one machine...interesting...maybe
    I will call them again and see what happens this time...
    
                                   -=> Jim <=-
    

        If I'm not mistaken, it's the goal of the person or machine
        that answers the 800 number to find the one machine closest
        to your current location, not to provide a list of all the
        machines in the area.  However, there should be a simple way
        to get a complete list that's reasonably up to date.
        
        Tom

    RE: -1
        
    My local bank in Chicago uses CIRRUS. I once called the toll free
    number to find out where the nearest machines was. I was asked for the
    area code and exchange I was calling from and was told there was
    a machine right across the street from where I called. Anyway, if
    there are many machines within given radius but the telephone exchanges
    are different, you may only be told of the ones within the exchange.
    
    I have no problem with CIRRUS. There is one every 500 ft. in downtown
    Chicago and now there are creeping into the suburbs at one every
    100 ft. My only problem is that the local bank has branches only
    downtown. Recently banks with the same name have opened in the suburbs
    about one every 100 ft. However, I found out that they are not
    considered branches of the downtown bank. I hate going to the bank
    since the only time I can make it is Saturday mornings when I like
    to sleep late. I have been able to get what I need done in terms
    of banking via the phone (touch-tone system and DCU tellers over
    the phone) and through ATMs. 
    
    

    After thinking about something I saw while in CA this past march
    I wonder why a bank of CA had both plus and cirrus in their lobby?
    I dident give it any thought until all this came up.
    How do they get by with it if DCU cannot?
    Sounds like I'm not being told the truth.
    
    -j
    

    I have been a less than happy Credit Union customer for 5 1/2 years
   been have put up with a low level of service.  When they first came
    out with ATM, I inquired about where my card was.  I was told that
    they would send me one.  Well I never got it, but that really wasn't
    a problem as when I went to find out the closest Plus machine, it
    turned out to be a small East Texas town 150 miles from where I
    lived.  
    
    Well now they go and changed networks to Cirrus, which is affiliated
    with the biggest regional network in Texas.  These guys have machines
    in every 7-11, grocery store, and bank around.  
    
    You would thing that the Credit Union would have enough savvy to
    market this capability to all their members (there are between 1-2
    thousand employess in Texas).  But NOOO, there has been not a word
    about this capability.  It is this kind of service that has driven
    me to a real bank and a dormant credit union account.
    
    I just wonder if any one is listening?

    Article in the Boston Glob this weekend.
    Baybanks has a service called EasyCash 24 and have been very aggressive
    about marketing it and in installing the largest number of ATMs
    in the New England Area.
    Bank of Boston is one of their major competitors but has a much
    smaller number of ATMs.
    Guess what you can use a Bank of Boston Money card in the Baybanks
    ATMs.
    Seems as if they both attach to something called New York Computer
    Excange or NYCE pronounced as NICE.  
    The story mentioned CIRRUS but not sure which system had it.
    
    You may find out that ATMs will work that the Systems don't know
    as Baybanks originaly stated that you could not do this.
    
    

                There is a brand new BayBanks terminal in the Framingham
        Mall (the one Lechmere's in) which says in very large letters
        "Cirrus".
                
                From this I would suspect that a card good on the Cirrus
        network would work there.
                
                /s/     Bob

    I use BayBanks ATM's all the time with my CIRRUS-affiliated M.O.M.
    card (stands for My Own Money).
    

    I've done a bit of travelling lately and used my new CIRRUS to get
    at expense money.  I've found there is usually a machine around
    SOMEWHERE nearby.  In D.C. I found I was competing with a local
    network called MOST.  In L.A., CIRRUS was just about everywhere.
    Atlanta is full of CIRRUS machines.  I've had NO problem, so far
    using my new card, but then I had no problem using my old card. 

    As for why DCU can't offer both PLUS and CIRRUS, remember that DCU
    is based up here in the Boston area.  BayBanks has been the outlet
    for CIRRUS up here and (as I understand it) has been VERY snitty
    about who they allow and do not allow to access CIRRUS and made
    it difficult for DCU to keep PLUS.  The collapse of MONEC also played
    a role, somehow, but I get lost in the details.
    
    I guess I have to say that it ain't all DCU's fault.  BayBank is
    the heavy, if you don't like the switch.  Remember, DCU is trying
    to with/in spite of the big boys of Boston Banking.
    
    								-Steve   

    The cards also work on IMPACT machines. (New Cards).
    It was a lot easier to get money at Christmas this year in
    Texas vs the old plus cards.
    IMPACT is American Express in the southwest so look for
    AMEX logo and try it!.
    

    I stopped by an office of Vermont Federal last week and noticed
    a sign on the ATM indicating they are now affiliated with the CIRRUS
    network.  I haven't tried using my DCU card in it but it should
    work, shouldn't it??

    As far as I know, Larry, there are still no Vermont banks that are
    part of the network we need to use our Cirrus cards.
    
    Ask Nancy in the DCU office in BTO. I did last week and the cards
    are still useless.
    
    Rich
    

    Why not call the 800 number on the case DCU gave you and ask for
    the closest place that you can use it.   They will usually ask for
    the telephone number you are calling from.
    
    Worked like a charm for me while on vacation. 

    I tried my DCU card at the Vermont Federal ATM on the corner of
    Hinesburg and Williston Road in South Burlington this morning and
    it worked like a champ (at least it let me take money out).
    
    Larry