In early January of 2010 I was doing my best to help manage mom’s finances from 3,000 miles away. I had online access to her Bank of America checking account and would sent payments on her behalf. She seemed to be physically fine when I talked to her on the phone — better than ever, actually — but she wouldn’t reply to emails or use the computer at all and was sick with worry about her long-term unemployment.
I wrote her an email shortly after she received a threatening letter because she had missed making multiple car payments.
From: Gagne, David
To: Gagne, Kathleen
Cc: Gagne, Jennifer
Subject: Ford Motor Credit Payment Plan
Sent: January 13, 2010 12:43 PM ETMom & Jenny,
(1) Mom, please reply to this message so I know that you are receiving these emails.
(2) I have sent Ford Motor Credit $959.12 immediately to pay your outstanding balance with them and bring you back to current.
(3) I have configured an automatic payment for $429.14 to be delivered every month on the 15th, which means they will receive it before it is due on the 18th each month.
David Vincent Gagne
She replied to me the next night with just three short sentences:
From: Gagne, Kathleen
To: Gagne, David
Subject: Re: Ford Motor Credit Payment Plan
Sent: January 14, 2010 8:55 PM ETI’m sorry! I just found it. I feel like an idiot.