This is a Positive/Negative story.
But for now, mostly negative.
In Canada, our tax season is done at the end of the month. With our income, we can put a certain percentage of our income-earned money into a retirement plan (RRSP), and claim it on our tax forms, instead of paying for it as income. When we retire, we can take that money out in small increments, and not pay taxes on it. I am sure it's similar in other countries.
This year, I had until March 1st to deposit the amount, in order to count for the 2009 tax year. Usually my dad starts reminding me early. And reminding me. And emailing. And sending me little stickies via my mum.
This year, for some reason, I decided to do it right away, as soon as he reminded me the first time. I phoned my bank, and set up the amounts to be transferred from my other bank. I explained in detail the amounts and where they should be placed. That was January 17. Well in advance of the deadline.
So here we are in April. My dad has been asking me for a while to give him my tax paperwork. I finally gathered it all, and delivered it to him. He emailed to say that one document was missing. The receipt from the bank stating the amount that was placed in my RRSP. He said he wouldn't file my taxes until he had a hard copy, because it wouldn't be ethical otherwise.
So instead of procrastinating, I phoned the bank last evening to ask them to mail me a copy of the transaction.
And the bank guy, Edmund, told me....
"There was a discrepency with the amount."
HUH?
"What do you mean a discrepency?
"
Long story short is that the woman who took my information didn't finish processing my request, and DIDN'T FILE MY RRSP AMOUNT. Just didn't finish processing it, because she wasn't sure about a $40 dollar amount that was being transferred from another account. So for the price of less than a tank of gas, I was going to be out several thousand dollars, due to an accounting error.
And supposedly she phoned me once to confirm, but never called or wrote again. No one contacted me for January, February or March to resolve the doubt. And therefore, no one finished the transaction, that in my mind, was a done deal.
HUHHH?
?
I told him this was a big big big problem because I had budgeted with that amount in mind, and had counted on claiming that amount as being tax-free.
HUGE MISTAKE ON THEIR PART!!!!!!!
He freely admitted that they were at fault, but that at this point, I would not be able to claim any money for my 2009 tax year. I told him that that was not acceptable and asked him, "how are you going to help me now?"
He talked to the supervisor. And the woman is supposed to phone me this week. And he said he is hoping that they will give me an Exception, and that the Canadian Government will accept it, and recognize that it was a bank issue, and not a Me issue.
But right now I am in limbo for this amount of money.
And really not happy. Because now, instead of getting a bit of money back, I may actually owe money to the government.
But secretly, even in the middle of this all... I feel kinda .. I dunno.... I feel vindicated because Edmund said, "You are a tenured client with us, and have an excellent record, and you obviously didn't leave this to the last minute. It is clear by our records that you planned this out well in advance and did everything on your part properly." So it makes me seem super organized and prepared. And if I had not done that, perhaps he would not have been so willing to be helpful. I heard him writing/typing a huge report to the supervisor asking for a Special Exemption.
And now it's just a waiting game to see if they can do it, and persuade the government to allow it. Particularly since they messed up. And I DIDN'T!!!!!!!!!! YEAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!
P.S. It's so good to be at the right end of the "sinking stomach feeling".... I wouldn't want to be that woman who took my original call.
ETA: I told Edmund that is was good to have someone who was efficient and was working to solve the problem, and he thanked me for being so calm, and said that most customers would have been "cussing" him "by now". And that he really "appreciated how pleasant" I was making it for him.
