I’ve been chasing an online payment around the country this week. I deposited a check here in North Puffin, then used my BillPay feature to send my South Puffin credit union account a check. One peeve is that the bank mails an actual check to the BillPay recipient despite the fact that the transaction is then done electronically.

That payment cleared my North Puffin account JULY FIRST. As of 4:30 yesterday, it hadn’t even made it to the Keys but the bank here grabbed the money from my account JULY FIRST. That’s the second peeve.

I called the bank here. My friend Sally Ripley (my garbage man Tom’s wife) investigated. The check hasn’t been cashed yet. That means they’ve had a couple grand to play the float with for more than 14 days.

I can blame some of this on the holiday weekend (there have been just a few business days since July 1) but that’s no excuse.

Hmm. I wonder if this electrical disconnect notice means the utility is waiting for a check that cleared my North Puffin account JULY FIRST as well. All I can do now is wait to see who else complains. Three peeves and you’re out?