There are some good people in the world!!

grocery - groceries
@mssnow (9484)
United States
February 18, 2007 4:12pm CST
I wanted to tell you all the story about what happened to me today. I had got this prepaid debit card. I had called and asked what fees they charged so I would know how much money I had in the card before I went to the store. I was told only the only fee was a $1 charge when you use it. I had put 20 dollars in so I knew I had 19 left to spend (with the dollar per use). I went to the store got all my groceries and went to check out. I slid the card through and it said "not authorized". Dang it . I tried it again, same thing. So told the checker, I would have to put some groceries back. The lady in line behind me handed the checker $20 and said take it. I was in shock. I told her, thank you and asked her for her address so I could send her the money back. She said "No, I have had cards not work too, I know how it is." I told her thank you again and promised her I would 'pay it forward" I got home and looked at my prepaid account to see what happened. They had charged me a 10 dollar fee for opening my account and thats why it said not authorized. I am very mad at them, but I am thankful for the lady (who I will never know) who helped me pay for my groceries, because without that, we would not eat for a week. Just wanted to share that with all of you, so you can see that there are nice people in the world.
11 people like this
35 responses
• United States
18 Feb 07
Have you Paid it forward this week? - what are you waiting for?
Awww!!! What a great story!!! Ive never had that happen to me but I have paid it forward to others before. I once paid a Salvation Army volunteer dinner by giving him some money in addition to putting some in the kettle. Those poor people are out there freezing their buns off and I just felt bad for him. Even if he gets paid for what he does, something inside told me "buy him dinner". I like to go with my gut feeling.:) Thanks for sharing!
2 people like this
@mssnow (9484)
• United States
18 Feb 07
My son was a bell ringer last christmas, He really liked it. But I know it must get cold and tiring standing in one spot for 8 hours. I couldnt do it.
1 person likes this
@NewHeart (528)
• Canada
19 Feb 07
boy things must be done different in u s of a for i know for a fact that the kettle workers up here in Canada don't make dime one for their time on the kettle at Christmas. its all volunteer work for which all they might get if they have a nice major is a free dinner at the small Christmas get together that they might have...
@mahayla (192)
• United States
19 Feb 07
great way to use a photo!
• Brazil
19 Feb 07
Oh, good story hehe, It's always good to know there are some good people in the world... But of course there are alot of good people, But the real problem is: Bad people are minority, But they make more sound then the good people.. got it? But at least some people are still helpful.. nice to see you can count with people instead of being scared of people :)
2 people like this
@wolfie34 (26771)
• United Kingdom
18 Feb 07
That sort of experience kind of restores your faith in human nature, there are some good people out there, it's just finding them! I think there is good in us all, some of us just have difficult in showing it! Thanks for sharing and it's good to hear some happy endings for once.
1 person likes this
@mssnow (9484)
• United States
18 Feb 07
Yes and it did kind of shock me at first. But I was glad she was there. She was put in that spot to help me. And she did.
1 person likes this
• Nigeria
19 Feb 07
think there are many good people in the world. But i think that the ones who can be bad take advantage of good people. I feel that good people can always get hurt by it. I know i do. Not wishing to hurt other people has often left me hurting myself instead. It has also lead me to be emotionally blackmailed and have lots of bad stuff happen to me
1 person likes this
@Debs_place (10520)
• United States
19 Feb 07
That is a great story. You must tell us how you will pay it forward. When I read you story gving the fees, I wondered how that could be, I looked at those prepaid VISA cards and felt like they are ripping off the people who need them most.
1 person likes this
@mssnow (9484)
• United States
19 Feb 07
I will come back with my "a pay it forward story" Yes I am closing that account as soon as I get my paypal debit card.
@tad1fan (3367)
• Canada
18 Feb 07
What a GREAT story!And a way to start the whole 'pay it forward' deal in your area.....like they say "No good deed goes unpunished".....it's your turn now
1 person likes this
@mssnow (9484)
• United States
18 Feb 07
I pay it forward all the time. But yes I will help someone who needs help. :)
1 person likes this
@lilaclady (28207)
• Australia
19 Feb 07
That is so refreshing these days, she is what I call an earth angel, oh how nice this world would be if there were more people like that lady, lets hope she posts in here....good on you earth angel.......
@GardenGerty (160665)
• United States
19 Feb 07
There are real blessings when we receive unexpectedly, and there are blessings when we find ourselves able to give, and never count the cost. Looks to me like two people received a blessing that day. I am glad you figured out the problem, as well. I just buy prepaid cards at the grocery. They are not reloadable, but I know upfront what they have cost me.
• India
19 Feb 07
Really happy to see understanding and nice people in the world. No matter how much the sum of money meant to her or not, still she could understand your problem and help you out without even knowing who you were and without asking or caring for any returns. Telling you sincerely, such people are quite dificult to find, and we must be happy that such people still exist.
1 person likes this
@mari61960 (4893)
• United States
19 Feb 07
That's too bad about your getting charged the 10.00 on your card. Thank god for that womans generosity. I'm thankful we still have people like that in the world. I only wish there were more of them. I bought a baby carriage for a single mother with twin infants and a toddler when her two taped together strollers fell apart outside the store. Poor woman had to walk a mile home and had two bags of groceries besides the kids. I found her sitting on a bench outside the store with the saddest expression on her face as she was just staring at the broken strollers. I told her to wait there and I would get something to help. I was in and out of the store in about 10 minutes with a brand new double wide carriage with a back seat for the toddler and groceries. You never saw a happier woman. I even gave them a ride home.
@NewHeart (528)
• Canada
19 Feb 07
as they say what goes around comes around may it come back to you in a big way one day. if it hasn't already may you be blessed...
@mssnow (9484)
• United States
19 Feb 07
That is fantastic. I think if you have more than someone else you should always try to share a bit of what you have. I congratulate you on being so kind. I'm sure you have been rewarded many times over for your generosity!! Thanks for telling us your story.
• United States
19 Feb 07
It is always good to hear stories like that and also to tell those stories to other people when it happens to you! Just like that movie, if everybody would take time to do something nice for somebody else, just think about how that would change people's lives and attitudes towards other people. I hate hearing about people who when something good like that happens to them, they are mean in return! Thank you for sharing your story, it is good to hear that people can still be kind to each other in this world.
@quispy (572)
• United States
19 Feb 07
That is just a great story. What a wonderful woman. She was very generous, and now you get to eat!
1 person likes this
@san4465 (44)
• India
19 Feb 07
hi..aww!!! i wish tht could happen to me.......yes i do agree with u tht there nice persons who help us in difficult times & mostly we do not know them
1 person likes this
• United States
19 Feb 07
Yes there are some good people in this world. You never know who they are until they step up to help you. You can't trust anything anymore when it comes to credit or debit cards. I also got a letter in the mail saying I won a bunch of money and there was also a check in it for over $2000 so I called the number and they said I had to cash the check first and get back to them. I knew something was not right so asked them at the bank to find out if the check was any good and it was not it was a big scam. If I would of cashed the check and then I would of been stuck for that money. I never did call them back but I bet they wanted me to send that money back to them for taxes or something or why would they want me to cash it. Like I said there are a lot of scams out there we have to watch out for ourselves.
1 person likes this
@xita00 (24)
19 Feb 07
Ofcourse,there are still go people out there. At the canteen today, I thought i had enough money loaded into meal card. Unfortunately, when the good old lady charged it; i was short by some pence. I had a choice to get out of the queue and load my card and join from behind. She took one hard look and me and said, "you can have it, i will sort it". Going by their antecedents in the canteen, the gesture was out of this place. I think, their is one good person out here too; having saved me the stress of join the queue for behind not just the change. i think i owe here one!!!
@NewHeart (528)
• Canada
19 Feb 07
would think you would still have had 9 bucks still left on it unless my math is going along with my memory. but am glad for you to have found someone to save you rather then to be the impatient person near the end of line say aww come on lady just when i'm in a hurry this has to happen.have been there in both spots now that i'm older have become wiser i think. been times when i've got into line up up to the cash and dam it left wallet in car and never use to carry change. it can be pretty awkward...
@mssnow (9484)
• United States
19 Feb 07
I did have money on it. But I wasnt thinking . Everything happened so fast and I didnt realize i had nine dollars left on it till i got back home. I just thought it was maybe the card wasnt working properly so I didnt try anymore. Yeah i felt embarrased when the card didnt work.
• Bangladesh
19 Feb 07
There is no doubt that technology service providers should show more responsibility towards their customer when designing operational procedures of their products and services. And of course their are good people in and around the world and thats another pleasure of life probably, at least to me. Lastly, (Though hope not) did you really took her address at the end or just had forgotten. And, this is 22 hours later I'm commenting upon your conversation, have you paid her amount yet.(please don't take it otherwise). Please give me feedback.
@crizack (55)
• United States
19 Feb 07
That's wonderful. I'm glad that woman was there to help you out. Sometimes, when bad things happen to me, there are a few people out there that help me. Some are people I know, and others are total strangers.
@mssnow (9484)
• United States
19 Feb 07
Its always nice when someone lends a hand isn't it??
• United States
19 Feb 07
That was really nice of her. The best part of it is she didn't even know that you truly needed those groceries. She just wanted to help someone out. I have had to put things back before it is so embarrassing and it never fails that I end up with the cranky people behind who get nasty. I hope that someday you can pay it forward.
@byfaithonly (10698)
• United States
19 Feb 07
Oh what a blessing, yes there are good people in the world. I will always remember years ago I was traveling cross country and ran out of gas. I was nearly home but had no money. A man pulled over, asked what was wrong and I explained to him. He went up the road to his farm and got a can of gas, came back and put it in my car then told me to follow him to his farm and he would put enough gas in to get me the rest of the way home. I told him I would send money when I got there but he said "No" he just prayed that if his daughter was in the same position that someone else would do the same for her.
@mssnow (9484)
• United States
19 Feb 07
Yes, I have done that for a boy who needed bus money to get home. I thought" what if my son was in that situation. " I would want someone to help him. Just wish more people would help like that.
@mywords18 (645)
• United States
19 Feb 07
yes infact there are ,,,,,,,,,,and we are still having many around us its just to have an eye for them, lucky u to find one.