The IR said that unless your broker will allow you to pay extra for a quick push-through settlement, then you were virtually certain to be OUT OF LUCK on getting the dividend if you bought yesterday, and even more so today.
However, I totally concur with you that people should call BOTH the company and their broker.
Whenever executive interests supersede shareholder interests, the corporation suffers a fatal illness.
-John A. White, Economist & Investment Advisor