Tit for Tat by 86 year old woman to Bank.

India
February 5, 2009 11:32pm CST
Shown below, is an actual letter that was sent to a bank by an 86 year old woman. The bank manager thought it amusing enough to have it published in the New York Times. Dear Sir: I am writing to thank you for bouncing my check with which I endeavored to pay my plumber last month. By my calculations, three nanoseconds must have elapsed between his presenting the check and the arrival in my account of the funds needed to honor it. I refer, of course, to the automatic monthly deposit of my entire pension, an arrangement which, I admit, has been in place for only eight years. You are to be commended for seizing that brief window of opportunity, and also for debiting my account $30 by way of penalty for the inconvenience caused to your bank. My thankfulness springs from the manner in which this incident has caused me to rethink my errant financial ways. I noticed that whereas I personally answer your telephone calls and letters, --- when I try to contact you, I am confronted by the impersonal, overcharging, pre-recorded, faceless entity which your bank has become. From now on, I, like you, choose only to deal with a flesh -and-blood person. My mortgage and loan repayments will therefore and hereafter no longer be automatic, but will arrive at your bank, by check, addressed personally and confidentially to an employee at your bank whom you must nominate. Be aware that it is an offense under the Postal Act for any other person to open such an envelope. Please find attached an Application Contact which I require your chosen employee to complete. I am sorry it runs to eight pages, but in order that I know as much about him or her as your bank knows about me, there is no alternative. Please note that all copies of his or her medical history must be countersigned by a Notary Public, and the mandatory details of his/her financial situation (income, debts, assets and liabilities) must be accompanied by documented proof. In due course, at MY convenience, I will issue your employee with a PIN number which he/she must quote in dealings with me. I regret that it cannot be shorter than 28 digits but, again, I have modeled it on the number of button presses required of me to access my account balance on your phone bank service. As they say, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Let me level the playing field even further. When you call me, press buttons as follows: IMMEDIATELY AFTER DIALING, PRESS THE STAR (*) BUTTON FOR ENGLISH #1. To make an appointment to see me. #2. To query a missing payment. #3. To transfer the call to my living room in case I am there. #4. To transfer the call to my bedroom in case I am sleeping. #5. To transfer the call to my toilet in case I am attending to nature. #6. To transfer the call to my mobile phone if I am not at home. #7. To leave a message on my computer, a password to access my computer is required. Password will be communicated to you at a later date to that Authorized Contact mentioned earlier. #8. To return to the main menu and to listen to options 1 through 7. #9. To make a general complaint or inquiry. The contact will then be put on hold, pending the attention of my automated answering service. #10. This is a second reminder to press* for English. While this may, on occasion, involve a lengthy wait, uplifting music will play for the duration of the call. Regrettably, but again following your example, I must also levy an establishment fee to cover the setting up of this new arrangement. May I wish you a happy, if ever so slightly less prosperous New Year? Your Humble Client (Remember: This was written by an 86 year old woman) YA JUST GOTTA LOVE 'US SENIORS'!!!!! And remember: Don't make old ladies mad. They don't like being old in the first place, so it doesn't take much to set them off. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 person likes this
3 responses
@ronaldinu (12422)
• Malta
6 Feb 09
This lady is really smart. Despite being an 86year old woman she has written some deep thoughts that nowadays bank should reflect upon. The bank see to have lost their personal touch with the customers. I enjoyed reading every part of her responise.
• India
9 Feb 09
Shes smart and gutsy. To be able to take the bank heads on, is not for the weak hearted. We fret and fume, but take no action to things, but this lady was one of a kind. Glad you enjoyed it as much as I did. Yes, everywhere its become so impersonal, we long for the good ol days where everybody was in touch with everybody and helped.
@bhanusb (5709)
• India
6 Feb 09
Yes it's a good lesson to the Bank authority by the 86 year old woman.In telephone cotact 'Press Button' system is very disgusting.I myself become puzzled.I have to press buttons of the phone again and again. After many trials at last I find the desired person.Auto System is not always helpful.
• India
6 Feb 09
Imagine the guts the old lady must have had to take on the bank like this. Im sure the bank people will bend over next time she has any problems, knowing her. As you say, telebanking is not my cup of tea.
@goldeneagle (6743)
• United States
6 Feb 09
That was pretty good LOL In all seriousness though, I wish we COULD do some of the things she mentioned in the letter to make things as inconvenient for businesses as they try to make them for us. Here is one idea she didn't mention though...How about we be allowed to charge THEM a $5 per day fee for every day it takes them to send us out the refunds or other money they OWE US...you know how they always say that it is going to take anywhere from 6-8 weeks to get our money out of them when they owe us...It would be great if they had to add $5/day for every day it takes them to get our money in the mail to us...
• India
6 Feb 09
Its a wonderful idea. I wish some of us would have the guts to take the bankers on. She must have been a real gusty lady to have done this. Hats off to such guts. All business establishments look out for their own profit, even if it means inconvenincing the customer. Good ol grandma.