Therapy Bits

Well, I had to spend my morning on the phone getting the royal runaround.

The bank was my first stop. I needed bank statements for the past six months for this review I have of my blind welfare allowance.

I got through to a lady and she was foreign, and it was very hard to understand her because her English wasn’t the best.

I told her what I needed, and I asked her if she’d wave the charges since it is for a review and I am not just looking for statement in general.

She put me on hold, and then she came back on the line.

“I’m sorry”, she said, “we have to charge you”.

Well I wasn’t pleased, but I asked her how much for the six monthly statements.

“That’ll be 67 euro”, she said.

Me…spluttering…what? What did you say? 67 euro? Is that what you said?

“Yes”, she said, quite matter of fact.

I was stunned. I told her to forget it. I can’t afford to pay 67 euro, I’m only receiving 280 euro a week.

She then told me to go to the library, log into my online banking app, and print off my statements from there.

I told her that I didn’t know how to do that and I did not have anyone to help me to do it.

In the end, I hung up, and I searched my house and I found one statement for June, July and August.

I rang the office where I’m sending my paperwork and I spoke to the lady there, she said to send in the 3 monthly statement, and hopefully that will be enough.

I told her it would have to be because there was no way I was going to pay 67 euro.

Frances was here when I was on the phone to the bank, and she got such a kick out of my reaction.

She said she wished she would’ve had a video camera to video my face, and my reaction to being charged 67 euro.

She said I cheered her up and made her smile.

Well at least I can make her smile.