banks et al
when my mom and my dad got together, moved in an apartment, without being married which was sacrilegious back then, they shared among other things their bank accounts. And they had lots of them. My dad did not trust the banks, Swiss banks, nor the government, and hence they distributed their money among the Swiss banking scene.
And when I called my local bank on Friday because I had a little online banking trouble the friendly operator told me that my bank account number cannot be right. “Oh…that’s a number with 74! That can’t be! Or…. are you a client with us since 1974?” she asked.
“Well… I am a client with you since 1974″, I replied. And she was almost speechless, murmured a “thank you so much ” and we went on solving my e-problems.
She asked about 1974 like 1974 was somewhere in the dark ages when popes ruled the world and not banks. A client who stays with a bank for 30 years seems to be beyond this bank’s event horizon. It tells you something about this bank, I guess.
I think my dad was right.
Another number: 3 months= 90 days. And counting. This number tells you something about company xyz that is supposed to make my vetiver: Since 3 months I wait for a specific quotation to sign and give them the ok to engage in mixing. And since about 40 days I call them from time to time. Having learned my lessons in the past, I ordered my fragrant oils in order to mix the first lot myself, which I did a while ago. Back to field zero I guess.
After my vacation, it will be time to make myself heard. Until then, I watch the news about banks, mouth wide open.
July 15th, 2008 at 7:05 am
Dear Andy, I has read through yours post, and I have weight on heart.
The world does not vary also we now we have the same problems which our ancestors had. The countries, quantity of zero on bank accounts vary, but people do not vary. It is very insulting, when other party (company xyz), tightens performance of the obligations.
Well, but you should know, that there is a Siberian guy, for which 1974, it not a far antiquity:-) and which holds for you fingers a cross.
July 15th, 2008 at 7:50 am
You’d think that one thing that would work super-smoothly would be banks in Switzerland!!
I am sorry you had so many troubles with them and with the mixing company (grrr). Hope everything resolves soon!
July 15th, 2008 at 9:23 am
Goodmorning Andy,
This is all so stressfull: a Bank that makes such stupid unheard of mistakes!! and then a company that cannot give you a quotation yet after already three months..!?
Well the issues with the bank have been resolved.
Are you sure you want to do further business with company xyz?
‘Banks’ - the very first thing my husband began to talk about early this morning after having seen the news on three different stations… well I always need breakfast and my morningcoffee first and then I can think about spiralling down domino effect situations.
Time for another sniff of Vetiver dance from the brown enveloppe.. ;)
Don’t worry too much Andy, for you can always do the mixing yourself again if you have to.
July 15th, 2008 at 11:07 am
I can come help you stir the mixing pots, Andy, as long as they smell as wonderful as the new Vetiver Dance. I just received my sample and it is heavenly, as is to be expected. I’m savoring it, loving it, and waiting for October. Tell x y z company to get their act together. Thank you so much for your generosity.
Enjoy the Day!
July 15th, 2008 at 2:25 pm
Mouth wide open - I know just how you feel. I saw the banking pictures very briefly this morning, long lines of people forming to withdraw their accounts. Pretty much the only thing I like to watch on the news these days is the weather, everything else is to stressful. Sorry to hear about your company trouble, thank goodness you did your own mixing.
(Loved your tree picture from yesterday, btw!)
July 15th, 2008 at 2:26 pm
“Too” stressful, of course (pre-coffee, that explains it).
July 15th, 2008 at 3:42 pm
Dear Vladimir, thank you so much! I can feel your support , just make sure that your fingers do not start hurting from all the crossing!
July 15th, 2008 at 3:44 pm
Dear Elena
yes and no. Banks tend to work fine here, some at least , but there are bottlenecks when it comes to e-tools. That’s for sure!
Dear Marianne
I have my doubts about xyz and it is very stressful indeed. But I look forward now: Vacation starts in 24 hours. The rest we solve later. ..
July 15th, 2008 at 4:23 pm
Dear Matt S, glad you got your sample (not broken), but I am a little bit disappointed that it took so long. Enjoy it and I hope it will last a long, long time !
Dear Sabina
I wonder where this will end. And sometimes I wonder how all these stumbling banks will affect us and for how long! We have to ask Vladimir to keep his fingers crossed!
July 15th, 2008 at 9:34 pm
Dear Andy, have a wonderful vacation!
Do not worry for one precious moment of your vacation.
Of course xyz-problems will be solved, maybe when you come home things will be all right again.
Special fine vacation wishes to the W.-factor as well ;-D
July 15th, 2008 at 9:55 pm
The 70’s… every girl wanted to have Farrah Fawcett’s hair…Bee Gees…pin ball machines… summer at the beach…hang ten t-shirts…skateboards…Archie comic books… jaws…I was just 6 at 74, but it was a good decade for Brazil. Econimic expansion…we won the 70’s world cup and it is remembered till today…
About Swiss banks…what the f.??? I knew I had to put my millions in Seychelles… :-)
anyways, brazilians love Swiss banks…so did tthe nazis…
seems that we brazilians have a close deal with you guys- tax evasion in exchange for sheltering the big european vilans…hahahaha!
Jokes apart….happy vacations and vetiver greetings,
Simone
July 15th, 2008 at 10:04 pm
Dear Andy,
It’s hard when your lessons are repeated. Well - now you are prepared - that’s a good thing. Still feels sad to understand that you couldn’t trust the XYZ. Sometimes it’s nice just to be able to rely on someone (like XYZ) and be sure that he/she/they act just as expected.
Loyalty, trust, RELIABILITY - the universal virtues, Switzerland is especially famous of…
But the nice thing is - those virtues could be easily found within this blog among “our perfume club” ;-)
Enjoy your vacation - you have a plan B, so you can really relax. And I wish you to be strong to let things go that you can’t change anyway ;-)