Waiting in bank queue like zombies from Orwell’s ‘1984’

WHILE many companies are making visible changes to their normal rules and regulations during this horrible period, there are some that are going out of their way to be difficult, making conditions not only tiresome, frustrating but also perilous.

Banks are the biggest culprits. Last week, a PRO called me to rate their specific bank in various areas. I made it very clear at the outset that I would only go through the process if I was allowed to make recorded comments of my own, many of which were not covered by mere “zero up to 10” selections.

After giving mostly very good ratings to all the questions it was now my turn and this is what I said:

“All banks, especially in this period, stink!”

The ratings I have given to your bank is merely in comparison with the other two where I have some accounts. You banks send most consultants and tellers to work from home. This results in long queues outside your branches. Old people, many disabled, many with comorbidities, many with very little time on their hands, are forced to stand on their feeble feet. Not all queues are monitored, leading to a transgression of the mandatory physical distance and therefore presenting a potential hazard.

Inside the bank, conditions do not change much for the better. During cold weather, air-conditioners are either turned off or set in the high side of temperature – mostly to suit whims and fancies of the staff, not the comfort of the customer.

For example, I required a tax certificate for all my accounts at the bank last week. Like most elderly people especially, I have not learnt yet to trust apps.

There was just one consultant (it was not tea nor lunch time) at the counter. The client ahead of me had a king-sized, complicated problem, which was not even resolved after 45 minutes! So the rest of us just waited there, like zombies from George Orwell’s 1984, which lists the abusive use of technology.

The single, poor, overworked, harassed consultant manning the fort by herself, seeing that 76-yearold, loyal client of over 45 years, Mr Essa, was about to collapse, came over, placed the complicated client on hold, and handed my tax certificate to me within a minute of grabbing my ID!

There is another bank in the same complex that is not only very unfriendly but actually employs staff that will just not smile. Here also, expect at least a wait of 30 minutes to make a deposit or withdrawal, sometimes 45 minutes to obtain simple information which may not be available at the ATM. Hardly any tellers or consultants in sight.

Working at home, not awake yet, or sadly retrenched because shareholders demand more profits!

I am actually wondering why others are not making a hiss about this issue.

Am I just a ratty old ballie? I doubt it very much when I recall that I demanded that banks do not allow smoking in their halls over 40 years ago and was told at that time that I was just being crazy! Is there a better way?

Of course!

EBRAHIM ESSA I Durban