Well, I did again go to the bank this morning. I was at the forefront in the queue before the opening. Then a series of jabs put me back. First the teller did not know how to deal with me - I was advised on Saturday to go straight to them; now she had to go somewhere inside to make enquiries and when she got back she was hostile - that transaction is not possible here, the nearest you can do it is Rustenburg (some 2 hours away by car). So I had to approach the floor manager; quite an efficient lady, I must say. First she thought the only way to send money abroad is by Western Union, so she gave me forms to fill; then after I had filled the forms she felt perhaps there was a more workable way and led me right into the strong-rooms of the bank, with those mean-looking gun-totting security guys lazily waiting for their collected loot to be counted - privileged company indeed. This bright boy, the only one who could solve my problem, had to take leave from counting the ill-gotten gains - much to their stone-faced chagrin. Then another punch. It seems the only consultant who used to deal with foreign currency here has moved back to Rustenburg and now can only help out by phone. The verdict - I had to go back and ask for a proper invoice document from the intended recipients in the UK, also bring back my tax reference number - which I do not know by head. By the time I went back into the mainstream - a bit despondent, it was around twelve and murderously hot. So I had to come back home, thanks to Bosners timeous wheels, then into an internet cafe next to the bank for a back and forth with the guys in the UK. It was only around 13H30 that I finally emerged victorious from the bank, everything done and dusted. Quite an ordeal indeed - just to send a small amount abroad. That is what it takes in this country to do business with the outside world.
Posted on: Tue, 14 Oct 2014 15:58:55 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015