Braving the Outdoors whilst Banking - Part 2

Yesterday was only the 2nd time that I “braved” the outdoors! Having run out of anything “fresh” more than a week ago and surviving on frozen foods, it was time to stock up again! After my “nightmare” with lack of internet banking, I also had no choice, but to actually go into a branch, so off I went, at about 08h45 so that I could be there as soon as the bank opened.

Parked my car in a fairly empty mall parking compared to normal, sanitized my hands, mask on, with still 5 minutes to go before opening, I noticed 2 very long lines leading into the mall entrance. Security was on hand directing people, “Absa to your left, Nedbank to your right. Another line for Standard Bank and Discem inside. Where are you going Mam?”. I tell him, he shows me to my line, whereby he promptly reminds me to please keep my social distance and stand a metre apart from the person in front of me. Good stuff, no problem. From what I can see the line is moving fairly fast. The security radios someone inside to ask how many people he can send in and so the line moves. As you now enter the mall, you join your banks’ line and ensure that you stand on the line marked on the floor or else you will be reprimanded by the very excited security, whom bless, finally has people actually taking instructions from him!

Standing in the actual bank line, outside of the bank, there are bank personnel asking your reason for being there. You tell them, they “sanitize” you and show you through the doors as to which line you should be joining in the bank. Once inside you sit where you have been instructed to, only to be told, well actually they cannot help you, you need to call the call centre for assistance as they also have not issued any garage cards so I am definitely not in the right place!

Now let me tell you, I was about to have a sense of humour failure! I re-explained my “pain” in not getting an actual person on the telephone and I wonder who then sent me the garage card this year still, if it was not them. After listening to a very argumentative manager, a consultant finally saw my “pain”, pulled me to one side and said, “Mam, you can call from that telephone over there. I will connect you to the right person. Do not worry, this will get resolved”. Are you sure that you are not the manager, instead of that argumentative person? I breath, calm down and walk to where she points. I calmly dial the number, am connected, actually speak to someone and within 2 minutes my problem is solved. My payment is reduced to what I want it to be and I am in still in time so it can happen from this debit order date. I can once again breath.

Sjoe! I thank the consultant, get “sanitized” again as I leave, take the escalator up and off to Woolworths I march. Get “sanitized” again, am once again reminded to keep my distance from the lady walking in front of me, get “sanitized” by the trolley guy and so the shopping can begin.

Did I get everything on my list? No, not necessarily, substitutes had to be made, but all in all not a bad experience since once again the shop was fairly empty.

As I got into my car, “sanitizing” yet again, I wonder why I had to go through all of that. Could the bank not take the initiative and send me an email with all the various “new” numbers or email addresses for each scenario? The consultant in the bank had a number for each division, which was different to the ones on their website, I might add, so why just not email that out?

Otherwise I applaud the mall management, security, banks and shop for the “safety” measures which they have put in place. I am going to put “stressed out” as the reason for the manager reacting to me the way that she did. Her with me and me with her. Luckily for both of us there was a “calm” consultant at hand to diffuse a potentially messy situation.

Today I am reminded on how all it takes is one person to either ruin your day or make it shine. I am not referring to the manager, nor the consultant, I am referring to me! I am the only one that can control what is in my space. By me getting upset, I gave my power away. Do not give your power away!

If ever I am confronted with a similar situation again, I will instead have 2 scenarios in my mind, best and worse case. I will attach an emotion to each, so that when I am then presented with it, I will be “prepared”, as I would have labelled the emotion already and therefore would have taken the “drama” out of the situation.

Labeling an emotion works wonders! Try it next time and if you need to know the exact “science” behind it, you know where to find me!

Until next time

Love, light and positive change

Ophelia