Well, ,my mother went to pick up her pounds. At the bank, the girl at the counter had her wait and then follow her back to an office where the female manager from the day before carefully counted out the pounds twice for her. Then, as my mother got up to go, the woman asked her to wait a moment - and ( you guessed it!) offered to open an account for her. By now my mom was a little miffed about this entire account thing and told the woman emphatically that she did not want an account at Chase and would not be opening one.
The woman paused and considered and then handing my mother a business card, saying " Well... I'm going to give you my card. Just in case you change your mind. And if you call me within, hmmm, let's see... THREE WEEKS, then I'll even waive the start-up fee when I open the account for you!'
My mother finally escaped Chase bank alive, without a checking account even though the FIVE DOLLAR fee would have been waived. Seriously, Chase, do you really think that is enough incentive to get people to bank with you? I mean come on, times are rough, but you'd think they would have at least offered her free checks or a travel mug with the Chase logo or a fancy pen or something really cool, RIGHT? ( note the sarcasm in my typing) .
Incidentally, my mother's friend had no trouble or hassles when she picked up the additional $200 pounds. Maybe it wasn't a large enough amount so they didn't think it was worth harassing her for business. Anyway, at least that's over with.
Oh! A friend expressed concern that I had put this info out there about my mother carrying so much money. I would like to reassure everyone that I have left out the pertinent addresses, etc. and also that my mother has assured me that she plans to have ME carry most of it. So if you're coming after us, please go for me, and not the short grandma lady. Thanks!
Monday, April 27, 2009
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Pounds and Sense (common) are in short supply
My mother called tonight from Ohio. She told me a story that perfectly illustrates why I don't bank with Chase bank anymore.
She wanted to change some US dollars for pounds to have actual money on hand when we get to the UK. She had called ahead to her local bank and was told Chase would convert the money for a small fee, even if she did not have an account there. She called Chase and confirmed that they would change 1000 pounds' worth. The man at Chase said she should open a checking account as well. My mother told him she did not want a checking account and confirmed that it wasn't necessary to open one to exchange money.
She went to the bank and explained what she wanted. They told her there would be a $5 fee for the conversion. She agreed, only to be told doubtfully by the girl at the counter that she wasn't sure they were allowed to change that much and wouldn't my mother like to open a checking account while she was at it?
My mother said no, she didn't want a checking account, thank you, just to exchange the money. The girl said she needed to ask a manager about it. Another woman came and my mother explained the situation again, also telling her that she had called ahead to make sure she could exchange the money there. The manager assured her that of course she could exchange her money, there was no problem with that, but didn't she want to open a checking account as well?
My mother explained again that she did not need another checking account and just wanted to exchange the US worth of 1000 pounds. ( This is the point where I would have been fed up, but my mother knows how to catch her flies with honey and persevered). The woman said again that exchanging money was not the issue, but it was possible that they would be unable to exchange that MUCH money. She suggested that my mother speak to another gentleman at the bank- the man my mother had spoken to earlier in the first place.
My mother said no, she had spoken to him already earlier, had told him she did not want a checking account and had been told she could make the exchange here. Nevertheless, the bank manager insisted on getting him.
My mother explained that she had called earlier and what she wanted. The man told her she really ought to consider opening a Chase checking account. My mother refused and said again that she did not want one, she had a bank check from her regular bank and could they either exchange the money or not?
He said of course they could- but of course if she DID open the checking account with just TEN DOLLARS, she would not have to pay the exchange fee. My mother pointed out again that she did not need another checking account. The man from the bank said that she could open the account but that she WOULDN'T NEED TO USE IT- that there were some fees involved, but only about $36 dollars!
At this point, my mother burst out laughing in the middle of the bank. She said she actually had tears in her eyes as she pointed out to the man that he wanted her to pay $10 with an additional potential $36 in fees for an account she did not need and did not want- to avoid paying a FIVE DOLLAR exchange fee.
Sheepishly, the man from Chase bank agreed that it did seem a little 'silly' when you looked at it that way. He then assured my mother that they could in fact change the money for her- he just needed to find out how much. But he wasn't sure. Really.
My mother spent some more time trying to pin them all down to an actual dollar amount. She offered to go to her bank and bring back cash to exchange. She was told that wouldn't be necessary. Finally they decided that she could exchange 800 pounds' worth, but no more. When she asked why, they couldn't tell her, so she decided to take what she could get. She was told the money would be available by Friday and to come in and pick it up.
My mother left the bank, but as the day wore on and she thought of all the ridiculous trouble this had been, the thought of those last 200 pounds irked her. She had wanted 1000 pounds, darn it, not 800! So she called a friend and got HER to go into the bank and ask to exchange another 200 pounds' worth of dollars.
They are both supposed to pick up the money at the same time. I think they ought to go in together, skipping arm in arm. Without opening checking accounts.
I hate Chase bank.
She wanted to change some US dollars for pounds to have actual money on hand when we get to the UK. She had called ahead to her local bank and was told Chase would convert the money for a small fee, even if she did not have an account there. She called Chase and confirmed that they would change 1000 pounds' worth. The man at Chase said she should open a checking account as well. My mother told him she did not want a checking account and confirmed that it wasn't necessary to open one to exchange money.
She went to the bank and explained what she wanted. They told her there would be a $5 fee for the conversion. She agreed, only to be told doubtfully by the girl at the counter that she wasn't sure they were allowed to change that much and wouldn't my mother like to open a checking account while she was at it?
My mother said no, she didn't want a checking account, thank you, just to exchange the money. The girl said she needed to ask a manager about it. Another woman came and my mother explained the situation again, also telling her that she had called ahead to make sure she could exchange the money there. The manager assured her that of course she could exchange her money, there was no problem with that, but didn't she want to open a checking account as well?
My mother explained again that she did not need another checking account and just wanted to exchange the US worth of 1000 pounds. ( This is the point where I would have been fed up, but my mother knows how to catch her flies with honey and persevered). The woman said again that exchanging money was not the issue, but it was possible that they would be unable to exchange that MUCH money. She suggested that my mother speak to another gentleman at the bank- the man my mother had spoken to earlier in the first place.
My mother said no, she had spoken to him already earlier, had told him she did not want a checking account and had been told she could make the exchange here. Nevertheless, the bank manager insisted on getting him.
My mother explained that she had called earlier and what she wanted. The man told her she really ought to consider opening a Chase checking account. My mother refused and said again that she did not want one, she had a bank check from her regular bank and could they either exchange the money or not?
He said of course they could- but of course if she DID open the checking account with just TEN DOLLARS, she would not have to pay the exchange fee. My mother pointed out again that she did not need another checking account. The man from the bank said that she could open the account but that she WOULDN'T NEED TO USE IT- that there were some fees involved, but only about $36 dollars!
At this point, my mother burst out laughing in the middle of the bank. She said she actually had tears in her eyes as she pointed out to the man that he wanted her to pay $10 with an additional potential $36 in fees for an account she did not need and did not want- to avoid paying a FIVE DOLLAR exchange fee.
Sheepishly, the man from Chase bank agreed that it did seem a little 'silly' when you looked at it that way. He then assured my mother that they could in fact change the money for her- he just needed to find out how much. But he wasn't sure. Really.
My mother spent some more time trying to pin them all down to an actual dollar amount. She offered to go to her bank and bring back cash to exchange. She was told that wouldn't be necessary. Finally they decided that she could exchange 800 pounds' worth, but no more. When she asked why, they couldn't tell her, so she decided to take what she could get. She was told the money would be available by Friday and to come in and pick it up.
My mother left the bank, but as the day wore on and she thought of all the ridiculous trouble this had been, the thought of those last 200 pounds irked her. She had wanted 1000 pounds, darn it, not 800! So she called a friend and got HER to go into the bank and ask to exchange another 200 pounds' worth of dollars.
They are both supposed to pick up the money at the same time. I think they ought to go in together, skipping arm in arm. Without opening checking accounts.
I hate Chase bank.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Hi Tech/Lo Tech travel prep
Ok, I'll be honest right up front: this post is mostly so I can practice typing on Philip's old Macbook, which I am taking with me to the UK. I feel like there is a lot of tech stuff involved on this trip: laptop, iPod, cell phone, camera, etc. At home, I feel fairly tech savvy- although to be fair, this might be just because I have Philip around to ask about anything I can't figure out.
But there is something about taking all of this with me that makes it seem more overwhelming. I mean, I'm GLAD to be taking all this with me, but I also know I could manage without it if I needed to. Obviously the hi-tech mode of travel is easier, but part of me almost wishes it wasn't.
One of my favorite books has always been Innocents Abroad by Mark Twain. I would love to have taken that trip- seen the world from that perspective, at that time. In homage to the low-tech (albeit privileged traveler) we went to the art supply store today and I got William and I both bound sketchbooks like the ones I used in school, and probably way more new pencils, fine point pens, oil pastels and gouche than we will need.
But it was so fun, and I like the lo-tech idea of sketching and painting through Wales. I bet a lot of the ladies who traveled with Mr. Twain did sketches or possibly delicate watercolors. Currently my plan is to sketch and take a picture of everything I sketch in plein air so I can maybe paint it more extensively later when I get home.
In addition to the art supplies, I also got the mundane stuff today: luggage tags, toothbrush containers, etc. Oh- and I got a new tomato-colored trenchcoat as well. I didn't want to wear my fleece and windbreaker in London or Cardiff. One thing I've figured out going back and forth between Chicago and Ohio for several years is that it's silly to wear country clothes in the city and city clothes in the country. Besides, I hate looking like a tourist.
But there is something about taking all of this with me that makes it seem more overwhelming. I mean, I'm GLAD to be taking all this with me, but I also know I could manage without it if I needed to. Obviously the hi-tech mode of travel is easier, but part of me almost wishes it wasn't.
One of my favorite books has always been Innocents Abroad by Mark Twain. I would love to have taken that trip- seen the world from that perspective, at that time. In homage to the low-tech (albeit privileged traveler) we went to the art supply store today and I got William and I both bound sketchbooks like the ones I used in school, and probably way more new pencils, fine point pens, oil pastels and gouche than we will need.
But it was so fun, and I like the lo-tech idea of sketching and painting through Wales. I bet a lot of the ladies who traveled with Mr. Twain did sketches or possibly delicate watercolors. Currently my plan is to sketch and take a picture of everything I sketch in plein air so I can maybe paint it more extensively later when I get home.
In addition to the art supplies, I also got the mundane stuff today: luggage tags, toothbrush containers, etc. Oh- and I got a new tomato-colored trenchcoat as well. I didn't want to wear my fleece and windbreaker in London or Cardiff. One thing I've figured out going back and forth between Chicago and Ohio for several years is that it's silly to wear country clothes in the city and city clothes in the country. Besides, I hate looking like a tourist.
Friday, April 17, 2009
Preperation
We are leaving for Wales on the 28th. Today is the 17th. Eleven days seems like a lot of time, but it isn't really. There is still so much to do and organize just to be prepared. Still, some of it is done. It's strange- I cannot wait to go, but every time I look out into the yard, I see some gardening job that I am worried will be done too late when I get back, or some other task that I feel as if I am abandoning.
I mean, I know I'll be ready when the time comes, but right now, Wales - the Wales of Dylan Thomas and Cader Idris and King Arthur all seems still too far off to be quite real. Even the red buses and bustle of London is only something I've read in a book, not yet immediate enough to be realized or processed.
In a strange way, what I am most looking forward to now is the moment when we are on the plane, seat belts fastened, doors locked, tray tables in an upright position- rising into the air. Too late for anyone to stop us or for turning back or worrying about grass seeding the yard or whose call I might miss at work. Packing and preparing all still too transient and able to be disrupted.
I want it to be too late for anything to happen.
I mean, I know I'll be ready when the time comes, but right now, Wales - the Wales of Dylan Thomas and Cader Idris and King Arthur all seems still too far off to be quite real. Even the red buses and bustle of London is only something I've read in a book, not yet immediate enough to be realized or processed.
In a strange way, what I am most looking forward to now is the moment when we are on the plane, seat belts fastened, doors locked, tray tables in an upright position- rising into the air. Too late for anyone to stop us or for turning back or worrying about grass seeding the yard or whose call I might miss at work. Packing and preparing all still too transient and able to be disrupted.
I want it to be too late for anything to happen.
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