Kool-Aid has a rant up about some stuffy bitch that he had to deal with at work. It reminded me of a story of long ago and far away.............
Once upon a time, Tammi was young (21) and a travleing teller at THE bank in town. It paid decent money, but no benefits. However, having just spent 2 years singing in a band, money was money and that was her main focus.
So....it's a blistery cold morning. Young Tammi heads out to her 1980 Monza to warm it up before the icy drive to the bank.
Get in the car, ohhh the seats are so very cold!! Turn the key. RoRoRooo. Shit RoRoRooo. Damn it After a few more of those it became obvious that the car was not going to start.
What to do, what to do. It was so early in the morning, and Tammi's sweet Mama Vi was already gone for the day. No one else she knew was up.
So, she counts her precious cash and decides to call a cab. The bus wasn't an option as they lived out in the country.
After an expensive cab ride (where the heater didn't work in the back seat) Tammi arrives at the bank. Chilled, churning tummy and all.
Oh joy. They want her to work the drive through. So into the tunnel she goes to sit in the little box out in the drive to work the drive through on that Friday.
It should be mentioned that the bank that Tammi worked at was the bank that was cashing all the welfare checks that year - whether the customer had an account there or not. Oh, there were rules, ID and such, but anyone could cash their welfare check at any of the branches.
Tammi sits alone in her little box, waiting for the pace to quicken. Anything to take her mind off of the fact that she was going to HAVE to find a way to get her car fixed, no matter what.
All of a sudden up to her windows drives a woman, in a fur coat, driving a brand spanking new cadillac. She pulls up and the little drawer slides out.
Good Morning. Welcome to *cash and crazy's bank*.
Woman glares at Tammi and slaps in the now familiar looking welfare check. *yes, driving a brand new cadillac and wearing a fur coat.*
Just give me my cash, I didn't come here to make friends.
Hmmm....not a nice lady. I think it's time to request I.D. Oh, I know I've seen her here before, but maybe she's cashing someone else's check - I better double check. *evil grin*
Ms. Asshole? I'll need to see your Welfare ID card, please.
I don't have it with me. Just cash the F*ckin' check. You've cashed it every month for the past 6months. I don't have time for this.
Oh, I'm sorry. But we can no longer cash any Welfare checks with the documentation of the proper identification. *Really big evil grin*
Well, I don't have it with me, and I don't have time for your F*ckin' games. Give. Me. My. Money.
On and on this goes, back and forth. Tammi staying calm and actually enjoying herself more than she had in years. Fur wearing bimbet getting hotter under the collar by the minute.
Finally - customer started just yelling. So loud that one of the other tellers (not in the little building) intercomm'd to see if everything was alright.
Oh, it's just peachy, thank you for asking.
At the point where Tammi's parentage came into question she snapped.
The following is as close as history knows to the exact response.
Listen lady. I've about had it with your shit. You know the rules. You don't have the id, you don't get the cash. End of story. Plus - I need to mention I'm driving a 7 year old piece of shit that I can't get started, and wearing a damned denim jacket - and working my ass off for everything I've got, and you....you....you.....drive up here in your brand new car, wearing your fur coat and expect me to jump through hoops! Well, sorry sister - that ain't happening.
The next sound was that of spinning tires as the customer pulled out of the drive through and heading to the regular parking lot. Tammi see's her storm in to Branch Manager's office and begin waving her hands around in a truly dramatic manner.
Tammi? Can you please come in here?
Tammi? Ms. Asshole claims that you've insulted her and made very inappropriate comments. Is that true?
No, not really I just said.....(repeat above).....doesn't seem insulting to me, or in appropriate. Just True.
Well....long story short. Woman got check cashed....Tammi was sent home and told that it would be best if she stuck to the other side of town for a while.
Lesson learned? If you're car don't start - stay home.
Posted by Tammi at December 18, 2004 06:00 AMROTFL!
[gives Tammi HUGE hug]
Girl, you just described every day of my life for the last 5 years!
Every damn day I'm cashing checks for people who obviously can't afford a damn bar of soap, but who just as obviously CAN afford booze & cigarettes, as they cash yet ANOTHER check they didn't earn.
I say EXACTLY what you do, except I keep it *inside* my head ;-)
My happy moment this week? Our computers were down, so I couldn't look up any account numbers. Mr. Shithead comes in & wants to withdraw the welfare funds from his savings account. He's in *every* week, yet can't be bothered to learn his 8 digit account number (I'm sure he knows plenty of 10-digit PHONE numbers, though). It was with the GREATEST of joy that I told him I couldn't look up his account number and sent him on his way.
Oddly, he *somehow* managed to discover his number and came back a few hours later :-)
Posted by: Harvey at December 18, 2004 12:29 AMAnd years later she has traded her Cadi for a Lincoln and shows up at my store STILL pissed off because of that day with you. Thanks a bunch Tammi.
Posted by: Koolaid at December 18, 2004 02:06 AMBRAVO, BRAVO *clapping*
That is the dream of anyone who has had to work with the public in any sort of way.
When I was a AA in the Road Service Department answering phone calls of people needing service on Christmas Day no less and those assholes would call and have the nerve to complain that someone hadn't been out yet, it's been 30 minutes and we were ruining their Christmas because they couldn't get to their families.
Assholes.
Posted by: Machelle at December 19, 2004 07:54 PM