Today I will tell you 2 stories, both of them about fairness, in a very different perspective.
source: pixabay
1. How I've lost 250 EUR
Chapter 1: How I got into this mess
This story begins 5 years ago (I was young and a little more foolish). I took a credit for an apartament because I was in a very bad relationship and I wanted an anchor to get out. After that I've heard about a great opportunity at the Romania's biggest bank: for 5 years, I will deposit each year 1000 EUR and they will give me, through a partnership with the Government, 25% interest.
I've done the math and considered manageable to save almost 100 EUR/ month and deposit it there. And I did, for 5 years.
Chapter 2: Once in, is hard to get out
Monday I went to the bank to close the contract and cash out the money. I stood there for almost an hour, signed tons of papers and then went home after I was told that I will get all the money in about one week. I had a weird feeling that things can't go so smooth with a bank...
Chapter 3: Let the fun begin!
Unfortunately, I was right and yesterday I received a call where I was asked for a document to prove that I was a Romanian resident on the specific date 31st of December 2012 or else they cannot give me the interest for 2012. After getting back from the shock I've remembered that at the end of 2012 I've changed my ID and couple of months later I've lost it so I had to make another one (the one I have now). I've asked them what can be done in this case as I have no ID for that period and what other proof can I bring to confirm my residence. They left me on pending.
Chapter 4: Not a happy end
Today I got another call and they confirmed that only ID or passport will do and no proof from Police or other national institutes could ofer something to be taken into account. That this are their rules and that when I signed the contract I confirmed I will inform them of any change to my documents (which I did and this is my fault, told you that I was a little more foolish). I asked them why they cashed my money monthly if they did not have a correct document and they repeated that it's my obligation to announce them (theirs is just to take my money).
Conclusion
I start to love cryptocurrency more an more and I hope that I will live that day when no financial institute will create rules without thinking how it is to be a client and without caring about the ones giving them the money.
Until then, my lesson is learned. I'm reading all the document twice and I'm making copies from any legal document from now one.
Losing the money is not the worst part in this, the worst part is seeing that you cannot communicate, that there is so much inflexibility and that all they care is their money. And this is one face of unfairness, for me.
2. I'll treat you fairly only if I like you
After the marvelous call I went to the grocery store.
I've starting to recycle a lot lately and because there is no organized way to do this in Bucharest (all the garbage is collected together) I go to different collectors and leave there glass and plastic bottles. For today I had around 10 glass bottles and I took them with me as the collection point is on the way to the supermarket.
In front of me there was a homeless guy with a big sack of plastic bottles he probably collected from garbage cans. When I reached the collection point I saw him standing outside and asked if it's closed. He said no but that the man inside is eating and he was told to wait outside.
I felt so bad because he was treated like this. There is no lunch schedule for that collection point and it's so hot today in Bucharest. He was there, staying in the sun because a so called man was too important to interrupt his lunch or at least let him stay inside.
I left him my bottles also so at least he could make more money for the wait and went away with the feeling he deserves much, much more and that the type of unfairness he encountered is much worst that the one I did.
Some thoughts on fairness
- From the first story: I felt that the rules were absurd but this had nothing to do with the lady I've talked to. She is just an employee, doing her job as I do mine. And I was not treated differently that other people.
- From the second story: Him being treated unfair was more cruel as he saw the man doing this and he knew why: because he is homeless. Even if he is among the ones helping the collection point prospere and the owner throwing parties after parties.
When was the last time you were treated unfair and what have you done about this?
I had a similar story three weeks ago. When I went to the bank to close the contract all things was almost well, they lost my request =)) After a long story I made a new request to close the contract. Now I can smile:)
Glad your story ended well:))
Thanks
Stories like this are the reason crypto currencies are here to stay.
Upvoted
When cryptos are mainstream we will always know we were the first are we will be the richest ... ha ha
This is what I'm thinking also. Not sure about being reach but for sure I would like to see the current system changed.
Hi Alina, thank you for sharing your story. It is a reconfirmation for people living in Romania that they shouldn't trust promises of high returns on investment from the gov.
I had my lessons from here:) fortunately, was not such a big loss, it was more the arguing and stupidity of the situation that frustrated me.
The first story is infuriating and the second one heart breaking. Is there something you were able to do in these cases? At least to file a complaint to both the bank and the collecting company. Not that it would make a great difference, but we shouldn't stay passive when such things happen.
Foe the first one I will fill a complain Monday. For the second one the only thing in my mind at that point was to give that man my package also so at least he could get more money. But you gave me an idea. Unfortunately, is Romania, not California and I don't feel like succedding.
I know it seems almost impossible, but we have to start somewhere. I wish you luck Monday.
Hey @alinamarin,
First story is just showing us how ancient the banking system in Romania is. If you have a new ID, the old one can't be asked as a proof as it is not a official document anymore. I'm complaining about the German one, but here I don't have fees for withdrawal and cheking my account from the banks in my bank group(different banks, same alliance)
The second story is about the frustration let out by somebody on a less fortunate. No one was happy to be in that position, neither the guy who is homeless, nor the collector. It is just showing that povertry is taking the humanity out of the humans.
Last time I was treated unfair, was at a former job. I was mobbed by my supervisor. I signed up for a lawyers insurance, hired a lawyer and waited for the lawyer to do the job. In the end was everything good.