I wish I could wear a sign on my forehead saying “Don’t try to sell me shit” every time I visit the bank.
I know the bank tellers have to try and upsell things, and inform us about new products. It’s their JOB. But there are only so many times I can hear about KiwiSaver and Visa Debitplus before I lose it! One day, one very bad day, I just know I’m going to snap at the poor undeserving teller for his/her inane spiel, just because s/he is trying to make commission. Which is why, like I said, a sign on my head would be a really good idea. Or more practically, some sort of alert that pops up once you swipe your card, informing tellers that you’re opted out of sales pitches.
Granted, one teller did tell me something of interest once. She deviated from the usual things and informed me that after graduating I’d be eligible for a low interest graduate loan. Something different, something useful to know.
But I do NOT want a Visa Debitplus – if I did, I’d tell you. I don’t have a spending problem. I can handle credit responsibly. I’ve never run up consumer debt in my life. (I do, however, currently have a cashflow problem, which makes the Debitplus even less useful to me). So no thanks. Every time, I grit my teeth and smile and say “not for me at this moment”, because I have little patience for repetition.
Nor do I want to sign up to KiwiSaver. Wait, let me rephrase. I DO. But it’s not on the cards at the moment. As I usually (when I can be bothered) explain, my partner has been laid off. Things are tight. It would be foolish to tie up money in KiwiSaver and lock myself into contributing for a year at this stage.
Tellers usually go “mmhmmm” at this point and nod vaguely. I’m pretty sure they don’t even hear. Next, inevitably, comes the question “So, are you working?”
Yes, of COURSE I’m working. We’d be on the street otherwise.
“Oh, well, because if you weren’t, you wouldn’t have to contribute anything at all.”
Yes, thanks. Not applicable. Plus, I know this because everytime I’ve come in over the last year, I’ve heard this over and over again.
All right. Enough’s enough. I think I’m going to either suggest kindly to ASB that they implement an opt-out alert like I mentioned, or nicely ask a teller next week when I go to the bank next.