Patience is a virtue

19 February 2013

The past week certainly tested my patience. You’d expect when you’re wiring money from one account to another, even from overseas, that it shouldn’t take more than 48h. Realistically, it’s kinda like copying a file onto a USB stick, right ?

Wrong. Banks will debit your first account on the day you initiate the transfer, then sit on it for two days and suck interest out of it. Then they transfer to your second account, and the bank where that account lives will also sit on that sun for two more days. It’s only the fourth day that you’re credited. Minus the transfer fees and the exchange fees.

So I transferred from BNP-Fortis in Belgium on Sunday, got debited immediately, and waited until Thursday afternoon to have my Commonwealth Bank account in Australia to be credited. For four days, nothing. I did call the bank in Australia to ask what the f** they were doing, they said it should be possible to track the money but I should ask the bank who initiated the transfer to do that, we’re very sorry there’s nothing we can thank you for calling Combank, have a great day. I also called BNP Fortis in Belgium, and got told “ah sir, there’s nothing we can do, the money is still in Belgium but we can’t do anything about that, thank you for calling have a great day”.

All that time, the guy I bought the new car from was waiting for his cash. I had given him a deposit of 1000AUD so he knew I was honest and legit and all, but he kept calling me everyday “where’s my money mate ?”.

Eventually, I got the money on the account, I called the guy saying I was on my way to the bank to get the cash and I’d meet him at his place at 5PM.

Wrong again ! 2000AUD per day is the maximum you can get at an ATM in Australia, and banks close at 4PM. Shit, what do I do now ? Oh I know, I’ll get the other 2000 from my credit card, now shall I ? Shit, what’s my pin code again. Shit shit shit, wrong pin code, the card is swallowed. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO !

Last resort, call Claire, empty her bank account, get the cash, and go to meet Aaron, the seller.

So, after much much toing and frowing, here she is : 1991 Nissan Patrol RB30 (3.0L, six cylinder straight, carburator, no turbo).

I still have to give her a nickname, but for now, she’s “The Patrol”. (feel free to submit your suggestions… 🙂 )

FINALLY ! Freedom !!!

PS: I hate banks.