Money, Money, Money ! (mission, birthday)

[michel]

I was just answering another thread in which 'money' came up. I well remember a spell in banking when I was agreeing/not allowing overdrafts, loans etc.

There would be a long list of customers each morning who had exceeded their overdraft limit, or who had just become overdrawn without permission. I had to work through the list, and either 'bounce' cheques, offer the customer an increased overdraft, or get them in for a chat. It never failed to surprise me how, with people who had got themselves in a real 'mess' (some would be spending 110% - 120% of their monthly income), I would get them to come in, we'd go through a monthly 'budget' which clearly showed that they could manage on their income, and they'd go off.

Next thing, a week or so later, they're on the list again. Look at their bank statement and there would be a cheque for a Chinese restaurant (Whatever) for say $120 - and more similar ones not mentioned in the budget.

Call them back in..."oh yes, that was for.......'s birthday, oh yes, I had my hair permed". I would say as an estimate that 10 - 15% of the customers were like that. Is that peculiar to England, or do people do the same in the States ?

[Jaymes]

It happens. My mom's very bad about things like that.