Friday morning and I am trying to make an international payment to cover my new health insurance. My agent from Rhodes, glad that I got such a good deal with her at AXA, is coming to Panormitis on Sunday to celebrate. We are going to meet up afterwards and sign the papers, this means I don’t have to go to Rhodes to do it, which is very thoughtful of her. But…
Meanwhile, I need to send AXA the money. This is coming from my UK account as I can do an online payment in Euros for only a small fee and it’s cheaper than taking the money out of the ATM in tranches. Except, the bank doesn’t recognise the SWIFT code. So, I try again, as you do, and then I contact the agent and she double checks it, and I try again. But still no joy. The IBAN code is correct though, so that’s all well and good. So, I notice that I can put in the bank’s address, rather than SWIFT, so I do it that way – after more messages to find the correct address and… Nope!
Now it’s not recognising the IBAN code which was correct before. So I try it without gaps, and then try again with gaps as it’s not having it. Now it’s telling me it’s wrong whichever way I enter it so I get onto Ranjit at Barclays UK help centre in Sangrur in the Punjab, or wherever UK headquarters are these days. He very quickly and eloquently tells me (we’re using live chat online so typing rather than chatting) that I am right, and there must be something wrong with his end. I stop myself from asking about ‘his end’ and suggest I’ve upset the system with my constantly getting it right, and he agrees. I should try again in a day or two or phone customer services. Nooooo! I decide to make a few trips to the ATM and take out the cash, even though it will add an extra cost. Anything is better than a customer disservice centre phone call.
So, I’m writing this now before I head down to the bank and start the process. I have three days in which to collect the right amount of cash and it is surprisingly little for a comprehensive health insurance (including annual M.O.T. affair) for a man of my age, so I should be okay. If not, my agent will have to say a special one at Panormitis and conjure up her payment from somewhere else. Perhaps Ranjit’s end which, I hope, is now working just fine.
I thought I should knock this up and put it ready to go now as, even though Neil has a dentist appointment at 12.00, I know what happens when we hit the town at lunchtime; it usually involves taverna food and a little wine, and I won’t feel like typing this later. So, there we have it. I’m off to buy health insurance this weekend, what are you up to?
Note: I actually finished this of after we got back, complete with Amazon delivery of a CD and two bathroom lights (small) in a big box (huge), but at least Jack enjoyed the box and I got to listen to Credence Clearwater Revival for the first time in X years.
