Bank Giro and Plus Giro

stockholmsshopper@yahoo.com

 

I’ve been tryint to open a company/organisation account for a group that I belong to. I play active role in that group.

One day me and the treasurer when to Handelsbanken in Vällingby, we filled a form and submitted it. The guy said he would call me but he never did.

Then I got a letter from another branch of the bank where I usually do my transactions. They wanted more information and to also let me know that BANK GIRO cost about 1300kr annually.

We are just a group tryint to promote our culture in Stockholm. We make no profit and so far have no money to pursue any activity. We are new but we have hopes and goals.

Anyway I went to Handelsbanken-my usual branch-and withdraw the application.

Then I went to NORDEA. NORDEA has PLUS GIRO which has the same function as BANK GIRO.

PLUS GIRO used to be free but I don’t know if the rules have changed. I will find out WHEN/IF Nordea calls me to explain. I hope I won’t wait forever for the call. Our Group need this account as a step forward in our activities. We must be able to put money in the account so that we can start planning for 2011. If we are lucky we will get BIDRAG but we are so new and naive that all we are after now is good foundation for our union.

It’s just so amazing that PLUS GIRO and BANK GIRO serve the same function but whilst one is free (or used to be free) the other has an annual fees. Many things in life are strange and inexplicable.

(Unedited grammar, more details in the days ahead)

 

Stadium By IKEA

SOC Sweat Shirt, 199kr Stadium

stockholmsshpper@gmail.com

I am not a keen wearer of winter jackets since I react to heat. In a way the winter is good for me. It’s a weird story because I grew up in Africa near the equator.

But in Sweden I react to both heat and hot pepper. These are two things that are essential for life in Africa. I’m suffering.

I love to have a winter jacket but I have to postpone that luxury once again.

I settle for sweat shirts instead.

I bought them from Stadium by IKEA in Barkarby. Yes the real stadium. I don’t really believe in cheap stuffs even though it may sound egoistic or being proud. SOC Sweat shirt in Stadium cost 199kr. So why should I go to an outlet to buy something cheaper and probably of low quality?

PEAK sweat short will be 5 or 6 times more expensive but I think I will get the same satisfaction with my new SOC sweat shirts. I bought 3 of them and I gor 20% discount with my coupon + stadium card. I think I buy wisely even though I but too many things.

My closet is loaded enough to start a new cloth outfit and that is not a joke. I always say, no more shopping and the next day I’m buying something.

Some young girls asked me the other day: how many shirts do you have? The truth is I don’t know. But I know well enough that if I’d not sent so much to Africa or even given some away here in Sweden, then I will have to room to even walk around in my house. It’s always good go give stuffs away to other people even when they have not asked you. This way I keep my flow in and out.

So Stadium Barkarby it was. Not Stadium Outlet. I am yet to buy from Stadium Outlet so I’m sure I will go there again someday. I won’t be looking for something cheap. I will be looking for something that I like.

By the way the ROWENTA pressing iron is working fine, so far so good.  I’ve now pressed my clothes to last me until Christmas which is 6 weeks from now.

(Unedited grammar)

When Not To Bank

 

I have told myself never to visit banks in Stockholm during the salary week. Salary week is usually the 25th of the month when the salaries/ wages are paid until the end of the month, 30th or 31st.

Sometimes I still have no choice but to visit the banks during this time of the month. It could be that I really have to make an enquiry or make withdrawals from my accounts that are not connected to Visa Cards.

In Vällingby and in Jakobsberg I have been through terrible experiences. It’s not that I blame Nordea Bank per se. I mean when 30-40 people besiege a bank to make withdrawals or run some kind of funny transactions at the same time, you should never expect a miracle from the bank workers who have been trained never to be ina hurry.

Every customer is important and must receive all the attention and services that he or she requested. I have been in these banks before sometimes for 45 minutes and sometimes 1 hour before I get the service that I want. I don’t know where I’ve found the patience to be so quiet and attentive and waiting one hour for service that will take 2 minutes.

It must be the way I was brought up and my experiences in life that have made it possible for me to be mad and calm at the same time.

What is surprising is that despite internet banking and the popularity of visa, credit and debit cards, I still find it amazing to see the number of people that besieges banks. I am one of them, for a reason though. I can’t have all my accounts connected to visa card.

In Nordea Bank your savings account cannot be connected to a Visa Card. You need to have a Personkonto to have a Visa card if you want. Sadly too I cannot transfer money from that account online. This is because I need a special log in card. I can’t have the card because I don’t have a personkonto.  It is sad because I can wire money to the account but I can’t withdraw unless I go to the bank.

I don’t know if I’ll be bold enough to close the account someday. But it looks more likely that I will.

I’m not used to all the banks. But handelsbanken is worth mentioning. They run most of my accounts. One day I went to Handelsbanken in Vällingby and there were just 3 customers waiting. I was one of them. After 5 minutes there was still no one attending to the second person. I couldn’t stand it and left. I mean we were just 3 and it’s so sad that you don’t get the attention you need.

It’s usually part of my lunch break that I sacrifice to make manual bank transactions so you can understand my frustrations when I have to wait and wait and wait and it doesn’t seem that the banks care how long you wait.

Sometimes I think they get the impression they are working harder when more customers are kept waiting in an unnecessary manner.

I have many stories about my experiences in the bank in Stockholm. I will continue to share them as I recollect or get new experiences.

(haven’t checked for errors before posting)