Hoo boy, what a difference.
A few days ago, I found myself going through the "drive through" windows at both Banco General de Panama and HSBC Panama in the same day. The difference in the level of customer service was unbelievable. Truly.
HSBC Panama: the female customer service rep that answered when I buzzed her via the monitor made it crystal clear that she was annoyed to have been bothered. I said to her, politely (Gah! I always start out in such a good mood!):
"I've been sitting here 15 minutes and I'm accustomed to (at Banco General) a shorter wait, so I'm just checking...is there anything wrong with the slip or are you just backed up? How much longer do you think it will be?" Reasonable, right? Apparently not.
The car behind us was about to hump my baby Peanut (yes, I named my car Peanut...or rather, my sister did, but I digress), so I just wanted an ETA. You send your stuff in a little plastic tube off into the void, and don't hear back, you start to fidget. You want to check that there really is someone on the receiving end.
Had to listen to miss snitty-pants complain about how backed up she was. Note to customer service reps: Oh yes, the client always wants (and has time to) hear about your problems, both personal and professional.
No, no, I'm not being sarcastic. That's what I'm here for. To listen.
So question: Do they not teach their employees the most basic of customer service spiels? (That would be the "I'm so sorry for the wait, it'll be another xx minutes, approximately" spiel).
///WE INTERRUPT THIS POST FOR A MINI-RANT: Banks in Panama are kind of retAHded. Every single time I go to deposit a check, and I mean at ANY bank, I get told something different.
Sign the back to endorse the check (ummm...to endorse a check in my name to...myself? OK!)
No you don't have to sign the back because the check is made out to you, duh! (Hey!)
Yes I know the check is made out to you but you must sign the back and print your name on the back and... (Gah! Have you seen the Asterix and Obelix where they get driven mad? In a bank?)
Don't write so big (on the back of the check, where now, because I am perpetually annoyed, I: sign my name, print my name, add my account number, write down my cedula or ID number, and imprint my thumb.)
You don't have to write so small (really? Because all the above fits so nicely on the 3 little lines they gave me on the back of this check? Maybe we should make poster size checks? I could carry a 10-lb roll in Peanut's little trunk, it's not like I need that space for groceries or the bleach I want to swallow at the thought of going to the bank!)
////////// THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION. RANT OVER.
Ok, so that was HSBC. Then I went to Banco General. I filled out my deposit slip, sent everything up the tube to a waiting rep, and approximately 5 minutes later realized through my closed window that someone was trying to talk to me. 'What now,' I thought, almost groaning out loud.
Turns out, little miss Banco General just wanted to say: You're all set, I'm sending the stamped slip back to you now, and have a good day.
W-O-W.
Banco General, compared to HSBC Panama or not, you knocked it out of the park. Classy!
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