January 7, 2010

• Bank saga continued

  I know how you all love hearing about the bank saga, so I thought I would give you another installment!!

  When the plane landed the other day I found I had miscalls from my landlord on both my English and Italian mobiles. I was slightly concerned at first that he was trying to get hold of me desperately because the flat had burned down or something. Thankfully it hadn't, and when I finally got to listen to his voicemail message it was to tell me that I have apparently paid December's rent twice. Basically, having closed my Barclays account (and therefore cancelled the standing order) I went to pay my rent in person for January, at my landlord's branch. Fine and dandy. Except Barclays, in all their efficiency, have managed to pay rent for the same month, AFTER I had closed my account. Now this didn't come out of my final closing balance etc, so I can only assume that at the moment they  have paid it and will soon be in touch with either my landlord (to get the money back), or with me (to tell me I owe it to them). Either way it means I haven't seen the back of them yet. At the moment though I am not paying January's rent until I have heard what is happening. Who knows, maybe I'll get away with it?! (I doubt it!).

  In other bank related amusement, I went to pick up my salary today and because this time I had received a cheque (as I didn't go in time to withdraw it direct from the bank), they had to enter all my details into the computer. I was quite excited to be able to hand them my brand new Carta Regionale dei Servizi (which combines a card with my tax code etc on it with an EHIC card - I am now in possession of UK and Italian EHIC cards - woooo!) and my Carta d'Identita. I feel like an Italian, hehe. Anyway basically the guy couldn't find what to put as my country for ages. Confusingly on one of the documents it is listed as Gran Bretagna e Irlanda del Nord, on the other as Regno Unito. This was most confusing for the poor man, who was searching for Inghilterra and Regno Unito, missing the Gran Bretagna bit until he had to go and ask his colleague for help. Eventually they found it! Stupid country having so many names! It's caused me trouble in the post office before as well, trying to post something to Inghilterra confuses the hell out of them.
  

  • 10:51 am
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