People like you are a great rarity in my line of work. You should hear some of
the filth that comes over my line! I've learned things I didn't know were in The
Book, and they'd all get my mouth washed out with soap. The big problem is that
when the bank we bought out was in mid-acquisition, some less scrupulous
salespeople knew they'd be downsized so they figured they'd get some last-minute
commissions by setting people up for accounts that were unsuitable for the
customer, due to the customers' financial situations. In essence, they'd set
poor people up with really high-end accounts, the kinds of accounts usually
reserved for people with multiple accounts and investors. So the sales reps
would get a bigger commission at the expense of the poor guys on SSI or pensions
who can't afford to be hit by huge fees for being below a minimum balance.

After being sent to the psych hospital back in August, the supervisors give me a
wide berth and allow me some strange things to keep the stress down. I play
jacks at my desk and have this mini-bowling thing: ten tiny pins, a little lane
that's a foot long, a shooter marble to take aim. I do better at that than
traditional bowling. I'm allowed to take time off to call my doctor to get the
crazies at bay if needed, something allowed under the Americans with
Disabilities Act; mental illness is considered a disability in New York, I don't
know about elsewhere in the US. I've been lobbying for letting us bring cats to
work for the sake of our collective blood pressure, but that hasn't gone over
too well!

Can you believe we're not allowed? We have to refer people to branches, or solve
a situation internally. There is a rule about referring people to such agencies
like Consumer Credit Counseling, a nonprofit linked up with United Way and other
charities; it is believed that if we make such a referral, then we are showing a
sort of partisan thing or favoritism--I can't think of the right word--because
many such agencies are also hooked up with Catholic Charities and we are
prohibited from referring anyone to a faith-based organization. Frankly I think
it's a ruse. They want to keep the customer by doing eveything internally. The
merger was not a popular move down in Maryland, where the acquired bank is
located.

I'm on vacation now. I think I'll smuggle one of the cats in when I go back. I
don't want to go back. I want to stay here and play with my babies!

Blessed be,
Baha