Pinpoint accuracy
Observed and overheard this week inside a branch of a well-known bank.
Customer (man in his early 40s or so) to bank employee: ‘You’ve sent me a new bank card but when I enter the number it doesn’t work.’
BE to C: ‘You mean the PIN number?’
C to BE: ‘No. The number if I want to use a cash machine.’
BE to C: ‘That’s the PIN number. Put the card in here and try it.’
The customer inserts the card and a rather histrionic pushing of keys with expansive hand and arm movement follows.
C to BE: ‘See, it doesn’t work.’
BE to C: ‘Could you enter it again.’
More histrionic key pushing.
BE to C: ‘Er, sir, you entered a completely different number this time.’
C to BE: ‘Well of course, it would be far too risky to keep using the same one.’
I had to conclude that this customer was not yet ready for a bank account, and probably should be kept away from sharp objects.
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University Blog 
January 28, 2012 at 6:24 pm
Yes, but in the past that hasn’t stopped unscrupulous banks from foisting unintelligible and unwanted bank services and products onto ‘unready’ customers. If the customer wanted to safeguard his/her cash perhaps the everchanging PIN concept is a GOOD idea…? In the present climate, my sympathies lay with C and not with the exasperated BE…
January 30, 2012 at 8:05 pm
Eh, no. Everchanging PIN numbers are not a good idea Don. Just think about it. Especially if you’re in the queue at the cash machine.