Currently Reading: Black Dahlia Avenger by Steve Hodel
I have come across quite a few frustratingly stupid company policies in my day but I don't think anything tops what I came across today while trying to get CC a bank account at First Tennessee. It all started on Saturday when we paid them our first visit. They were quite happy to see us, very nice, very friendly, then we started filling out the paperwork. CC's got her work authorization card, no problem. She's got her social security card, no problem. Tennessee driver's license? Well no, she doesn't have one of those yet. No? Then no account for her. Ok, I'll just add her to mine. I have a license. And account there? Yes. But still no license for her? Obviously not. No adding her to my account either.
So, this morning, she and I went down to the Tennessee Department of Transportation office to get her a new driver's license and to renew mine. No problem for me of course. Just pay the fee and you're all done. For her, things were a LITTLE more complicated.
Starting in 2004, you cannot get a driver's license in Tennessee unless you're a citizen or resident alien. What you CAN get, if you're here on a student visa or something like that, is a permit to drive. You take the same tests, you get a card with your picture on it, it's just not an official license.
In order to GET this thing, after waiting in line a bit, CC had to show her birth certificate, her work authorization card, her passport, our marriage license, her social security card and a bill showing that we actually live in a house somewhere. If she was born here, of course, all she'd need is a birth certificate an social security card so the burden of proof is MUCH higher for her. But here's the real kicker. This card, despite all the documentation you have to provide to show who you are, cannot be used as a valid ID card.
So what does that mean? We found out when we stopped back at the bank early this afternoon. We show the new accounts woman CC's new driving permit thinking, well certainly this should be proof enough, only to learn that no, it must be a 100% offical Tennessee license, no exceptions, period. The foreigner permit just isn't good enough.
The woman sounded appologetic about the whole thing and said, "Oh, we want your business. This is just company policy." Me, I'm thinking, "Obviously they don't want our business THAT badly." And I'm also thinking that since my wife's money isn't GOOD enough for them, you know, maybe THEY'RE not good enough for MY money. So I'll be shopping around for a new financial institution, one that's a LITTLE less paranoid.
2 comments:
Great going, Steve! Show corporate America that's the price they pay for too much paranoia...and you know what's sad, if YOU were here trying to open a bank account, you won't need too much documentation. No offense, but your white face is enough to busy them up. Whereas a slightly dirty, soft-spoken citizen of this country wouldn't even get eye contact even if he has loads of money. That's the sad truth and it's empowering to see someone stand up for us. Thanks a whole lot. Hooray for you. :-)
Thanks Pebbles. Yeah, it didn't make any sense to me when it was all explained at the bank. It just seemed so . . . STUPID. You'd think they'd be more interested in getting our money. Then again, maybe that's the problem. If we were opening an account with say, a million dollars in it, I bet they'd bend over backwards to find a way to get our money. Ah well, they're not the only bank in town :-)
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