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Red in the face

Nicola Mawson
By Nicola Mawson, Contributor.
Johannesburg, 20 Feb 2007

I spent quite a bit of time in the camera shop, looking at all manner of goodies on display. I'd asked the sales clerk about add-ons such as which flash to use, and the difference between one camera and the next.

Then I spent a good half-an-hour trying out various flashes on the camera to double-check that I wouldn't have to compensate for over- or under-exposure. Digital is great, but if you don't capture the details in the first place, you can't rescue them.

After some time spent playing around with various options, and shooting pictures of half the staff, I was sold. Quickly, I did the calculations, just enough on the bling-bling card to cover the camera, an SD card and a larney flash. The monthly payments would be a stretch, but possibly manageable.

I even managed to talk the salesman into a discount on the basis that - even though I was using a credit card - I was buying half the shop up. He writes up the invoice and I join the queue at the teller.

I'm not accustomed to cards being swiped and requiring authorisation. My first thought was that I had somehow miscalculated and that purchase of dog food had pushed the card over the edge.

My next thought was that somebody had illicitly acquired the card's details, and had run around on a merry shopping spree until the card was empty.

Who are you?

My first thought was that I had somehow miscalculated and that purchase of dog food had pushed the card over the edge.

Nicola Mawson, senior journalist, ITWeb

The teller spends quite a bit of time on the phone to the call centre. Then she hands me the receiver. Absa, which supports Virgin Money in its local endeavour, wants to ask me a few questions.

My ID number was the first question, then my postal address and - finally - how I normally settle the balance. And here I was worried they were going to ask other things like when I last used the card - no idea. Or what my maiden name is - the same as my married one even though Home Affairs is a bit confused about this.

Apparently, the call centre people also usually ask whether the consumer is tense or not. That strikes me as a silly question; of course I'm tense. I'm a worrywart, I tense up over nothing and the thought that my bank account has been raided is enough to cause a full-blown tense situation.

The teller tells me this sort of thing is usual for 'large' amounts. Just wish they could have said something when I signed up. And, of course, what if I was in the US, when converting dollars to rands automatically makes every purchase 'large', would the shop have to phone SA?

Anyway, with the dirty deed consummated in my late lunch hour, I amble off to my presentation. Which is when I discover that February and March both have a Monday the 19th. Charming.

And my new camera has to go back to the shop anyway; the onboard flash does not work.

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