Told the bank teller what for...

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I was very bad yesterday...

Firstly I hate banks...i go into total sensory overload whenever I am in one. I wonder sbout the minds that would construct such an unpleasant environment to be in.

Secondly, the bank I go to used to have the habit of shouting out HI WELCOME TO WACHOVIA at everyone who walked in and it drove me absolutely NUTS...so I would duck and cover my ears whenever they would do that..the tellers at my main branch eventually stopped.

I was at a branch I had never been in before to deposit a check...they didn't shout at me..because I think they have finally stopped doing that, but the teller started in with small talk that sorta set me on edge.

I just wanted to deposit my check, and he starts in with...

"So are you excited about the New Year?!"
and I didn't respond..
That was not my exact emotion, and I didn't automatically think to just say "Yes" like I was supposed to...it set me off my pins.. I was not ready to share what my emotions were with the bank teller..

then he says
Are you doing something special to celebrate for New Year's Eve?
Again, I didn't respond, so he repeats himself....
Are you doing something special to celebrate for New Year's Eve?

It is a script....how could this person possibly care what I a total stranger/customer just trying to deposit a check was doing for New Years Eve?

So I blurt out "I don't like small talk"...because I really really didn't want to participate in his banter. It was making me anxious.

so he says "ok" and stops.

then...

I go and tell Flakey what happened with the teller, and he laughs and says that I probably ruined the teller's new year and proceeds to tell me that I should have gone with it and just participated with the banter....and we end up talking about the whole transaction for almost an hour.
He tells me that what the banker said was a script and tells me how I should answer.
I defend my position of not wanting to be personal with this banker when I am just trying to deposit a check....
He can sometimes be a bit patronizing when he is playing "social coach"

anyway...this is the second time I have had a transaction like this at the bank.

The first time was about a year ago when I had to go in to activate a check card, and I became very agitated with the guy at the desk because he kept insisting that I produce a drivers license...because it was seemingly unheard of that a person not have one.
I gave him my legal TX photo id..and he seemed sorta thrown off by that....
I forget exactly what it was that he said, but I ended up blurting out that I was autistic and that I don't don't drive a car and that i did not realize that having a drivers license was a prerequisite for having a bank account....( even though I know it was wrong to use the A word...sometimes when frustrated I have blurted it out)

I am wondering if I should now write a letter of apology to the bank teller for not participating in his banter...

Is this a check that could be placed into your bank account through Direct Deposit?

Most people today do their banking online through the Internet...have you considered establishing a secure arrangement for yourself?

HEY poopylungstuffing, I could tell you about TONS of bank problems I had. Just last wednesday, I went in to get some answers about a SIMPLE problem. HOW long did it take? I can't say! BUT,,,,, They noticed they setup my PERSONAL account wrong. That HAS created a lot of bad problems for me. I didn't discuss it earlier, because NOBODY could fix it. This guy claimed, on wednesday that he could. He spent an HOUR, and then said I should come back thursday. I came back thursday, and he wasted another TWO hours. He CLAIMS he will have someone ELSE work on it on monday!! !! ! ALL this to make my personal account a personal account and they CAN'T make my business account a business account, so they opened up a NEW online account(I already have 3 because of garbage like this), and want to create a NEW business account and wipe out my old one.

I have been a bank teller. The banter is usually a requisite for the position, the teller has to come off as sociable (it was hell for me because, like you, I can't stand the banter and yet was forced to initiate it). Also, the loud greeting is usually a security measure. Making sure to greet people loudly draws the attention of everyone in the bank to the person who just entered, if that person is there to rob the place they are likely to re-think their position now that everyone is staring at them.

As for the twit who asked you for your license, he should be reprimanded. Bank personnel, at my bank at least, were required to learn federal regulations (including the ADA). Part of that regulation states that drivers license is not a requisite, any form of state or federal ID is valid. Some people (blind, disabled, by choice) do not drive and to require the license is discriminatory.

Anyway, I don't think an apology is necessary. You are not alone in disliking the banter.

. I'd be interested in someone's new year plans if all I was supposed to talk about was money all day long. In fact, anything unrelated to money would become interesting.

You can't very well be angry at the guy for trying to be friendly and treat you just like everyone else. And understand, the bank wants him to treat everyone in a warm, personable way. They don't want a "Yes/no" robotic cold person at the counter dealing with the average customer. While you may like that, 95% of the rest of the population would think the guy was a jerk.

You made more of a big deal out of this by not responding than if you would have just told him straight off, with a small smile, "Na, no plans" & just left it at that. A couple of short & sweet yet friendly responses and he would have got it. You didn't feel like talking to him.

It's not that big of a deal, really. But unless you're wearing a shirt t that says "I'M AUTISTIC LEAVE ME ALONE!" most people aren't going to be able to read you immediately. Don't be cheesed at them for trying to be friendly to you. Cheers.

Mess with people.

Dye your hair black (if it isn't already) and wear a T-shirt that reads, "Speak slowly to me...I'm blond."

Funny you should mention Wachovia. I just moved everything I had from there to another bank recently.