WeThree
09-08-2005, 10:02
hi i wasnt sure where to put this story so i thought i would put it in here, seeing as it is about money. I know we all here lots of stories or have had experiences where various government departments make you feel like you are little more than a number and that is why i thought i would tell you guys about this.
On Friday I went to take my family payment out of my bank account as i was almost out of nappies, milk etc and my dh pay office had stuffed up so his pay wasnt going in till monday. My money wasnt there, so i went home and rang them. the girl who answered told me that i wasnt being paid till monday. i became very upset as i had been to centrelink on tuesday to make sure it would be there on friday as i was already aware of the mix up with my dh pay office, i was assured that it would be fine. (i know what your all thinking, this doesnt sound heartwarming at all, what is erin on about?) the woman suggested i go to my local centrelink and explain my situation, so with 2 small children in tow i set off on the loooong walk to my local office. After waiting for ages with 2 tired screaming little ones (still sounds bad i know :) ) i was finally seen by a lovely lady who said that i could recieve part of my payment straight away as an emergency payment. thank goodness! but when she tried to issue it the computer wouldnt let her, turned out although the money had not yet reached me it had already left them! needless to say i became quite upset again, i didnt know what i was going to do, my dh was away and i had no way to access our ing account and i no longer own a credit card. i was trying not to cry and this lovely lady was comforting me as best she could, i said we would be fine and went to leave. as i did so this same woman ran off and then returned and slipped some of her own money into my hand! she whispered ' i know i can trust you and i cant let you leave like this, will this be enough?' i was so embarressed yet so grateful that this lady would risk getting into trouble and risk not getting her money back,for me, someone she didnt know, someone who was just another number. This woman saved the day and reminded me of how kind people can be. On Monday I returned to centrelink with her money and a big thankyou card. Just thought id share this because i know we all have had bad days when everything goes wrong and it seems like nobody cares and yet a small gesture of kindness, or an offer of help can do so much to turn a situation around, thankyou again to that lovely lady at the wollongong centrelink office! :)
On Friday I went to take my family payment out of my bank account as i was almost out of nappies, milk etc and my dh pay office had stuffed up so his pay wasnt going in till monday. My money wasnt there, so i went home and rang them. the girl who answered told me that i wasnt being paid till monday. i became very upset as i had been to centrelink on tuesday to make sure it would be there on friday as i was already aware of the mix up with my dh pay office, i was assured that it would be fine. (i know what your all thinking, this doesnt sound heartwarming at all, what is erin on about?) the woman suggested i go to my local centrelink and explain my situation, so with 2 small children in tow i set off on the loooong walk to my local office. After waiting for ages with 2 tired screaming little ones (still sounds bad i know :) ) i was finally seen by a lovely lady who said that i could recieve part of my payment straight away as an emergency payment. thank goodness! but when she tried to issue it the computer wouldnt let her, turned out although the money had not yet reached me it had already left them! needless to say i became quite upset again, i didnt know what i was going to do, my dh was away and i had no way to access our ing account and i no longer own a credit card. i was trying not to cry and this lovely lady was comforting me as best she could, i said we would be fine and went to leave. as i did so this same woman ran off and then returned and slipped some of her own money into my hand! she whispered ' i know i can trust you and i cant let you leave like this, will this be enough?' i was so embarressed yet so grateful that this lady would risk getting into trouble and risk not getting her money back,for me, someone she didnt know, someone who was just another number. This woman saved the day and reminded me of how kind people can be. On Monday I returned to centrelink with her money and a big thankyou card. Just thought id share this because i know we all have had bad days when everything goes wrong and it seems like nobody cares and yet a small gesture of kindness, or an offer of help can do so much to turn a situation around, thankyou again to that lovely lady at the wollongong centrelink office! :)