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Got lots to do? Join the queue

Vic Barlow
9/ 4/2008

I HAD several things on my ‘to do list’ today, like posting an urgent airmail package and sorting out a problem with my bank.

As my financial institution has a branch less then 100 yards from the post office, I thought I could do both jobs in half an hour. How wrong I was.

My bank prides itself on ‘local’ knowledge, but clearly had no idea what happens in Macclesfield at lunchtime and left only one teller on duty, resulting in a queue so long customers were lounging around on sofas waiting for an opportunity to join the line.

I nipped across to the post office where the queue was even longer.

Maybe it’s due to all the closures that the town centre branch is so busy, but whatever the reason, they definitely need more staff.

By the time the airmail package was posted, I’d run out of time, so I went back to work determined to sort out my banking query by phone. Silly me.

I did not resolve my financial problem, but I do know that my call was sufficiently important to be recorded for training purposes.

A recorded message reminded me my bank had a sale that "must end soon". So that was why my branch was so busy.

Two for one on banknotes and no need for a balaclava.

I’ll queue for that.

The views expressed on this page are Vic Barlow's and are not necessarily those of the Express