What part of debit card is not clear to you?

On Monday morning bright and early Max and I went to MOM. This is not to say we went to mommy for tea but we got all dressed up to go to the Ministry Of Manpower to convert our tourist Visas into an Employment pass for Max and a Dependent pass for me.

Wanting to look our best I decided to wear a white, crisp blouse with my new trousers knowing it would make me feel cool and sophisticated.

Being low on cash we decided we would take some out at the ATM machine at Dhoby Ghaut underground station. When we got there we found out the ATM was inside the office and being 8am the office was closed. This should have rung some alarm bells in my head because what is the point of a ATM inside an office when you need money outside office hours? Well, there are plenty of ATMs in this world of shoppers so I was confident we would find another. Down the stairs we go and Max realises the balance on his travel card is low. $6 is all I have and we use up the lot to top up the card.

We get to MOM in plenty of time and relax while waiting for our turn at the booth. When we are called in we efficiently take out our passports, landing card, Max's company visa sponsorship for the both of us and pictures.

The nice lady at the counter starts with me and everything goes well, even the finger printing on a silly looking machine. Fine, I am in.

However the situation complicates when Max's picture, taken against a white background, does not show his right ear. This is a show stopper, he will have to have his picture taken again. The fact my own ears are covered by my hair does not register with the nice but now annoying lady and we are stuck. By chance there is a photo store round the corner but...they only take cash and we do not have 1 cent between the 2 of us. So while Max goes to have his picture taken I rush down to get some cash. A nice girl tells me where the closest ATM is. I rush off in the sticky, hot air to find the hole in the wall. I find it and though it is not my bank I am not worried, a fee is the worst thing that can happen. And instead the machine spits out my card with disgust saying it will "not process my card". Time if flying and it's hot and since I am not known for my patience I flare up in a flash. What do you mean by "will not"? Not in the mood to argue with a stupid machine I run away and attack an innocent bystander asking for the location of a real ATM machine and not one with PMS. I am directed 500m away to a different one. I try it again and this time it's "technical difficulties". Close to strangling somebody I ask for an actual working, not hysterical ATM machine and I am directed further away to a 3rd and 4th and guess what? they "refuse to process my card". I mean REFUSE??????

Sweating and with the start of a major headache I get a call from Max telling me that there is a ATM from my bank half across the block. I follow his directions and 10 minutes later, drenched in sweat I finally find a working ATM. At this point however I am in the foulest of moods ever, ready to pick up a fight with the whole island if they really insist on it. Still now we have the silly money to pay for the silly photo. All is well and the passes will be ready on Monday.

I then found out, to my utter dismay, that there is a lot of competition here between banks hence their own ATMs not accepting a competitor's card. The stupid reasoning behind this is that a consumer will take out a bank account with them as well. What the banks must not "bank" on is the fact consumers such as Erica will refuse to be held at ransom by idiocy and I will make really sure I always have cash before I venture out again. By the way, oh weary travellers, this happens at supermarkets, cinemas and other outlets. Beware!