Premature Profiling

I will write a bit of dialogue in verbatim between me and a retail sales lady/bank consultant by the name of Reema Raghunundhun as I went to open a business banking account at ABSA Ladysmith, first floor. I will start the conversation from when I had been called in and pleasantries had already been exchanged:

Veli Mlotshwa: I would like help with opening a business account please.

Bank Consultant: Okay. But do tell me, what are you going to be conducting the business account for? Will you have money coming into this account? (this while looking at me with a very nonchalant body language)

VM: I do not understand your question. Usually we open business bank accounts with the sole objective and hopes that that we shall transact through those accounts. So can you please clarify your question.

BC: Okay, it is just that we have people who come here and open bank accounts for tenders and than tenders dry up or don't come through and we have problems with dormant bank accounts. Is this account for tenders? Do you have any tenders? Are you making money? Will you be able to afford to maintain this account, and you do know that you will need a thousand bucks alone to open it? You know that it takes two hours to open the account so I am just trying to be sure. And the account number will only be ready in a week or two.

VM: Why are you projecting previous failures on to me? Why are you so certain that I might be like the people that you are projecting on to me? So every one who looks like me who wants to open a business account is doing it for tenders? Even if I the account will be for tenders, why are you probing me in a suspicious manner like this, it seems like I am already on a backfoot with you without any bad conduct on my part, I understand you have got to probe my turnover projections for your operations, but this line of questioning of yours has stripped me down naked.

BC: But these are the types of questions I have to advance when I open an account for you.

VM: But you are not opening an account yet, you're not even on your computer. You are merely profile me for the purposes of "not wasting your time"!

The conversation proceeded to the point that I had had enough. she proceeded to give me her cellphone number to set up an appointment so she could help with the account. I left the building and the following day I went to a Standard Bank branch in the same town and a Lady by the name of Lindiwe Luthuli promptly and graciously helped me to open a business account which is up and running as we speak.

The question is; how many other people who could not speak and stand up like me have had to turn back because of attitude like the one displayed by the lady? What must be borne in mind is that this is a rural town, and communication can sometimes be a problem, and people do not always know the courtesies that must be afforded to them. I hope the consultant lady desists from displaying such judgmental and contemptuous attitudes towards people, the bank has already lost me as a potential customer flowing from that.