MONEY TRANSFERS: EDWARD CAREY says we understate last week's problem concerning a reader's frustration with how long it takes for an electronic money transfer to be processed by our banks.
"It is a scandal that banks profit from electronic money transfers," Carey says. "When your correspondent's customer authorised the withdrawal of funds from his account, the money automatically went on deposit to the bank's credit. We are urged to move away from cash, but when banks clearly participate in this form of sharp practice, why should we?"
He says banks should not be able to claim it is the system's fault. "The banks' action is a disgrace."
CAPPUCCINO CONFUSION
A READER was in the city centre recently and popped in to Pasta Fresca on Chatham St for a coffee with her husband. "We ordered a hot chocolate and a cappuccino with an extra shot - both normal-sized cups and they cost €8.35." She says they regularly go to Italy and even at Piazza San Marco in Venice the price of a cappuccino is at least 50 per cent less than this. "I know that we are regularly told that costs are so much higher here but, come on," she fumes.
The couple left the restaurant and phoned later to query the price. She was told that the amount charged was not a mistake, they charge €2.20 for an extra shot of coffee in a cappuccino. We contacted Pasta Fresca and it turns out that there was a degree of confusion surrounding the transaction. The bottom line is that Pasta Fresca does not charge €2.20 for an extra shot - it charges 95 cent. The owner said that, when the order was taken, a trainee waitress took it down wrong and instead of writing the extra shot wrote "espresso" which costs €2.20.
"We would not upset anyone and if we make mistakes then we hold up our hands," said the owner. "A waitress made a mistake and the bill was not checked properly - it should not have got to the table. We owe the lady a shot and if she would like to come in and have a coffee and a hot chocolate on the house we would be more than happy to have her."
VALUE AT SUPERQUINN
BRIAN DELANEY sent us a mail to say that Superquinn in Finglas village was selling a 24-pack of Weetabix for €1.89 or a pack of 48 Weetabix for €4.63, "which is touted as a value saving pack". We visited Superquinn's site and can confirm that a packet of 48 Weetabix was selling for €4.63 while 24 cost €1.89 (so, 48 bought in two separate packets cost €3.78, 85 cent less than a packet of 48). We contacted Superquinn who said: "We are running a special price on the 24 pack of Weetabix. Originally priced at €2.65, the product has been reduced to €1.89. We are working with our supplier to review the price of other Weetabix pack sizes, so that we can bring them down in price for our customers."
