Mobile money transfer --- Agents!!!

Hallo to you all, and hope you a had a good weekend. Mine was very very short, I can't explain where and how the time expired. Even though I was busy, I managed to limit my expenses. So I did not use any of my mobile money transfer services.
I did not also pay a visit to the wall (ATM). So in a nutshell I spent about Ksh. 1300 the entire weekend. I don't know how you spent your weekend; and how much it cost you. This being January (some guys coiled it to Njaanuary and Janworry) most guys are broke. Yeah, I know some of you have abandoned your cars for sometime and you are very strict on what costs need to be cut in your homes. All the best....(I included :-) )!!

Back to my topic of the day; we've all used mobile money transfer services one way or the other. We've got Mpesa, Airtel money, Yu cash, Orange money, Tangaza (some of you have not heard of this -- well you can transfer money to any network with this service) and many more. You can only appreciate the services offered on these platforms only when you have funds in your virtual account. The only way to get cash to your account is via depositing money through a registered agent, a friend sending it to you or transfer from your bank account (i.e. if your bank supports that). But majority of us will walk to the wall then head off to the registered agents.

It is here that a number of things happen that clearly keeps one wondering how on earth do such things happen in this ''error''. One thing you need to have when withdrawing or depositing cash is your national ID.

ID: You walk to these agents and ask for a deposit and/or withdrawal service, some of them will straight away initiate the transaction then half way they come calling ''Nipe ID''?? (Give me your ID). They will tell you that they won't do the transaction without your ID. Honestly, how on earth do you want me to give you an ID that I forgot in Ruiru, why didn't you ask me for it before the transaction started. You can only fight fraud before the transaction starts; once the transaction is 3/4 done, its already a fraudulent transaction...get it!

Float: this is the most annoying bit about agents. As they transact they already have an idea of the operating float status. Ok, they know they have float or they don't have float. You walk in and ask ''can/may I deposit'' Agent: ''how much?'' Customer: ''Ksh. 4,000'' Agent: ''No, I don't have float'' Customer: ''how much can you afford to transact for me?'' Agent: ''no, I don't have float''
Well, If you don't have float, then don't ask me how much I want to deposit. Do you want to know how much I have so you can 'mug' me or what? The same thing applies to withdrawal. If you don't have float, then you don't have float..get it. This is a typical Mpesa agent behaviour. Pun intended!

The last time I went through such was last week, and I recall looking at the lady with ''macho mbaya'' and holding onto my tongue. Gladly for me I only go through this when doing withdrawals, I do my deposits via Mobile banking. But I noted one thing...some of these guys are not that very professional. They are picked to make money; and never taught customer management. If you are an Mpesa operator please not that such things make some of us very uncomfortable like this @#$$%^&%%%....okay? So spare us some agony!

What other weird, funny experiences have you gone through?....with these agents...post them below.

Have a great week, and remind someone to behave well.

Ernie your boy!