Power I didn't know I had

I'm still getting used to experiencing situations from a new perspective now that I no longer identify myself as a student or a dependent. Recently I've noticed myself looking at families (at church, the grocery store, wherever) and identifying more with the mom than the kids. How freaking crazy is that?

This morning I had a surreal adult experience of another kind.

I went to the bank to try to get three $20 service fees removed from my old checking account before closing the account for good.

After trying to explain my situation to a goober of a personal banker for about 10 minutes and being noncommittally told that he only has the authority to refund me $5, I was calm but a little annoyed. I knew these fees could and should be removed; I just wished I wasn't stuck dealing with this man who seemed inept and none too eager to straighten out my finances.

He called over the manager and determined the problem was because it was an Illinois account, a joint account with my parents, one of my several remaining legal ties to my youth.

Honestly, I just wanted the fees removed so I could get to work on time. I explained that I thought the fees were an error, or at the very least unfair, hoping there would be some legitimate banking reason to back me up.

"Well, let's take a look at the accounts," the manager said.

The goober told me it would be inappropriate to discuss my parents' accounts with me, but he and the banker pulled them up on the computer next to my accounts.

"Here is their account..." Goober said with an exaggerated sideways glance to the manager. My parents' account apparently flicking on a light bulb in her head, she now nodded in enthusiastic approval, "Oh yeah, yeah, we'll definitely remove these fees."

The goober murmured in agreement and they both assured me everything would be taken care of.

I was in slight disbelief as I watched the situation unfold. Now, I definitely think those fees should have been removed regardless, but I was just shocked by how easy it suddenly became once the bankers feasted their eyes upon the undoubtedly large dollar sign that is my parents' account. The money they saw in my parents gave me a new power -- one you see in the movies but never think little old you could actually wield. 

I think all customers should be treated well if a company intends to keep their business, and it makes perfect sense to bend over backwards (not that they did in this situation) to keep their more invested clientele happy, but it just made me feel a little uncomfortable. I'm grateful to be treated well, but I wish it were because they cared about me and not just my money.

Welcome to the real world, I suppose.