This morning I was looking at my finances.
I was checking my online bank account to see what I’d paid out over the last month, and I was looking at the receipts I had for each of my payments.
And there it was… yet again.
Ambiolhao hadn’t sent me a single Fatura (invoice). I’m meant to have been receiving them by email.
Ambiolhao is the water supplier in Olhao.
To be honest, they’ve been fantastic in terms of connecting me up, sorting the direct debit and charging me.
But when it comes to sending me an invoice, there’s been a big problem.
So this afternoon, I drive into Olhao and head to the Ambiolhao office… or shop… or whatever it is, a glass-fronted store in a very central location, a couple of minutes from the markets.
At least I know that even if the experience totally stresses me out, I can always have a cold recuperating beer afterwards…
The Ambiolhao office is always rammed with people, and since Ambiolhao follows the (rather forward-thinking) Portuguese law allowing older people, disabled, people, pregnant ladies etc to move to the front of the queue ahead of us more able customers, I could be waiting for hours.
Today though, as I get there at lunchtime – what a bonus! The place is empty! Not a single customer there!
I look to the heavens and smile.
I wander in, take a ticket and the lady behind the counter looks kindly at me and beckons me forward. I’ve seen her before. In fact, she was the lady that served me on the three other occasions I’ve been here.
Each time was because I hadn’t received my Faturas.
And once again, I’m back because I haven’t received my Faturas.
I sit down and the lady starts talking at 100 mph in Portuguese.
My eyes widen.
Then she either remembers me or realises that I don’t understand a word…
She reverts to English:
“What is the problem?”
She smiles.
“I’m not receiving any of my Faturas. Can you check that you have the correct Email address please?”
I’m fairly sure it’s correct though. I’ve asked her to check it the last two times I’ve been in…
She confirms it’s correct.
So what’s going on?
She has no idea – and no idea what to do about it…
“Ah…” I say
“But can I print off your Faturas for you?”
“Thank you,” I say – it’s better than nothing.
She does just that.
“And is that all?”
I consider asking her whether she could guarantee that I get my Faturas in future, but decide against that. I don’t like upsetting people.
Instead, I ask:
“My water meter is inside the house. How do I provide a reading if I’m not there?”
“You must send a reading each month between the 18th and the 20th.”
“But what if I’m not there?”
“You must send a reading each month between the 18th and the 20th”
Mmmm…. I’m really hoping this is a language problem. My problem really, because I can’t speak this lady’s language, and her English isn’t bad at all. Still…
“So what happens if I’m not in the house between the 18th and the 20th?”
“We ah… we ah… look at… ah… each month…”
“You estimate?”
“Yes!” She smiles and I smile.
“So if I miss a month, that doesn’t matter too much?”
“No, but as often as you can!”
We’re at a bit of an impasse, but I feel we’ve moved forward.
I still won’t receive my Faturas, but at least I know I can come back and the nice lady will print my faturas out for me.
I stand up and say: “Obrigado, Boa Tarde!”
She smiles and says: “Boa Tarde! See you soon!”.
I think she knows I’ll be back.
I think I do too…
“Blinking Flamingos! The musings of a middle-aged bloke living in the Eastern Algarve: one who has no idea what he’s doing…”